Basseterre, St.Kitts (Friday 28th May 2021)- The Department of Labour is appealing to employers in St.Kitts and Nevis to safeguard employment status and to continue the payment of wages and salaries to workers in quarantine.
Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force Abdias Samuel read a notice on behalf of the Commissioner of Labour Shernel James during the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing on Wednesday 26th May 2021.
“In light of the current situation regarding the now 19 active cases of COVID-19, as reported today, in our Federation, the department of Labour is appealing to all employers to be considerate and empathetic towards workers who have been ordered by the health authorities to enter quarantine. The Department of Labour asks that employers preserve the employment of the individuals so affected and where possible continue to pay wages, salaries in full or up to at least 35% as quarantine workers may be able to claim sickness benefits in accordance with schedule 8 part 3 section 9: 2 of the Social Security Act,” the document stated.
It was further stated that: “The Department of Labour also strongly encourages employers to insist that all staff members/workers adhere to all of the COVID-19 safety protocols to reduce the spread of the virus, let us continue to thrive towards the maintenance of harmonious working relationships during this pandemic and put our best effort forward in working together to defeat COVID-19.”
Government is expected to put together a document addressing measures to see to concerns and arrangements surrounding COVID-19 quarantine and isolation in the interest of employers and workers.
Minister of Labour Wendy Phipps when quizzed on the topic
at a recent NEOC briefing said: “When it comes to quarantine and isolation, it is an issue where an individual or group of individuals would have been placed in that type of situation by the state authority on public health who happens to be the Chief Medical Officer , and it is done in the interest protecting the health and safety of the public at large while at the same time you give the affected individuals the opportunity to recover from their illness or to be isolated during a period wherein a determination is being made as to the illness especially if it is something that is infectious.”
She added: “ As a result of that the Ministry of Labour in collaboration with the legal department through the office of the Attorney General is currently approaching that particular matter, and as a matter of fact, we would have over the course of the last 24 hours been preparing a document which would be applicable to the Social Security Act and also falls in line with the provisions of the Quarantine Act, the Public Health Act and of course by no means least COVID-19 Control and Prevention Act, and essentially what it states is that if an individual is away from work by border of being ill or by a state authority then that person is to be considered as being out of the realm of decent work that they would normally have and then when we take into account the Social Security Act…it speaks to sickness benefit, that particular part of the legislation also speaks to that as well.”
The Labour Minister also stated: “The fact that when someone is quarantine or isolation as long as they are being gainfully employed and covered under the Social Security Act by virtue of being registered and by virtue of having regular contributions being paid in by the employer on his or her behalf that person’s period of quarantine and isolation will be considered to that extent.”
In replying to a question of concern about whether workers would be penalised for having to go into quarantine or isolation, Minister Phipps expressed hope that “employers through their own humanity and own regard for public health regulations would recognise that these workers are not in isolation or quarantine because of something frivolous that they would have done on their own, and as such, however, it also then means the requisite paperwork between the Ministry of Health and the Social Security admission would have to be put in place to justify that with the full involvement of the employer.”
Labour Commissioner Asks Employers To Pay Salaries To Workers In Quarantine
SCASPA Vaccination Entry Notice Not Recalled Despite Gov’t Distancing
Basseterre, St.Kitts (Friday 28th May 2021)- Attorney General Vincent Byron Jr. is claiming that a recent vaccination entry notice issued by the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) does not have the support of the government.
While responding to a question posed at the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing on Wednesday 26th May 2021 about the document issued that day, he said that it is hoped that such “would be disregarded at this time.”
Byron remarked: “This document was brought to the attention of the government and I would say that it has been inadvertently published at this point in time, the Cabinet have given no such consideration or decision, and so we would want to say that until such time as the Cabinet has issued or supported such a decision ,we will hope that this document would be disregarded at this time.”
Up to press time on the night of Thursday 27th May, the document labelled a public announcement, which was originally posted to SCASPA’s page at 4:03 PM the day before, remained published on its official social media page via Facebook.
