The number of people who have died of COVID-19 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines now stands at 76.
The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) said on Sunday that a 55-year-old female who tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 20, died on Saturday and a 69-year-old male who tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, died on Sunday.
Both patients were admitted to the COVID-19 isolation ward at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. The patients had known underlying conditions and were unvaccinated.
NEMO said that 18 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported from 190 samples collected on Wednesday, Dec. 1, resulting in a positivity of 9.5%. Seventeen new rapid antigen positive results were reported from flu clinics on Dec. 1.
Meanwhile, 26 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported from 170 samples collected on Thursday, Dec. 2, resulting in a positivity of 15.2%. Nineteen new rapid antigen positive results were reported from flu clinics on Dec. 2.
As of Sunday, there were five patients admitted for COVID-19 at the Argyle Isolation Facility. All are unvaccinated. Five patients are admitted to the COVID-19 ward at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. All are unvaccinated.
Nineteen recoveries were noted over the reporting period and there were 451 active cases and 76 persons with COVID-19 have died.
Since March 2020, SVG has recorded 5,623 cases of COVID-19 and 5,096 recoveries have been recorded in the country.
NEMO said:
“In view of the confirmed presence of the Delta, Mu and Gamma variants in the community and the significant increase in the number of new infections, transmission, severe COVID-19 disease and deaths, strict enforcement and compliance with all protocols and recommendations by everyone is strongly recommended. The correct and consistent use of masks, avoidance of crowds, physical distancing, proper hand sanitising and immunisation with available vaccines have all been proven to significantly reduce the risk of being infected, getting sick and or dying from the COVID-19 virus.”