Today, Wednesday, June 9, 2021, the Ministry of Health and Wellness received confirmation of 8 new cases of COVID-19 from the Ezra Long Laboratory. This is from a batch of 332 samples that were taken on June 5. They were all processed on Tuesday, June 8.

These newly diagnosed individuals were seen at various community respiratory clinics, where they were assessed and tested for COVID-19. In keeping with the national COVID19 testing protocol, they were each placed in home quarantine by healthcare practitioners while awaiting receipt of their COVID-19 test results. Arrangements have since been made to place them in isolation. The contact tracing for these newly diagnosed individuals is underway.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has also received news of the recovery of 9 individuals, bringing the total number of active cases in country to 133. The overwhelming majority of our active cases are currently doing well, however, one patient has been relocated to the intensive care unit. The new positives bring the total number of cases diagnosed in country to date to 5156.

As of yesterday, Tuesday, June 8, a total of 29,023 individuals have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 20,042 of those have also received the second dose. The COVID-19 vaccination drive caters to individuals 18 years and older for the first dose of the vaccine as well as individuals receiving the second dose of the vaccine. The Ministry encourages all residents of Saint Lucia to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their family, and the wider society. 

Let us all continue practicing the infection prevention and control measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19. - Wash your hands frequently using soap and flowing water - Wear a mask in public places and ensure it covers the mouth, chin and nose - Maintain a physical distance from others - Use a bleach solution to sanitize frequently touched surfaces and frequently handled objects - Avoid contact with other people who have flu-like symptoms - If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, keep away from others and seek medical care

The Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue providing updates to the public as new information becomes available.