Details of the notice sought to “advise the Public, that effective June 1, 2021, all persons wishing to conduct business at the Port’s Facilities (both Air and Sea), must present proof of COVID-19 Vaccination or a valid negative RT-PCR Test taken within the past 14 (fourteen) days.”
Dr. Wilkinson Disagrees With Naming COVID-19 Cases
Basseterre, St.Kitts (Friday 28th May 2021)-Naming the COVID-19 patients so as to help in contract tracing exercises is not the position of local health authorities unlike some members of the public who are of the view that such could be effective in a small society like St.Kitts-Nevis.
A question of this nature was raised at the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing on Wednesday 26th May 2021, receiving the response from the Chief of Staff at the Joseph N. France Officer, Dr. Cameron Wilkinson.
Dr. Wilkinson, a member of the National COVID-19 Task Force, gave the disagreement reasoning having replied to the questioner who is of the opinion that naming individuals will assist in others being able to come forward and support the contact tracing process since one cannot connect one’s self to a case number.
He talked about protecting the patients from being victimised, the responsibility of all to assume that everybody has COVID-19 in observing the safety protocols as well as the non-issue for the contact tracing personnel.
“Let me just say that everyone is entitled to their own opinion so the person rightly said it was their opinion but I just want to state some facts here. Every day we pass persons on the street and we don’t know their names. Everyday persons who travel on public transportation… I mean, they might sit next to them but they don’t know their names.”
He continued: “Every day, you could go to offices and there are some persons you know, there are some persons you don’t know but the reason why we tell you in this pandemic you need to wear a mask, you need to social distance and you need to sanitize is that you need to assume that everyone is positive and by assuming that everyone is positive, you can decrease the spread of the virus if you happened to be in contact with anyone who has the virus and so there is absolutely no reason why one needs to know the 15 or 16 persons who happen to have been confirmed to have COVID-19. We have already said you may have confirmed cases but there might be some persons who are not confirmed and so you need to assume that everyone has the virus.”
“You said that the virus is not a disgraceful virus; the virus is a deadly virus and it is because it is deadly why we ask you to do those things. I can also tell you too that the persons who do the contact tracing etc., they have sufficient information when they are coming to the persons who would have been confirmed to do the necessary contact tracing without putting the person’s name out there in the public for the public to come and give us the information,” Dr. Wilkinson added.
In further commenting on another question about the link(s) in relation to the latest announced cases, he stated: “What all we need to know now is that the virus is back. We have persons here who are positive and you need to do what is necessary to contain the virus and so your personal individual responsibility is what you need to know in decreasing the spread but you don’t necessarily have to know the details of these persons because what is happening is that persons are beginning to victimize persons and it is not a scorn and we can help to decrease the scorn by keeping the persons information out of the general public.”
Brantley Addresses Mental Health In SKN Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
Basseterre, St.Kitts (Friday 28th May 2021)- Premier Mark Brantley has informed that the mental health register in St.Kitts and Nevis has increased noting ” we feel a lot of that is connected to COVID.”
“…I know I that many have focused on the economic impact of lock downs but let us not forget that there is also a social and psychological impact…,’ he stated while responding to a question at his monthly press conference held on Tuesday 25th May 2021.
Brantley was quizzed about the potential for a lockdown and the effect such would have on the economy.
“It would be devastating. Our finances are already at an all-time low. Our main engine tourism is still substantially offline. So if we go into lock down where our restaurants and our bars our business communities shut down, the potential for that of course is that the country comes to a standstill, and I know I that many have focused on the economic impact of lock downs but let us not forget that there is also a social and psychological impact that I believe is still not yet fully understood and still not fully evaluated.”
He continued: “What does impact do to the psyche of our people; the inability to move about? Humans are by their nature, they are social creatures. What happens when a government tells you that you are essentially isolated from others? If you live alone for example, you may well get up every morning and look forward to going to work to engage with work mates, you may look forward to church on a Sunday to engage with members of the congregation. All of a sudden you are told that you cannot leave your house so all of that engagement you look forward to each week disappears. What does that do you? These are still things that are uncertain but I can tell you here in St.Kitts and Nevis, our mental health register has increased in terms of persons who have sought assistance, our register for those seeking counselling has increased, and we feel a lot of that is connected to COVID.”
