Covid Cases Slowing Down Again
1 March 2021
There are signs that the number of COVID cases in St Lucia is slowing down again.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness yesterday received confirmation of 34 new cases of COVID-19 from the Ezra Long Laboratory. This is from a batch of 197 samples taken during the period February 12 to February 26.
All of the 34 cases were seen at various community respiratory clinics where they were assessed and tested for COVID-19. Each of these individuals were placed in home quarantine by health practitioners while awaiting the return of their test results, in-keeping with the national COVID-19 testing protocol.
Arrangements have since been made to place these individuals into isolation. The contact tracing for these individuals is underway.
The new cases bring the total number of cases diagnosed in country to date to 3390.
The Ministry of Health also received confirmation of the recovery of 103 individuals bringing the total number of active cases in country to date to 304. Presently, two of the individuals diagnosed with the COVID-19 are requiring critical care at the Respiratory Hospital.
Yesterday the Ministry of Health also reported one COVID-19 related death bringing the total number of deaths in country to date to 36. Death #36 is a 90 year old male from the Vieux-Fort district with underlying medical illnesses who passed away while in care.
Last Friday, the Ministry reported 207 cases, but they were from a batch of 804 samples taken during a two week period, February 8 to February 22.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of health is seeking to improve its response to COVID-19 with the introduction of a new digital tool in the management of this pandemic “758 Care Alert.”
This mobile contact tracing app is now ready for use and available in the Google and Apple Play Stores. Digital technologies are being harnessed to support the public-health response to COVID-19 worldwide. They now play an important role in a comprehensive response to outbreaks and pandemics, complementing conventional public-health measures, and thereby contribute to reducing the human and economic impact of COVID-19.