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The highest rates of testing for the COVID-19 virus in the eastern Caribbean and CARICOM

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The highest rates of testing for the COVID-19 virus in the eastern Caribbean and CARICOM

Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 20, 2020 (SKNIS): Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws said that St. Kitts and Nevis enjoys one of the highest rates of testing per capita in the eastern Caribbean and amongst CARICOM Member states for the COVID-19 virus.

Testing persons for the COVID-19 virus is a priority for the Ministry of Health and it will continue this process, she said, during the April 19 National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing.

Dr. Laws stated that at present the ministry utilizes two laboratories including the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Laboratory in Trinidad and the Next Generation Laboratory in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

She said that samples of persons with symptoms or symptomatic patients are sent to the CARPHA Laboratory in Trinidad for processing. However, CARPHA does not process samples from asymptomatic contacts of COVID-19 patients.

“In other words, CARPHA does not process samples from patients who are contacts of COVID-19 who do not have symptoms. These asymptomatic contacts are processed at the Next Gen Lab locally,” she said.

Dr. Laws noted that the list of contacts is significantly longer than the list of suspected cases. She added that this has created a large volume of samples to be processed at the Next Generation Lab.

“This can add to the waiting time for results as the labs capacity could be stretched if, for example, one symptomatic patient can have as many as 20 or more contacts,” she said.

The Chief Medical Officer said that sometimes a patient may need to be retested “the same way one can be called back to have a routine blood test repeated if the sample was deemed not adequate.”

“A person can also be retested if there is a change in their clinical status or to determine their progress. One person could have unknowingly had more than one potential exposure in time and may need to be retested. Retesting is therefore a critical part of the process of diagnosing COVID-19. Retesting is not unusual in the clinical setting,”she said.

Coronavirus SKN: Patients Require Two Negative Test Results Before Full Recovery

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Coronavirus SKN: Patients Require Two Negative Test Results Before Full Recovery

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 17th April 2020)-To date, the local COVID-19 team has been indicating that all fourteen (14) patients have been doing, and members of the public continue to be curious as to what is happening with regard to actual illness recovery details.

Medical Chief of Staff at the Joseph N. France General Hospital Dr. Cameron Wilkinson has pointed out that “a very stringent programme” in place-which includes two negative results- before a patient is fits the status of being fully recovered.

He made the disclosure at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing special edition held on Wednesday 15th April 2020.

“In the United States, for example, once a person has gone 72 hours without any symptoms, you might hear them say that they are recovered. But because we know that the virus, even though you’re symptom free can still be present at very low levels and although your ability to transmit the virus might be low at that point in time, our policy is to wait until fourteen (14) days after you have no symptoms and retest you and see if you get two negative tests. We have not proclaimed that anybody has recovered as yet even though they are all doing well,” Dr. Wilkinson shared.

As Thursday 16th April, 243 persons had been tested with the 14 confirmed cases, 199 confirmed negative and 30 results pending with 0 deaths recorded.

No one was quarantined in a government facility while 84 persons were quarantined at home, and the 14 patients in isolation and a total of 608 persons released from quarantine.

“There is a chance that individuals can experience relapse and so we have to be careful in so doing,” chimed in Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws.

Public Relations Officer of the NEOC Dr. Marissa Carty is advising individuals to be safe during the partial curfew days.

“Please be reminded that as you venture out on the partial curfew days adhere to all safety guidelines including wearing masks in public, sanitising your hand regularly, coughing or sneezing into the curve of the elbow or into a rag or tissue and dispose of it appropriately and practice the physical distance measures of at least six feet between persons. If we work together we will overcome together.’

Fresh NRP Opposition Leader Not Pleased With Late Swear-in Notice

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Fresh NRP Opposition Leader Not Pleased With Late Swear-in Notice

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Sunday 19th April 2020) – Fresh opposition leader Cleone Stapleton-Simmonds of the Nevis Reformation Part (NRP) feels disrespected by the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) administration on how it handled giving her notice of her swearing-in, arranged as part of the emergency sitting of parliament of the Nevis Island Assembly on Saturday 18th April 2020.

