Following the announcement of the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday, January 30, 2020, that the outbreak of novel coronavirus had become a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the Ministry of Health and its partners escalated preparedness in tandem with the elevated status of the outbreak.

As of February 6, 2020, the WHO reported a total 28, 276 cases globally. The risk in China continues to be flagged as very high by the World Health Organisation and the global Public Health Emergency of International Concern remains in effect, with all states required to remain of high alert for the virus.

On Thursday, February 6, the Ministry of Health conducted consultations with the Tourism Sector which included representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association and the Tourism Authority. This consultation aided in streamlining plans for engaging the management and staff across this sector, to implement a coherent response to the Novel Corona Virus that will ensure protection of the tourism product while ensuring adherence to sound public health practice to reduce the risk of exposure to any infection.

On Monday February 3, the Ministers of Health of the CARICOM region, including Saint Lucia, were engaged in an extraordinary meeting to collectively discuss the current threat of the Novel Corona Virus and the response, both at the individual country level and as a CARICOM region. This discussion proved fruitful as it highlighted heightened preparedness across the CARICOM region and also brought to the fore opportunities for closer collaboration amongst states.

Throughout the week, training and capacity building seminars continued with key sector partners which included the Saint Lucia Fire Service and private medical practitioners.

To date, Saint Lucia has effectively undertaken home quarantined for four (4) individuals who have journeyed from mainland China to Saint Lucia. All of these four people returned to Saint Lucia with no symptoms of illness suggestive of Novel Coronavirus infection but who are required by national health authorities to undergo the mandatory monitoring for a period of fourteen (14) days. During this quarantine period, these individuals are to remain within their homes and they do not engage in any form social interaction as a precautionary measure. All of these individuals have willingly complied with this public health requirement and have been doing well, with no indication of any health concerns. Once the fourteen (14) days of quarantine are completed and medical clearance is provided, these persons shall be allowed to continue their normal functions.

Saint Lucia continues to adhere to guidelines and protocols to ensure that active surveillance is conducted at key sites which include ports and medical facilities, that prevention measures are promoted and that the requisite resources are available to support case management and contact tracing in the event of a case of the virus presenting in country.

The Ministry of Health continues to remind the public of the importance of practicing the standard recommendations to prevent the spread of infection. These include: regular hand washing with soap and water or alcohol based hand sanitizer where soap and water is not available; cover mouth and nose with disposable tissues or clothing when coughing and sneezing; avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing; seek medical attention and share your travel history with your health care provider if you have symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness either during or after travel.