Today Tuesday January 12, 2021 the Ministry of Health received confirmation of twelve new cases of COVID-19 from a batch of 100 COVID-19 tests conducted by the Ezra Long Laboratory. This brings the total number of cases diagnosed in country to date to 490.
All twelve cases are Saint Lucian nationals ranging in age from 11 years to 55 years.
Three cases are from the Babonneau district, four from Gros-Islet district and five from the Castries district.
These individuals were all seen at a community respiratory clinic, where they were assessed and tested for COVID-19. They were placed in quarantine by a health practitioner pending the receipt of their test results. Epidemiological links have been established for eleven of these cases thus far.
Investigations are on-going by the contact tracing team to determine the possible existence on an epidemiology link of the one case. Arrangements have been made to place these individuals into isolation.
The Ministry of Health also reported one recovery for today, January 12, 2021. There are currently 170 active cases, all being stable and none requiring critical care.
The Ministry of Health cautions the public that given the rate of increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past few days, our personal choices and actions in protecting ourselves and our loved ones need to be closely monitored and managed. We can overcome COVID-19 but this will only be possible if we daily keep at the forefront of our minds the actions which can keep us all safe.
Our collective commitment to the infection prevention guidelines can reduce COVID-19 infections.
– Keep washing your hands often during the day ensuring you use both flowing water and soap
– Always wear a mask when in public places and it must cover the mouth, nose and chin
– Maintain the recommended distance of six feet from others where ever possible
– 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 at the closest community respiratory clinic
The Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue providing updates as new information becomes available.