Last Updated on March 22, 2020, 12:45 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Saint Lucia has confirmed that there are a total of two confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country. The results which were received on Friday, for 11 patients tested for coronavirus, were all negative.
Ninety-five nationals from Martinique had arrived in Saint Lucia on Friday. Their arrival in the country was agreed with Consul General Ms Joanna Salton, presently in Martinique.
All of the passengers had been briefed from Martinique. So, to avoid being quarantined, 40 passengers chose to stay back in Martinique.
On arrival of these passengers at the ports of Saint Lucia, they were taken to the Rodney Bay Public Health Facility quarantine site.
However, the passengers agitated against being quarantined and requested to back home.
The Royal St. Lucia Police Force provided all the necessary support required, and some of the passengers settled very late in their rooms.
However, special provisions were put in place for pregnant women, those with small children and the elderly. Quarantine conditions include single-room boarding, but there are exceptions made in the case couples who are allowed to board together and families.
QUarantine is needed for the people who are well and may have been exposed to a communicable disease. It includes isolation of the patient.
Active monitoring of the patient is done, which also includes temperature checks after regular intervals and also, checking for respiratory symptoms.
Various hotels have been used to set up Quarantine centres have for facilitating the large numbers of nationals returning to Saint Lucia and also for those non-nationals who may arrive in the country out of concern.
The public has been reminded to focus on maintaining hygiene and following the advice to stop the spread of the virus which include, use of sanitizers, regular washing of hands with water and soap and covering the mouth and nose with tissues or a piece of clothing while coughing or sneezing.
In addition to these, avoid close contact with anyone showing flu-like symptoms such as coughing and sneezing and reaching out for medical attention and sharing one’s travel history with one’s health care provider.
The Government has urged the people to follow these advises to limit the spread of coronavirus and diminishing the possibilities of new cases.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
