Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, his government and health authorities are concerned about the rapidly rising cases of Covid-19 in this country.
In a televised national address last night, Prime Minister Gonsalves looked at the statistics and how the cases were more constant in increase last year compared to the spiking situation so far this year over a short period.
“The raw data on Covid-19 tell a worrying story even as the debate ensues as to whether St Vincent and the Grenadines, like St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda or Barbados, for example, are situations of sporadic cases, or cluster of cases or community spread.
“Between March 11th, 2020, and December 27th, 2020, there were 110 PCR positives in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
“Between December 28th, 2020, and January 17th, 2021, there were 384 positives; bear in mind, too, the large number of local cases under investigation,” Prime Minister Gonsalves told the nation.
What is most worrying are the possible reasons for the increase in positive cases from 110 in the first nine-and-a-half months – between March 11th and December 27th, 2020 – to 384 positives in less than three weeks – between December 28th, 2020 – and now, he said.
“The advice tendered to me by the relevant authorities suggests that this spiral may be attributed to the following composite factors: recurrent breaches in quarantine protocols, increased arrivals by air for the Christmas/New Year season, numerous social gatherings including family gatherings of varying sizes during the festive season and the general non-adherence by the population to public health advice regarding the spread of Covid-19,” Prime Minister Gonsalves said.