“Whether the extremely short notice (less than 24 hours) is deliberate or pure negligence, it is a clear reflection of CCM led administration’s lack of planning and organisation and ad hoc way of doing things,” she said in a statement via her official Facebook page shortly after 8:00AM, hours before the 11:00AM schedule event.

She continued: “The COVID 19 pandemic is no excuse for sloppy governance, lack of avid leadership and the continuous disrespect for the Nevis Island Assembly’s Opposition. I am reminded of what brought me into politics… Love for country before self, therefore regardless of the situation, I am equipped and ready to serve!”

Stapleton Simmonds, informed that she got a call the night before.

“My people I am in total awe… I received a phone call from the Clerk of the Nevis Island Assembly at about 8:24 p.m. last night, informing me that there will be an emergency sitting of the Nevis Island Assembly on Saturday 18th April, 2020 at 11 a.m, during which time I would be officially sworn in as the leader of the opposition. It is noteworthy that the sitting is unprecedentedly held on a Saturday during a state imposed 24 hour curfew.

“In observance of the COVID 19 pandemic, I did not openly complain about the fact that 6 weeks has elapsed since successfully contesting the Nevis 5 by-election which was held on March 5th 2020 and I was still not sworn in until now. I decided that it was a time for people, family, precaution and preparation so I placed politics aside in the interim,” she added.

Stapleton- Simmonds, who is a newcomer in the political arena and the first NRP elected female candidate, won the St. Thomas Nevis 5, taking over from former opposition leader and Joseph Parry who retired from active politics in December 2019.

After the ballots were counted, she garnered 514 votes, beating CCM’s Keith ‘Dis an Dat’ Scarborough who lost his chance for a fourth time now.

Robleto Hector is the current leader of the NRP.

Hairdressers, Barbers Can Do Business On Partial Curfew Days

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Hairdressers, Barbers Can Do Business On Partial Curfew Days

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Sunday 19th April 2020) – Hair salons and barber shops in St.Kitts-Nevis will be allowed to conduct business on the upcoming four (4) partial curfew days guided by the local regulations given concerning the coronavirus outbreak, effective Monday 20th April 2020.

Superintendent Cromwell Henry-speaking at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing held on Saturday 18th April- shared such information whilst noting that those group of business owners will be permitted to operate “provide that masks are worn and there is no crowding in your place of business.”

“I was advised that those business would be permitted to continue provided that the barber or hairstylist and the client both wear masks. So mask is very important in this situation where the customer and business operator cannot maintain that 6-feet distance. “The other clients who are waiting, however, they must maintain the 6-feet distance so you cannot have the barber shop or hair salon crowded with persons who are waiting; you have to minimise the number of persons who are in your salon or barbershop at any one particular point in time so that the social distancing and protocols can be observed,” he told.

He made reference to subsection one of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No. 3) Regulations where a business is able to continue its operations by its employees practicing social distancing and physical distancing in accordance with the provisions of the regulations , it may operate.

“This is very broad. So if your business is able to continue operations by having your employees practicing social distancing, physical distancing in accordance with the provisions, you may operate,” he said.

Superintendent Henry said businesses, in general, can only open on the days of limited operation which are on the days when the curfew is relaxed.

Hence, come Monday 20th, Tuesday 21st, Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th April, the permitted timeframe are between the hours of 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM daily. A total lockdown is scheduled for Wednesday 22nd.

“From 7PM nightly, there’ll be a curfew and persons will not be permitted to be out and on the days that are not limited curfew days, there’ll be a 24-hour curfew. The shelter in place provision still applies; only persons who are essential workers , only persons who are required to work under regulations six; that is if you are a security guard, medical personnel or if you have to travel for medical emergencies, only those persons are allowed to be out during the hours of curfew,” the senior police official stated.

