St. Lucia recorded its second death from the coronavirus (COVID-19) a few hours after it had recorded its first death with health authorities continuing to warn that the virus is no respecter of persons.
In addition, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sharon Belmar-George, has announced another six new cases of COVID-19, pushing the island’s total to 148.
The new cases were between the ages 32 to 69-years-old and the health authorities said “at this point, the contact tracing team has been unable to establish an epidemiological link of these six cases to any of our prior cases, but investigations are on-going”.
The Ministry of Health said that the second death is that of a 78-old male from Gros Islet.
“He had presented to a health care facility where he was tested for COVID-19. He was placed in isolation at the Respiratory Hospital and on Saturday, November 7, 2020 results were received confirming a COVID-19 diagnosis.
“While at the facility the patient required critical care. Contact tracing in relation to this case was undertaken and close contacts have been tested and where required, placed in care,” the ministry said, extending also “sympathy to the family of this individual who are going through this loss of their loved one”.
The two deaths come as the St. Lucia government Tuesday hinted at the possibility of imposing stiffer conditions including another lockdown of the island, if the members of the population refuse to exercise the discipline required to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“For a period of time, we have to stop the socializing, we have to stop the virus from being able to circulate, the only way we can save lives, save livelihoods, wear your mask, that is what we all have to do,” Prime Minister Allen Chastanet told reporters.
“If we’re not going to have the discipline in us to do it and calling upon each individual person in this country to do their part, if that is not working, then sadly the government will have to resort to more stringent protocols in order to enforce that even to a greater extent,” Chastanet said.
He said that “the only way we’re going to solve this problem is not by shutting down this problem but by causing persons to practice and follow the protocols”.