St Lucia announces restrictions from October 16 to 30 with 24-hour weekend lockdown

After discussions and dialogue with the COVID-19 management Centre, the decision was made to extend the COVID-19 protocols that are currently in place until the end of October.

Saturday, 16th October 2021

COVID-19 protocols St Lucia, Moses Jn Baptiste

St Lucia: After discussions and dialogue with the COVID-19 management Centre, the decision was made to extend the COVID-19 protocols that are currently in place until the end of October. The extended protocol shall commence on Saturday, October 16, 2021 and end on Thursday, October 30 2021, said Minister of Health, Wellness and The Elderly Affairs, Moses Jn Baptiste. New Protocols:

Confinement to the residence on weekends will be in effect from Monday to Friday from 7 PM to 4 AM; Saturday confinement starts at 7 PM and ends on Monday at 4 AM. (this means that there will be a 24-hour lockdown or confinement on Sundays)
A person may attend a religious ceremony on Sundays during confinement but must be returned to his or her residence by 1 PM on that day. In other words, you can attend services on Sunday but must return home by 1 PM.
A person shall not host or attend a mass crowd event or a social event except with the 10 or less persons of his or her immediate family or household.
Religious ceremonies are allowed based on the footage of the organization in keeping with the approved COVID-19 response plan. Special religious rites, including weddings, baptisms and funerals are permitted with 50 or less persons.
Suspension of the sale and disposal of intoxicating liquor at bars, Ram shops and grab and go restaurants. (all of these establishments will be supported with an economic package very soon)
The sale and disposal of intoxicated liquor from a supermarket, gas station or wholesaler and approved dine-in service restaurants without a valid and legal license will be permitted.
Dining services at approved restaurants and food establishments only, Takeaway grab and go and delivery services will be permitted at other establishments.
Recreational and social activities at hotels will be permitted on the property during the restriction hours, provided that such activities take place on the property. Water sports and other water-related activities such as boat rides, Skiing must be suspended during the 24-hour weekend restrictions.
An educational institution may open for face-to-face engagement to facilitate structured supervision from October 18, 2021 for grade k, grade 6, form 4, form 5 and the special education schools. The Ministry of education sustainable development innovation science technology and vocational training will communicate confirm dates to the public. All other classes shall continue to use distributed learning.

The Minister said that the Ministry of Health closely monitors the fourth wave's progress in Saint Lucia from July 25 to October 10. It has noted 6,475 cases at an average of 84 cases per day and they have confirmed a 68% decrease from the previous week’s data. [caption id="attachment_38250" align="aligncenter" width="417"]

Minister of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs Moses Jn Baptiste[/caption] “We also note a steady decline in the rate of transmission, sadly though during that period we noted 133 COVID-19 related deaths with that fatality rate of 2.1%. Males account for 56% of the deaths and the average of deaths is 66 years old,” said Baptiste. At present, there are 723 active cases of COVID-19 in St Lucia. 36,575 persons have received both doses of vaccination, amounting 20% of the total population as fully vaccinated and 48,222 persons have received their first dose of vaccine, amounting 26% of the population as partially vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. During his National Address on Friday, prime minister of St Lucia, Philip J Pierre said that he is aware of the pain and inconvenience people have endeavoured because of the necessary public health measures that the government had in place to reduce the spread COVID-19 virus. “Late last week, we sadly learned that more St Lucians had been infected by the more infectious and deadly Delta variants, which had been detected in the country earlier this year. This has certainly created more challenges for our country and for other countries having to deal with the Delta variant,” PM Pierre added. PM reassured that the government’s concern and commitments to provide support to those seriously affected “notwithstanding the many challenges and sacrifices we have endured, the patterns of spread and transmission of the COVID-19 virus have become clearer in St Lucia. The Chief Medical Officer has advised me that the various metrics for monitoring the spread and infection rate of the COVID-19 virus indicates that the number of persons infected and getting seriously ill is decreasing.” Prime Minister said that as the state of emergency will end on October 16, 2021, St Lucians still need to maintain the necessary protocols and restrictions as part of the national efforts towards prevention and control. Following the end of the State of Emergency, the government will not reinstate it further as the Cabinet of Ministers has agreed to adopt the COVID-19 Preventions and Control Act to invoke adjusted protocols and restrictions that are necessary to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. “These measures will come into effect from October 16, 2021 until November 1, 2021 in the first instance, as soon as the rate of infection is reduced to a relatively safe level, the restrictions will be relaxed. I take no pleasure in announcing that for the time being, you will have to undergo continued restrictions in your movements because these are still necessary to control the spread of the virus, I am for size with you as you continue to live with the many inconveniences bought by this global pandemic,” PM asserted. “I call on everyone to get vaccinated as vaccination remains our only weapon to fight of the worst effects of the COVID-19 virus.”