A TEAM HAS BEEN DEPLOYED TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS AT THE HOME AND WORKPLACE OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

The Department of Health and Wellness has received information concerning a positive case of COVID-19 detected in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The individual in question is a Saint Lucian national who travelled to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and was screened and tested as per the island’s national protocols. On July 21, the sample was tested at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and results of the PCR test was confirmed for COVID-19.

The Department of Health and Wellness has since deployed a team to conduct investigations both at the home and at the workplace of the individual. The team from the Department of Health is currently doing the necessary contact tracing and investigations in order to determine the source of infection as well as level of exposure of contacts in order to interrupt the chain of transmission. The team consists of officers from the Epidemiology Unit, the Infectious Diseases Unit, Community Nursing, Bureau of Health Education and Environmental Health.

We operate from a holistic approach ensuring that not just screening and contact tracing is done but also thorough inspection of the surroundings and adherence to protocols. All staff members will be screened and tested as deemed necessary by the team. Staff will also receive guidance from the team on home quarantine and how to keep themselves and their families safe.

Discussions are ongoing with the management of the establishment and guidance has been issued to ensure that staff remains quarantined until completion of this mandatory quarantine period. Guidance on infection prevention and control will also be re-emphasized. 

The Department of Health and Wellness takes this opportunity to remind persons of the need to adhere to the protocols for home quarantine. We continue to receive reports of violations of home quarantine. These protocols have been put in place to protect public, especially our most vulnerable. We appeal to persons to be more responsible and to comply with the guidelines and protocols that they have agreed to. 

Persons are encouraged to ensure the use of a face mask when in public, along with maintaining the six feet physical distance, cover mouth and nose with disposable tissue when coughing and sneezing and also ensure regular hand washing with soap and water or an alcohol based hand sanitizer where soap and water is not available. 

The Department of Health and Wellness will continue providing regular updates on COVID-19.