Guidelines for COVID-19 Testing and Quarantine
Written by Radio Caribbean International on January 27, 2021
The Ministry of Health and Wellness informs the general public that the management of patients with respiratory symptoms, including sample collection for COVID-19, is allowed both within the public and private sector. Within the public health care system, individuals requiring tests can go to any of the five community respiratory clinics. Currently, the Vigie Sports Complex in Castries is also available as a temporary mobile testing site until Friday January 29, 2021.
People needing treatment also have the option of seeking this through their private physicians. The Ministry of Health has not prohibited private physicians from providing this service to their patients. Private physicians can facilitate swabbing for COVID-19 PCR testing. As obtains within the public sector, tests done by private physicians are free to all Saint Lucian nationals except for travel purposes where a fee of US$100 is applied.
The Ministry of Health also reminds everyone who has been tested for COVID-19, whether within the public or private sector, that they must remain in home quarantine until their test result is given. Both negative and positive results must be communicated via telephone by a health care provider. This means the individual must not go to work or school, not be involved in any social gathering and not go out into public to conduct business. Anyone awaiting results must remain within a dedicated space in the home which is separate from other family members. There should be no visitors to the individual while in quarantine. Test results must be received before resuming normal activity and no individual can discharge himself or herself from quarantine. Also, persons with respiratory symptoms should not be going out in public, work, school or take part in any activities. The Ministry of Health requests the public’s support in adhering to these requirements in an effort to reduce possible transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
For more information please contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer or the Epidemiology Unit, at 468-5309/468-5317 respectively
