Medical officer shares update on the dwindling numbers of COVID-19 cases

St Lucia: The Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, Wellness & Elderly Affairs, Dr Glensford Joseph, on March 14, 2022, shared updates on the ‘dwindling numbers’ of COVID-19 cases in the nation.

He states that the government of St Lucia has been successful in managing the COVID-19 situation across the country.

He further notified that the ministry of health reminds everyone of the following important measures:

• Avoid large crowds and crowded areas, including large meetings and social gatherings
• Ensure safe physical distancing for face-to-face meetings and other activities.
• Ensure the protocols are maintained at all workplaces and sectors, on minibuses, gyms, hardware stores, supermarkets, and recreational facilities.
• Use face masks when in public places.
  Ensure regular cleaning of surfaces and sanitation of all business establishments and environments.
• If you develop respiratory symptoms, seek medical care and avoid contact with others.
• Ensure you remain in isolation if you are positive for COVID-19 or in quarantine if you were in direct contact with a case.

Dr Joseph further outlined that Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available at various medical health care centres, as per the published schedule. He further clarified that these vaccines are safe to administer and protect persons from deadly COVID-19 infection.

He further appealed the unvaccinated to get vaccinated urgently and asked organisations and public as well as private sectors to keep the number of COVID-19 cases low in St Lucia.

As per the health ministry officials, as of March 13, 2022, the total number of cases diagnosed in St Lucia is 22,857, and there are 38 active cases.

For the last seven (7) days, the daily infection rate of the country is 4.7 per 100,000 population per day, and the average Testing Positivity Rate is 5 percent compared to the national average of 16.6 percent. The transmission rate last week was 0.5.

Currently, the COVID-19 deaths reported in St Lucia are 365, of which three (3) patients are at the respiratory hospital, and one (1) case is severely ill, according to the officer.

The officer of the health ministry further outlined that St Lucia has witnessed dwindling numbers of COVID-19 cases and the COVID-19 public health indicators within the normal range. The ministry will continue to monitor the development of the rising cases of highly transmissible OMICRON variant B.A 2.