There was, as of Thursday, had no known active COVID-19 case in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, following the recovery of the last two cases.
National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) said the two latest recoveries were indicated by the negative results of RT-PCR tests conducted at the Molecular PCR Laboratory Unit of the Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment and confirmed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Public Health Laboratory in Trinidad Thursday.
“The two second negative results required to clear the positive cases were among a batch for 23 samples, 18 of which belonged to the Vincentians repatriated from Cuba on Monday, June 22,” NEMO said.
All of the samples were negative and were processed at our local PCR lab and also sent to CARPHA, where the results were confirmed, a statement further continued.
SVG now has 29 recovered cases of COVID-19.
“The public is reminded of the importance of maintaining the public health measures currently in place which include appropriate mask use, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, physical distancing of at least 3-6 feet in public spaces and strict adherence to quarantine and isolation. These measures, are vital and are proven to slow the spread of COVID-19,” NEMO said.
Would love see a regular section dedicated to possible measures being thought about to allow visitors from Canada back to SV and Bequia . We come to Bequia yearly,are booked for Feb. next year and of course realize the difficulty of this situation. having a section for tourists to write in and share their thoughts, questions and ideas about moving forward would help us all with our hopes of coming back to your beautiful area and fabulous people.
It is great that we currently have no active Covid-19 cases. But we can’t start celebrating. It is much too early for that. Remember that most countries currently ban Americans from entering their countries because of the massive Covid-19 reservoir present in the USA. America provides most of our visitors and so we must first look at the danger and not at the dollars, We must take this opportunity to prepare better. I was surprised that we are planning to open up as soon as July 11. This is premature, especially because we have made no preparations.
My mantra to prepare: DMWD
D= Vitamin D supplementation. Living close to the equator provides us with good Vitamin D
levels over time. But depending on your habits you might need a boost. If you regularly
work outside you might have adequate coverage. But if you are a seamstress who is
indoors for nearly all of your day and especially if you are overweight ask your doctor if
taking 1000 international units a day is adequate.
M= masks. Before we get a wash of Covid-19 here the Government needs to make it
mandatory for people in public in Kingstown to wear masks all the time.
Make your own if you must.
W= wash hands. The supermarkets are prematurely downgrading their efforts. They need to
keep up their prevention until the US is not such a massive reservoir of Covid-19
D= Distance, no big crowds, keep your distance.
TOO SOON TO GET TIRED. CAUTION STILL NEEDED.