Brantley went on to talk about such unseen part of the health crisis.
“That is the unseen part of the health crisis of COVID; that people are having psychological, mental, emotional issues as a result of lockdown, joblessness, hopelessness so all of these are factors that we have to take into account.”
According to him, the decision to lockdown will not be a light decision.
“It will have to be based on the evidence, it will have to be based on the fact that there is an outbreak that we feel the only way to do is to lockdown. At this point, I hasten to say that based on discussions that I was a part of last night, that is not on the table but I do not rule anything out because COVID is a far moving threat. Today it is not here, tomorrow we wake up and we hear we have 15 or 16 cases. That is the nature of COVID, and so no lock down on the table at the moment but it is a rapidly evolving situation and we would have to see that the contact tracing that is still ongoing takes us today, tomorrow and over the next few days.”
Meanwhile, information gleaned online from www.paho.org on the topic of ‘Mental Health and COVID-19’ shares that: “Fear, worry, and stress are normal responses during times when we are faced with uncertainty or the unknown. So it is normal and understandable that people are experiencing these feelings in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Added to the fear of contracting the virus in a pandemic such as COVID-19 is the impact of the significant changes to our daily lives brought on by efforts to contain and slow down the spread of the virus. Faced with the challenging new realities of social distancing, working from home, temporary unemployment, home-schooling of children, and lack of physical contact with loved ones and friends, it is important that we look after our mental, as well as our physical, health.”
Notably, materials relating to looking after one’s mental health during the COVID pandemic is found on the page, and additional resources is expected to be added as such becomes available.
PAHO is the Pan American Health Organization and WHO- The World Health Organization.
COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments Increase As Cases Rise
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 28th May 2021)- In the space of a week with the announcement of nineteen (19) active cases to date, appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine in St.Kitts-Nevis have been increasing with more than 50 % of the target herd immunity population aimed at 70% having gotten the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The federation has recorded 64 cases (50 in St.Kitts and 14 in Nevis) in total of which 45 have recovered. Case # 46-which was the only active one at that time- was confirmed on Wednesday 19th May.
Speaking at the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing on Wednesday 26th May 2021, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws said at the end of work day on Tuesday 25th May 2021 23, 340 doses have been administered with 17, 579 in 5,761 in Nevis.
Notably, close to the end of work day on Wednesday 19th May, there were 19, 320 vaccine doses administered (St.Kitts-14,433 and Nevis-4,887).
“As at yesterday 52 per cent of the target population have been covered with the first dose of this vaccine, and by extension, 19 per cent (5,968) of the target population is fully vaccinated,” she said at the most recent briefing.
The government noted that the largest number of doses of vaccine administered in a single day for the year, since the vaccination rollout started on 22nd February, was recorded that day (Tuesday) with 1,062 doses.
This media house understands that at the end of work day on Wednesday 26th May, there were 24,297 total doses administered (18,373 in St.Kitts and 5,924 in Nevis) with 6,561 having had the first dose.
Dr. Laws continued at the May 26th briefing: “… the federation is monitoring 19 active cases. This is the highest number of cases we’ve had at any one time since we started our response within the first quarter of 2020. We are working assiduously to contain this expanding cluster of COVID-19 cases. Please note the terminology of ‘cluster of cases’. At present this describes the current transmission pattern in our Federation.”
She said the Ministry of Health has been working throughout the day 24/7 in terms of their contact tracing.
“This extensive exercise started last week Wednesday when we identified the first case in this most recent cluster. The aim is to identify, quarantine and test all the possible contacts of the recent cases.”
Over 700 individuals were tested up to Tuesday 25th May and 200 were expected to be tested the following day.
Among the positive COVID-19 cases are seven (7) children in the age range 3 to 15 years old. Nine adults between the age group of 33 to 49 years have also been confirmed. Additionally, six of these cases hail from the same household.
The latest three additional cases were confirmed within the last 24 hours of Wednesday 26th May.
All active cases are said to be in stable condition.
