By Caribbean News Global contributor
CASTRIES, St Lucia – Maintaining a COVID-19 Level 3, amid the title of ‘World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’ Saint Lucia recorded its third COVID-19 related death; meanwhile, chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Sharon Belmar George, calls for ‘collective action for a healthy festive season’ the government of Saint Lucia (a discredited administration stands accused) is making a concerted effort to change the socio-economic narrative and its weak political awareness.
The first attempt is to reverse the COVID-19 high-risk status by changing the reporting method (repeatedly) mindful that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring (December 8, 2020, the ministry of health (MOH) received a batch of 114 test results, all of which were negative. To date, Saint Lucia has done a total of 16, 774 COVID-19 tests in-country ) and second, to manipulate the narrative with a media blitz that’s insular to the political agenda.
“The ministry of health is pleased to announce four COVID-19 recoveries for today December 8, 2020, bringing the new total number of active cases currently in country to 99. To date, Saint Lucia has recorded a total of 169 recoveries in country. At present, all of the active cases are stable and doing well,” adding, “everyone is asked to remain vigilant and to continue practicing the infection prevention and control guidelines of hand hygiene, use of a face mask in public places covering both the mouth and nose, and maintaining a separation of six feet when in public. If experiencing flu-like symptoms, keep away from others and seek medical care immediately at the closest community respiratory clinic.”
“Wednesday, December 9, 2020, the ministry of health received confirmation of one new case of COVID-19 from a batch of 140 tests conducted. This brings the total number of cases diagnosed in country to date to 271,” and “the MOH also received confirmation of its third COVID-19 related death. The individual is an 83-year-old male from the Soufriere district. He was diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus on November 22, 2020.”
“The 2020 Christmas season is now upon us and although this year has called for many changes and adaptations … the ministry of health advises the public of the heightened risks of COVID-19 which will accompany this year’s Christmas season.”
This ostensible is an exceptional admission that things will get worse, the chief medical officer continued:
“Based on the current travel bookings and the related projections for the inflow of nationals and visitors into the country, there are increased pressures being placed for the management of quarantine. A large number of nationals have applied for placement in home quarantine which requires increased monitoring as well as increases in responding to any breaches of the home quarantine protocols.”
The chief medical officer ‘corrective measures’ stated:
“It is therefore critical that all who are placed in home quarantine, as well as their family members and social networks, partner with the ministry of health in supporting the conditions under which this quarantine option has provided. Anyone who has been granted home quarantine is required to remain at home for the entire 14 day period of quarantine. During this time there should be no visitors to the individual in quarantine by family, friends and loved ones. Officials of the ministry of health will undertake routine checks of individuals in quarantine to assess the state of health while in quarantine and for any needed action if they become unwell.”
The CMO’s additional health and safety measures says, “in advance of the Christmas celebrations or whether we are preparing for celebrations with family, we must all make health and safety a priority,” added, “It is important to:
- Go shopping at times when stores have fewer customers, especially if you are one of the individuals which falls within the higher risk groups;
- Make a list and take it with you when going out on errands to reduce time spent in public;
- People who are sick with flu-like symptoms should not engage in food preparation and avoid social gatherings;
- Limit the intake of high fat, high sodium and sugar-laden foods.”
While the government of Saint Lucia has ‘diagnosed’ that during this Christmas season there will be intense commercial activities, on Wednesday, December 9, announced a relaxation on the sale of alcohol, and new measures from December 15, 2020, to January 11, 2021.
Chairman of the National COVID-19 Response Committee and minister for tourism, Dominic Fedee, on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, said:
“While we [previously] allowed the grab and go in restaurants and in bars, the bars were allowed under the previous protocols to close at 04:00 pm. Now, both restaurants and bars can continue to serve alcohol within the premises and also on a takeaway basis up until 11:00 pm,” Fedee noted, this will facilitate restaurants to reinstitute dine-in options as business closing hours are amended from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
“There will be no Christmas parties, there will be no New Year’s Eve celebrations in public of any kind. No Assou Square, No National Day or J’ Ouvert celebrations and there will be no corporate staff parties, etc,” minister Fedee said.
Notably, ‘collective action for a healthy festive season‘ the CMO said, “the season is also known to have its own stresses and this year’s environment is likely to make these stresses even more intense. It is important to find healthy ways of coping,” advised Saint Lucians’ to: “Limit alcohol intake and do not smoke; take a little time to debrief and discuss difficult emotions with supportive family and friends; and make physical activity and moments of relaxation a part of the daily routine.”
While new measures are rolled-out, approximately 200 COVID-19 wardens with powers of arrest will keep watch over Saint Luicans, the tourism minister advised, “there will be zero tolerance for violating the protocol” and that “it is important that we practice healthy behaviours and we encourage others to do the same,” – no such guidance was issued for the preference economics of the tourism and travel trade, that accompany arrivals (Pandemic Tourism) from the epicentre of COVID-19, directly into the enclaved certified hotels.
And while most Saint Lucians know that the governance of the island is selective by a Cabinet of ministers in observance of the constitution, and rule of law – many await the outcome of compliance – in the preferential enclaves of Saint Lucia to the announcement …
[“There will be no Christmas parties, there will be no New Year’s Eve celebrations in public of any kind. No Assou Square, No National Day or J’ Ouvert celebrations and there will be no corporate staff parties, etc,” according to tourism minister Fedee.]
