(Ministry of Health and Wellness)- On Tuesday, September 8, 2020 Saint Lucia recorded a new case of COVID-19. The individual is a 27 year old male visitor who arrived in Saint Lucia on Sunday, September 6, 2020. On the evening of Wednesday, September 9, 2020 the visitor was repatriated to the United States via private airline.
Investigations and contact tracing by the health team at the hotel on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 has indicated that the transmission risk is low thus far. The adherence by the hotel’s management and staff to the recommended protocols has resulted in low exposure during the limited period of his stay.
Some of the measures in place which assisted in the early identification and management of case included the following:
– Retesting at airport for all questionable test results
-Early identification and isolation of visitors with pending tests or positive tests
-Adherence with hotel protocols at all times
– Exhaustive contact tracing and testing by all possible contacts
The Ministry of Health and Wellness continues contact tracing today to ensure that all possible contacts are screened and tested when necessary. We continue working closely with the hotel’s management to ensure that all measures are in place for disinfection and sanitization to reduce transmission to hotel workers and guests.
More detailed information will be provided to the public as we progress with contact tracing, testing and investigations. The public is advised that protocols are still in place. These include the use of face masks in public and maintaining safe physical distance from others.
For more information please contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer or the Epidemiology Unit, at 468-5309/468-5317 respectively
