St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on Monday, confirmed four new COVID-19 cases, all of which are nationals with no history of recent travel.
Further, 900 samples are awaiting analysis, the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) said in a statement.
Of the four new cases, one adult was detected during contact tracing, while the other three cases were found during testing for travel exit screens.
There are now 124 local cases under investigation, NEMO said, referring to the 124 nationals without recent travel history who have tested positive for the viral illness since Dec. 28.
A total of 253 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 106 of which have recovered and 147 remain active.
NEMO said that all positive cases would continue to be isolated until cleared by two negative tests.
“The established public health interventions of detection, testing and quarantining or isolation continue aimed at containing and suppressing this outbreak,” NEMO said the spike seen since Dec. 28.
“The increased testing associated with these interventions coupled with the increased exit screening required for travellers to Canada and the United Kingdom, continues to be associated with a significant backlog of samples awaiting PCR processing.
“The addition over-night of 605 new samples has now resulted in more than 900 samples waiting to be done. The recent engagement of more staff is expected to allow for the processing of these outstanding tests in the next three days,” NEMO said.