Front Page Image used for illustration purposes only sourced from www.sciencemag.org published in November 2020 had the caption: ‘This man in Ohio [US] was among the tens of thousands who received Moderna’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine in a recent trial that demonstrated 94.1% efficacy.’
Curfew Among 10 Measures As COVID-19 Cases Increase In SKN
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Tuesday 25th May 2021)- A curfew imposed from 11:00PM to 5:00 AM daily starting from Tuesday 25th May 2021 has been accepted by Cabinet as one of the ten (10) recommendations from local health professionals.
Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris, in an address to the nation said such will be “for 14 days in the first instance to decrease the possibility of continued spread of the virus.”
Notably, as of Monday 24th May St.Kitts-Nevis recorded fifteen (15) active cases following an update of six additional cases as part of an ongoing contact tracing exercise.
The full list of measures to be undertaken “In order to contain the spread of the deadly virus” as disclosed by PM Harris are as follows:
1. A curfew will be imposed from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. daily starting from tonight and for 14 days in the first instance to decrease the possibility of continued spread of the virus.
2. The number of passengers on public transportation (buses, ferries etc.) will be reduced to 50 percent of established capacity. This is to facilitate physical distancing and a resultant reduction in the risk of transmission of the virus.
3. Strict adherence to non-pharmaceutical measures that is mask wearing, sanitizing and physical and social distancing must be observed in the public and at places of business and worship. Remember your personal responsibility in this fight is of utmost importance.
4. All contact sports are suspended for the next two weeks.
5. Schools will remain closed for two weeks in the first instance to facilitate contact tracing, testing and other necessary precautions consistent with the COVID-19 Prevention and Control Act. Parents are advised to keep children safely at home. No local examinations will be administered during this period of school closure. The Ministry of Education has already begun to engage CXC to discuss alternative arrangements for any examinations scheduled during this time. Students, teachers and parents will be subsequently informed of the relevant decisions taken by CXC. Teachers will engage students from grades 3 and higher via the established online modality of MS Teams.
6. Absolutely no mass events will be allowed as these could be super spreader events.
7. Funerals must adhere to COVID-19 protocols and be mindful of capacity in the church.
8. Surveillance and extended contact tracing will continue.
9. Effective May 29, 2021 only fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed entry into St Kitts and Nevis until further notice. Exemptions will be considered for citizens and residents.
10. Given the importance of vaccines in the protection of persons from the worse effects of COVID-19, and in the interest of public health, we have extended the hours for administering of vaccines. Health Centres will be opened between the hours 8:00 am to 6:00 pm in St Kitts from Monday to Friday and in Nevis between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Extended hours of service will apply on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until further notice. Please note that vaccines are a scare commodity globally but my Government continues to work behind the scenes to secure extra doses of vaccines so that we would have sufficient to reach a herd immunity threshold.
According to PM Harris: “My priority as your Prime Minister and leader of your Team Unity Government is to ensure the health, safety and security of every citizen and resident of this Federation.”
St. Kitts And Nevis Records Six (6) Additional Case Of COVID-19 On May 24, 2021
This evening, Monday May 24, 2021, I wish to update you on the present COVID-19 situation. Within the last twenty-four hours we have recorded six (6) additional cases, all from the same household. These six new cases are referred to as Case # 55 through to Case # 60.
The individuals are in isolation at a COVID-19 certified facility. These additional cases bring the total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases to 60 with 46 cases for St. Kitts and 14 cases for Nevis. Please note that 45 cases have fully recovered with zero deaths. There are now fifteen (15) active cases. These patients are stable and are being monitored.
As we continue the extensive contact tracing exercise, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education wish to inform you of the proactive decision to close all schools in the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis. All public and private schools in St. Kitts & Nevis, at the Early Childhood, primary, and secondary levels are physically closed for the next two weeks effective Tuesday May 25, 2021. This is in an effort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The Ministry of Health continues its robust contact tracing exercise which began on Wednesday May 19, 2021 and we will update you as the situation unfolds. We will broaden our web of contact tracing and testing to identify all possible contacts. The aim is to break the chains of transmission of the COVID-19 virus and contain this cluster of cases. The Ministry of Health wishes to assure the public that all measures are being taken to restrict the spread of coronavirus.
