COVID-19 Situation Update
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
by Ministry of Health
OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS THE NEIGHBORING ISLAND OF MARTINIQUE WITH THREE DIFFERENT VARIANTS OF THE VIRUS IN CIRCULATION.

On a global level, the new cases of COVID-19 have increased for the 8th consecutive week, with more than 5.2 million new cases reported in the last week. An 8% increase in deaths was also noted last week. The countries reporting the highest number of new cases include India, United States of America, Brazil, Turkey and France.

On a regional level, we note many islands also managing new waves. Of particular concern is our neighboring island of Martinique which registered 871 documented new cases in the last week with 3 different variants of concern circulating.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the global public health risk remains very high. This resurgence in the last four months is driven by the emergence of the SARS-CO-V 2 Variants of Concern and inconsistent use of public health and social measures.

In Saint Lucia, we have noted a total of 4,502 confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date of which 4,327 of these cases have fully recovered. We have one critical patient in care and 97 active cases. We have recorded a total of 73 COVID-19 related deaths to date. Also, the Ministry of Health continues the COVID-19 vaccination process on a daily basis across the island.

At this point, we note a decrease in new cases diagnosed, reduced number of people with respiratory illness, reduced admissions at the Respiratory Hospital and reduced numbers accessing care at the clinics. We, the Ministry of Health thank the public for their cooperation in adhering to measures to reduce COVID-19 transmission. 

The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the global and regional situation and strengthen protocols to ensure evidence based measures are used to guide recommendations and protocols as we continue to live safely in a COVID-19 environment.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness alerts the public that we are still at high risk to community outbreak due to the following:

  • -  High risk in the international tourism markets

  • -  The illegal entry of persons from countries of high risk who are roaming in communities

  • -  The non- adherence of citizens to home quarantine

  • -  The non- adherence of visitors to hotel protocols

  • -  The reduced use and poor use of face masks in public places

  • -  The increased mass crowd events noted across the island

  • -  The non- adherence to established protocols at business places

  • -  The crowding of public buses without mask use -

    At this stage in the epidemic, to maintain the gains thus far and to continue facilitating the safe re- opening of the country it is imperative that we all take the necessary urgent infection prevention and control measures to reduce transmission to ourselves and family at this time.