Last Updated on May 24, 2021, 5:18 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Basseterre: St Kitts and Nevis’ Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Hazel Laws, issued an advisory for adults to stay safe while caring for a child who may have been exposed to COVID-19.
The information was announced on Sunday (May 23, 2021) during a special COVID-19 briefing at National Operations Center. At the special briefing, it was announced that two additional coronavirus cases have been detected, bringing the total number of active cases to seven.
Health authorities have also announced that Sandy Point Elementary School has now been temporarily closed due to an extensive test and contact detection exercise being conducted for all who work and attend the educational institution.
People can protect themselves by wearing a face mask while they are at home, because that is the problem currently being addressed. “Wear your face mask while you are at home and make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before eating and after caring for the child,” said Dr Laws.
She added that it could be difficult for anyone to give up the physical distance in a household, given space constraints. The caregiver(s) will also be expected to come into close contact with the child.
However, health experts recommend that the non-pharmaceutical measures as outlined above, as well as the disinfection of high contact areas such as doorknobs, counters, light switches and likewise, be very effective in containing any spread of the virus.
“You should wear your face mask and make sure your hands are clean after any physical interaction between you and the other family member. These are critical points to remember,” CMO Laws emphasized.
Additional advice will be shared with parents at Sandy Point Elementary School during an update and information session on Monday, May 24th. The Ministry of Education has announced that two meetings will be held at the school for two groups.
The first meeting is specifically for parents or guardians of children in Kindergarten and Grades 3 and 4. It starts at 09:30. The second meeting is specifically for parents or guardians of children in Grades 5 and 6. It begins at 11:00.
Parents/guardians of children in Grades 1 and 2 should not attend, as they themselves are in quarantine.
A team from the Ministry of Health will be on hand during the meetings to share the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and administer jabs to interested parties.
The Minister of Education, the Honorable Jonel Powell, said that the meeting is part of the ministry’s support and the government for the school.
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.