We urge you to adhere to the COVID-19 prevention and control measures. These include wearing a face mask, maintaining good hand hygiene, maintaining physical distance of at least 6 feet from others when in public places and avoiding crowds and events. These non-pharmaceutical measures work, and we are encouraging everyone to comply with them especially at this time.
We remind you that the AstraZeneca / Oxford COVID-19 vaccine is our main tool in fighting this virus and we urge you to come forward and get vaccinated. By getting vaccinated you are not only protecting yourself but those who cannot be vaccinated such as all of our school children. We continue to encourage persons to empower themselves with the facts about the benefits of the AstraZeneca Oxford Vaccine and take advantage of this opportunity to be vaccinated.
Let us work together to maintain and protect the health and wellbeing of the people of the Federation.
More Positive COVID-19 Results Recorded
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Monday 24th May 2021)-Information coming from the office of theChief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws on Monday 24th May 2021 has revealed that there are two more confirmed COVID-19 cases in St.Kitts-Nevis , one day after an update revealed two others.
“Since the special COVID-19 Press Briefing yesterday afternoon, we have recorded two (2) additional cases identified in our investigation of case #46. These two new cases are referred to as Case #53 and Case #54. Case #53 is an imported case and is closely related to cases #47. The individual is an inbound passenger who arrived in the Federation on May 9, 2021. Case #54 is a national and has close contact with Case #49,” it was stated.
To date, there are nine active cases out of the recorded 54.
Dr. Laws said the individuals are in isolation at a COVID-19 certified facility.
St. Kitts Water Services Advises of Severe Dry Season
In St. Kitts, our Public Water Supply is 100% dependent on rainfall. According to information from our Meteorological Services, so far for 2021 (Jan-April) we have received a total of approximately 6 inches of Rainfall. In 2020 for the same period, we received a total of 12 inches; the long term (climatological) average for this period is 15 inches. We have therefore received half of the rainfall we received last year and a third of what is typical or normal.
This translates to a Severe Dry Season or Drought. The Water Services Department has been doing our best to cope with this lack of rainfall. We are now asking all citizens/residents to do their part to conserve what little water we have:
Starting immediately:
(1) Check your premises for any leaks and have them repaired immediately.
(2) Report any suspected leaks to the Water Services Department (467-1005/467-1447) or 664-9119
(3) Persons caught watering grass/lawn will be disconnected from the Public Supply.
(4) Avoid the use of hoses to wash vehicles and buildings; use a bucket
(5) Certain non-domestic users of water will be limited
(6) Please monitor your usage of water and be as conservative as practicable.
The co-operation of all is greatly appreciated. We regret any inconvenience which may be due to the periodic interruption in supply as a result of low storage in our reservoirs.
For more information regarding the Water Services Department, contact the Communications Officer, Che-Raina Warner at 467-1464.
New CAO and pension scheme for RCN civil servants
News item | 20-05-2021 | 21:38 (www.statiagovernment.com)
ST. EUSTATIUS-On Thursday May the 20th, 2021, negotiators from the unions and RCN signed an agreement on adjustment of the pension scheme and the employment conditions for central government civil servants in the Caribbean Netherlands.
In addition to the pension agreements, new terms and conditions of employment were agreed upon, starting in 2021 for a period of three years. This year, all central government civil servants can count on a one-time extra payment. For civil servants in high-risk professions, there will also be a structural allowance as of 2022. Furthermore, a 36-hour work week will be introduced from 2022 onwards. This should benefit the work-life balance of employees. And this also creates approximately 50 new jobs at the Central Government on the three islands of the Caribbean Netherlands. The contribution to employment was very important for RCN and the unions, especially because of the economic consequences of Covid-19.
In order to prevent a substantial decrease in income when employees retire, the retirement age will be increased to 66 years as of 2030. In addition, the accrual of pension will be limited to a maximum annual income of $47,500 and the pension in case of disability will be modernized. With these measures, central government civil servants do not have to pay an additional premium to secure their pensions in the future.