Additionally, businesses and offices in general are being encouraged to do work via computer and other distance means.

“New regulations have been published and which provide for gradual opening of business activities which we have all been asking for some time. However, the basic framework is still in place to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. For example, businesses and offices are still encouraged to continue to operate or allow their employees to work remotely from home utilising virtual means. So if your company has the capability of as operating remotely or virtually, you are encouraged to continue doing that; don’t open your doors because you can.”

According to the social distancing and physical distancing protocols section, any establishment that is permitted to operate pursuant to the provisions of these Regulations, shall make the necessary arrangements to facilitate social distancing and physical distancing and shall:

(a) Ensure that all customers and staff maintain physical distancing of at least six feet (6ft.) in or outside of their business, if in a line to enter the business.

(b) Determine the number of persons that may be permitted in the establishment at any one time by permitting one person for every thirty square feet of store space.

(c) Place distance markers at least six feet apart, indicating where each customer must stand on a line at a check out point or other line.

(d) Place distance markers at least six feet apart on the outside of the establishment, indicating where customers must stand while waiting to enter the establishment.

COVID-19 Prank Callers Frowned Upon

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COVID-19 Prank Callers Frowned Upon

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 17th April 2020) – Individuals making prank calls to the COVID-19 hotline (311) likewise those playing ‘cat and mouse’ with the police during curfew hours have become frowned upon topics amidst the nation’s efforts in the fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Chairman of the National Disaster Mitigation Council Vincent Byron Jr. and Superintendent Crowmell Henry have both separately addressed such issues in asking mischief-makers to stop such behavior.

Notably, more than 70 individuals have been arrested for disobeying the ‘stay at home’ rules.

Speaking at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing held on Thursday 16th April 2020, Bryon described prank calls to the hotline as a “disturbing” matter observed by the NEOC.

“We consider this to be very serious. The 311 is a hotline for emergencies for those who may require assistance. The 311 is a line that give explanations and assistance to who would require assistance and it is ….unacceptable for those who do not have any proper business or proper question to try to give prank calls to the 311 hotline. This must stop. This must be terminated immediately. What I will say is that these calls will be monitored if necessary traced if anyone wants to continue to give false information or to undermine our 311 hotline. It is doing a service for you and for all of us and should be taken very seriously,” he remarked.

“This is not the time for prank,” added Chairman of the COVID-19 Task Force Lesroy Williams.

In sharing the law enforcement activities as it relates to curfew breakers, Superintendent Cromwell- at the NEOC media event on Thursday 16th April- informed that from the period of March 28th up to April 15th, there has been seventy-two (72) arrests.

He provided the breakdown: In Division A (Basseterre area, Cayon, Stapleton, Frigate Bay) thirty-eight 38 arrests , twenty-five (25) in Division B (area of West Farm to Lodge) and nine (9) in Division C which is Nevis.

According to him, 48 of the 72 persons have been charged and 24 have been informed that they would be reported via summons.

At a previous briefing on Tuesday 14th April, he warned pranksters to desist the ‘cat and mouse’ activities or face prosecution when caught.

No Specific Details Of COVID-19 Patients’ To Be Made Public Anymore

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No Specific Details Of COVID-19 Patients’ To Be Made Public Anymore

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 17th April 2020)- The gender, age and race details of individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be made public as part of the regular situation report by the local medical team in St. Kitts-Nevis.

Medical Chief of Staff at the Joseph N. France General Hospital Dr. Cameron Wilkinson while appearing on a special edition of National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing on Wednesday 15th April 2020 explained why citing the protection of patient privacy in a small society in which he also touched on social media tracking.

“Going forward, we would not be giving all that information because First and foremost we have to think about persons’ confidentiality, and we live in a small community. When I lived in the United States, I take off my white jacket and step outside of the hospital and no one knew me; I just another person walking in the street. Here, in this very small environment that we live, people know persons and so when you give a significant amount of information as it relates to the race, the age, the gender, persons have been tracking down persons and doing some of the worst things that you’d not expect people to be doing in an epidemic like this; putting persons pictures’ on Facebook etc. sometimes they’ve put the wrong picture. Now what are we to do, call and say or that is the wrong person so that when they have the right person we say you have the right persons?”

