St Lucia: Ministry of Health and Wellness got confirmation of 207 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, February 26, 2021.
The results have been obtained from a batch of 804 samples taken during the period February 8 to February 22, 2021.
The Ezra Long Laboratory has settled the processes to increase the testing procedures and will be finally clearing the backlog over the next two days; hence the big testing specimen numbers processed.
All of these people were seen at various community respiratory clinics, where they were assessed and tested for coronavirus. In-keeping with the national coronavirus testing protocol, healthcare practitioners placed each of these people in-home quarantine while awaiting the return of their test results.
Adjustments have since been made for the placement of these individuals under quarantine. The contact tracing for these new coronavirus cases is underway. The new coronavirus cases bring the total number of cases diagnosed in the nation to date to 3356.
The Ministry of Health also got confirmation of the recovery of 33 people bringing the total number of active coronavirus cases in the country to date to 404. Presently, two of the active coronavirus cases is requiring critical care at the Respiratory Hospital.
Ministry of Health also states one coronavirus-related death bringing the total number of deaths in the country to date to 35. Death #35 is an 80-year-old male from the Castries district with an underlying medical condition who passed away while in care. The Ministry of Health extends sympathies to the family and closed ones of this individual.
As explained earlier, over the next couple of days, the Ezra Long Laboratory will be clearing the remaining backlog of coronavirus tests. As such, a large number of specimens will be processed and results released. It is expected that the Ezra Long Laboratory will recommence its normal testing of coronavirus with the 24 hour turnaround time on Monday, March 1, 2021.
