CMO Gorge indicates end of fifth wave of COVID-19 in St Lucia

St Lucia: As of March 6, 2022, St Lucia has diagnosed a total of 22,788 cases in the country, with 82 active cases presently. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sharon Belmar-George, have provided the information on the COVID-19 pandemic and stated that the daily infection for the last seven days is 7.6 per husband thousand population per day, which represents a 27 reduction from last week a nine average testing positivity rate and a transmission rate of 0.5.

The Health Ministry of St Lucia noted that a total of 362 COVID– 19 deaths, and the country has five positive COVID-19 cases admitted at the respiratory hospital. Out of the total cases, a total of two cases were severely ill this past week.

CMO George further added that the country had registered low numbers of cases, and it is now present at the baseline point in the epidemiological curve.

The Public health indicators are within normal range the fifth wave has been resolved. The Ministry of health, awareness and elderly affairs has received confirmation of 17 cases of the Omicron variant. Out of that, eleven are female, and six are male. Most of the cases are from Castry’s grossly and library and range from 10 to 84 years, she added.

“We consume to remind you of the following important measures as COVID-19 continued to be a threat. Avoid large crowds and crowded areas if you develop respiratory symptoms, seek medical care and avoid contact with others, avoid large meetings and crowded activities and social gatherings, ensure that protocols are maintained at all workplaces and sectors, underscored chief medical officer.

She emphasized that on mini buses, the commercial and tourism sector, gyms, hardware stores, supermarkets and recreational activities, ensure safe physical distancing for face-to-face meetings and activities, use of the face masks when in public places, ensure regular cleaning of surfaces and sanitation of all business establishment and environments, ensure to remain in quarantine if people have direct contact of a case or a member of your household is positive.

She stated:

-Limit social activities at work encourage vaccination of employees.

- The Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson vaccines are available at the various wellness centres, per the published COVID-19 vaccination schedule.

-These vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective in protecting persons from developing COVID-19 in severe forms, complications, hospitalizations and death.

-The booster vaccine is also available for persons who’ve been fully vaccinated for over six months.

“Everyone who has not been vaccinated is urged to get vaccinated urgently; we appeal to all organizations, public and private sector to ensure the strengthening of all public health protocols,” CMO George added.