Dr. Wilkinson noted: “And so we need to protect persons’ confidentiality. When you get the figures out of Italy, New York etc., you get a number; you don’t get any details as it was a black man aged 25 living in Harlem.”

He then highlighted the way forward on the matter saying “what we would do in time is to provide the data so that persons can look at the [trends] and so maybe at the end of a month etc. we’ll say the 14 cases, they were divided by age, sex etc. so that persons can look at the [trends] .in trying to protect persons confidentiality.”

“For all those persons out there who are yes we should give their information out , you would say yes until it is you, until it is your mother, until it is your father, and sometimes persons only understand the severity of a situation when it touches home but we need to protect every single one. I know exactly what some of these persons went through when persons tracked them down …and we need to protect them; we need to look out for everyone,” he further noted.

Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) supplies St. Kitts-Nevis with 40,000 masks to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic

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Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) supplies St. Kitts-Nevis with 40,000 masks to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic

Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 16, 2020 (SKNIS): Forty thousand (40,000) facial masks were handed over to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis by His Excellency Tom Lee, Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St. Kitts and Nevis at a brief but significant ceremony on Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mark Brantley, accepted the donation on behalf of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and noted that the masks will benefit the people of the Federation.

“The donation of these masks will go a long way in ensuring that our people have some of the protection that we are asking for, and then when our people practice social distancing and in addition, when they are required to be outside that they wear a mask,” said Minister Brantley. “And this, I think equips the government in a meaningful way to be able to provide this support to our people.”

The foreign affairs minister used the occasion to express thanks to the Government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for the donation and noted that it was indeed a pleasure to receive the mask.

“…I thought it important enough that I be here as Minister of Foreign Affairs to speak to the Kittitian and Nevisian public and to convey to His Excellency so he can convey to the Government and people of Taiwan our deep appreciation for the solidarity and cooperation that your government and people continue to show to the Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Minister Brantley.

Ambassador Lee said that his government was more than willing to assist St. Kitts and Nevis, especially during such a difficult time.

“At this very difficult time, Taiwan as a strong ally of St. Kitts and Nevis, we are very willing to share our masks with our brothers and sisters in St. Kitts and Nevis. Taiwan can help and Taiwan is helping,” said His Excellency Tom Lee. “These masks were produced in Taiwan and are very good quality. They are the same as what we have in Taiwan.”

Taiwan’s Ambassador reassured the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis “that Taiwan as a very true friend will continue to work closely” with the people “in the fight against COVID-19.”

CoronavirusSKN: More Days Of Total Lockdown Ahead Under 28- Day State Of Emergency

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CoronavirusSKN: More Days Of Total Lockdown Ahead Under 28- Day State Of Emergency

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Wednesday 15th April 20202) – With 14 positive patients in isolation, 131 in quarantine and 33 test results pending, St. Kitts-Nevis is facing four (4) more days in total lockdown with the government’s plan to extend its state of emergency to 28 days- with another week added- to control the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), effective Saturday 18th April 2020.

According to the Federation’s Constitution, the government is required go to parliament in acting upon reason to go beyond 21 days, supported by expert advice, weeks after asking citizens and residents to stay home since 28th March 2020 when there were two patients on record.

That 21-day timeframe expires on Saturday 18th April, and come Friday 17th April an emergency sitting of parliament is scheduled to address the additional days regarding this health matter at hand.

Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Timothy Harris during an address to the nation on Wednesday 15th April disclosed the details of such by way of the government’s move guided by information from the medical team.

“The new regulations that come into force this weekend, will extend from Saturday [18th April] morning at 6:00 AM to the following Saturday [25th April] at 6am. They will provide for a 24- hour lockdown; a total lockdown, from 6:00 AM Saturday 18th until Monday 20th at 6:00 AM.”

