Saint Lucia records its 10th COVID-19 related death

The Ministry of Health and Wellness today Thursday January 21, 2021 received confirmation from the Ezra Long Laboratory of thirty-seven new cases of COVID-19 from a batch of 168 COVID-19 tests. The Ministry of Health also reports the recovery of an additional 58 cases of COVID-19. Currently, there are 331 cases in care, with one of them requiring critical care and the others are all stable.

This new total number of cases diagnosed in country to date to 755.

These cases are Saint Lucian nationals who range in age from 4 years to 78 years. These cases are captured from the Castries, Gros-Islet, Dennery, Babonneau, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort, and Micoud districts. All individuals visited a community-based respiratory clinic where they were assessed and tested for COVID-19. They were all placed in quarantine by health practitioners while awaiting their COVID-19 test results. Arrangements have now been made to place these individuals in isolation given their confirmed COVID-19 status. Contact tracing for these confirmed cases is currently underway.

The Ministry of Health also reports the confirmation of Saint Lucia’s tenth COVID-19 related death. The individual is a 63 year female from the Gros-Islet district. She was admitted into care on January 17 and passed away on January 19, 2021. Condolences are extended to the family and loved ones from the Ministry of Health on their recent loss.

We remind everyone that COVID-19 is a flu-like illness with the common signs and symptoms being cough, fever, chills, loss of smell and taste, nausea, as well as an overall feeling of tiredness. An individual can also experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Community respiratory clinics are available to conduct assessments and COVID-19 testing for individuals with these signs and symptoms. While awaiting results, people who have been tested must remain at home in quarantine. This means not going to work or school, not using the public transportation system and not going out into the public to conduct business. These are all precautions to prevent the possible spread of the infection in the event the results come back as positive. All individuals who have been tested for the COVID-19 virus must receive a call from a health care provider to indicate their test results, whether these results positive or negative.

The Ministry of Health reminds everyone to continue practicing the correct use of masks and maintaining the recommended six foot distance in public as well as the frequent washing of hands with soap and water especially after interacting with others or returning form a public places. If experiencing flu-like illness, it is important keep away from others and to urgently seek medical care at your closest community respiratory clinic for assessment.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue providing updates to the public as new information becomes available.

For more information please contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer or the Epidemiology Unit, at 468-5309/468-5317 respectively