PRESS RELEASE — On Friday February 26, 2021, the Ministry of Health and Wellness received confirmation of 207 new cases of COVID-19 from the Ezra Long Laboratory.These results are from a batch of 804 samples taken during the period February 8 to February 22, 2021. These samples were processed on February 24, 2021.
The Ezra Long Laboratory has finalized the processes to increase the testing capacity and will be completely clearing the backlog over the next 2 days, hence the big testing sample numbers processed.
All of these individuals were seen at various community respiratory clinics where they were assessed and tested for COVID-19. In-keeping with the national COVID-19 testing protocol, healthcare practitioners placed each of these individuals in-home quarantine while awaiting the return of their test results. Arrangements have since been made for the placement of these individuals into isolation. The contact tracing for these new cases is underway. The new cases bring the total number of cases diagnosed in the country to date to 3356.
The Ministry of Health also received confirmation of the recovery of 33 individuals bringing the total number of active cases in the country to date to 404. Presently, two of the active cases is requiring critical care at the Respiratory Hospital.
Today the Ministry of Health also reports one COVID-19 related death bringing the total number of deaths in the country to date to 35. Death #35 is an 80-year-old male from the Castries district with an underlying medical condition who passed away while in care.
In the coming days, the Ezra Long Laboratory will be clearing the remaining backlog of COVID-19 tests. As such, a large number of samples will be processed and results released. It is expected that the Ezra Long Laboratory will resume its normal testing of COVID-19 with the 24 hour turnaround time on Monday, March 1, 2021.