He pointed out that the medical team has advised that there be a gradual relaxation of the limited or restricted curfews on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st and also on Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th between the hours of 6:00 AM and 7:00PM each day- with nightly curfews from 7:00 PM each evening to 6:00 AM the following morning.

As understood, Wednesday 22nd will see a total lockdown.

“In the middle of the week, from Tuesday 7:00 PM to Thursday 6:00 AM, there will be a further 24 hour lockdown, or total curfew,” PM Harris stated.

A total lockdown has been in place from Thursday 9th to Saturday 18th April with partial curfews from 6:00AM to 7:00 PM on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th as the shelter in place regulations will still be enforced. Only essential workers are allowed to leave their homes.

However, police, will continue to enforce the zooning plan introduced last week catering to others outside of the essential workers groupings who want to their leave residence to buy medicine, food or other necessities.

To this end, on Thursday 16th April Zone One will be able to travel to Basseterre to visit banks and other service providers, pharmacies, supermarkets and food outlets while Zone Two’s turn will be on Friday 17th April, 7:00 AM to 5:00PM.

In Nevis Zone 3- Thursday 16th April and Zone 4 Friday 17th from 7:00AM to 5:00PM.

Dr. Harris said come next week, there will be a gradual relaxation of restrictions and the zoning plan will be discontinued. 

“Four days will be made available to you if you must leave your home, but the shelter in place regulations will still be in force. This will allow you to better plan how to shop for food and other necessities. That is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday will be available for shopping and other essential elements to be taken care of with partial curfew in place. Wednesday will be a full 24-hour lockdown.”

According to him, the medical team recommends that the government keeps in place “regulations for the immediate future to reduce the risk of transmission and that we must still be mindful to practice social distancing in everything that we do.”

“The Cabinet of ministers have therefore determined that it is necessary to extend the state of emergency currently in place, to extend regulations made under the Emergency Powers Act in order to continue the fight against COVID-19. The St.Kitts and Nevis constitution provides that a declaration of emergency shall lapse after 21 days unless it is approved by a resolution of the National Assembly. Saturday 18th April will be 21 days since the state of emergency was proclaimed on the 28th of March. As a result, there will be an emergency sitting of the National Assembly on Friday 17th April at 10:00 AM. This sitting has been called to debate and pass a resolution to extend the state of emergency. Further regulations would be made to come into force once the current regulations expire in Saturday 18th April…,” he also explained.

SKELEC to open on Thursday and Friday

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SKELEC to open on Thursday and Friday

Basseterre, St. Kitts (April 15, 2020)—The St. Kitts Electricity Company Ltd. wishes to inform the public that its Main Office, located on Central Street, Basseterre, will be open on Thursday 16th April and Friday 17th April 2020 from 8:30am- 12pm. During this time customers will be able to make bill payments and visit the customer service department; vendors will also be able to collect cheques.

SKELEC is advising its customers that during the opening hours the company will be adhering to physical distancing guidelines and will only be allowing access to a few customers at a time.
Alternatively, bill payments can be made online by signing up for Ebiz at www.ebiz.skelec.kn or through the St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank, Republic Bank, and FirstCaribbean Bank portals.
To contact our Customer Service Department customers can call 465-2000 or email customerservice@skelec.kn for enquires and customer support.

The St. Kitts Electricity Company Ltd. would like to thank the public for its understanding and support during this time. For more SKELEC updates please visit our Facebook page: SKELEC- St. Kitts Electricity Company Ltd or log on to www.skelec.kn

General Post Office Notice

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General Post Office Notice

Please be advised that the General Post Office in Basseterre will be open from 8am to 1pm on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 April 2020 for the distribution & cashing of social security cheques.

The Parcel Post section of the General Post Office will also be open from 8am to 1pm on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 April 2020 to allow customers to collect essential items only.

The Sub-post offices in St.Kitts would also be open on the stated dates and times for the cashing of social security cheques.

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