PM Skerrit: 5 new cases of COVID-19 transmitted on-island

Health authorities in Dominica have confirmed five new cases of the coronavirus. During a news conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said these cases were transmitted on-island.

He said all five individuals came into direct contact with one amongst the two those that already tested positive for the virus and are currently being observed by medical examiners.

He said: “On-island transmission is a severe and dangerous thing. It triggers many scenarios and possibilities. Our contact tracing continues, and there's a break that wider transmission could have occurred. We've no way of knowing this obviously until persons are tested and therefore the results known. However, as a nation, we cannot sit idle and wait.”

Though unfortunate, the Prime Minister said the case isn't hopeless.

He said in response to the present development, and the govt has activated level three of its Covid-19 response plan.

“We don't wish as a nation to reveal ourselves to the likelihood and probability of additional imported cases. We want to require a hold of the case as is and manage the cases we have already got, both those already identified and others we suspect will surface within the days ahead,” PM Skerrit said.

With this in mind, he said stakeholders decided almost unanimously to try to what has become necessary to protects Dominica’s borders and contain movement to the best extent possible.

“Accordingly, I wish to announce tonight that the Commonwealth of Dominica shall suspend all commercial air and sea access to non-Dominicans effective Thursday the 26th day of March 2020. And to any or all travellers, including Dominican citizens and residents, Saturday, March 28, 2020.”

PM Skerrit said despite the restrictions being  served to slow the spread of the virus; there's no need for a cessation of business across the country.

He urged entrepreneurs to search out innovative ways to serve their clients while clasping to calls to practice social distancing.