Today Friday, May 7, 2021 the Ministry of Health and Wellness received confirmation of 47 new cases of COVID-19 from the Ezra Long Laboratory. These results are from a batch of 249 samples processed on May 6, 2021. This is the highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases noted for the last 12 weeks.
According to the Ministry of Health, the majority of the cases (63%) are from the southwestern belt of the island.
The forty-seven individuals were seen at various respiratory clinics in communities where they were assessed and tested for COVID-19. In keeping with the national COVID-19 testing protocol, they were each placed in home quarantine by healthcare practitioners awaiting receipt of their test results. Arrangements have been made to place these new cases into isolation. The contact tracing for these individuals is underway.
Confirmation was also received of the recovery of 11 individuals bringing the total number of active cases in country to 136. Presently, all of the active cases are doing well. The new cases bring the total number of cases diagnosed in country to date to 4654.
The increase in COVID-19 cases noted this week is of concern to the Ministry of Health. Therefore, the necessary public health systems are being strengthened to manage the situation.