SVG records 3rd COVID-19 case among Swedish travellers

St. Vincent and the Grenadines today (Tuesday) confirmed one new COVID-19 case.

The new case belongs to the group of Swedish travellers who arrived in the country on Aug. 19 from Grenada with negative PCR results for tests done on Aug. 15.

This brings to three the number of persons from that group to test positive for the viral illness.

The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) said that the case is a close contact of the two positive cases announced on Aug. 26.

The case announced on Tuesday initially tested negative during the first round of contact tracing.

“Continued screening, as per the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment’s testing protocols, has now revealed this close contact as positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19,” NEMO said in a press statement.

The statement said that extensive testing of all other possible contacts has not revealed any other positive cases or exposure to SARS-Cov-2.

Further testing will continue, NEMO said.

NEMO further announced that SVG, on Monday, introduced updated “Protocols for the Entry of Travellers”.

All travellers, regardless of country of origin, must arrive with a negative PCR test result.

Countries have been categorised according to their level of COVID-19 disease. This will determine the quarantine of travellers from these countries when they arrive in SVG.

Additional measures, aimed at increased surveillance, are being implemented throughout SVG.

All passengers who arrived on Air Canada 980 last Thursday, Aug. 27, have been cleared.

All passengers who arrived of AA 945 on Saturday, Aug. 29, will start receiving their quarantine day 4-5 PCR tests tomorrow, Wednesday.

SVG has recorded 61 COVID-19 cases, 57 of which have recovered.

There are now four active COVID-19 cases.

“The public is urged to comply with all of the public health measures currently in place in St. Vincent and the Grenadines which are designed to keep COVID-19 contained,” NEMO said.