KINGSTOWN, SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, March 24, 2020 – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Commerce wishes to inform the general public that in light of the evolving worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and in order to minimize exposure, the Embassy of the United States of America located in Bridgetown, Barbados have implemented the following changes: Effective March 18, 2020, the United States Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados is cancelling all routine non-immigrant and immigrant visa appointments. The Embassy has limit visa processing to cases not requiring a personal appearance, such as government and diplomatic visas, and categories already entitled to…
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WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)— The world economy is facing “severe” economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic that could be even more costly than in 2009 and will require an unprecedented response, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said Monday. Georgieva called on advanced economies to provide more support to low income countries, which face a massive outflow of capital, and said the IMF stands “ready to deploy all our $1 trillion lending capacity.” As much of the world faces mass shutdowns, Georgieva warned finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations that the outlook for 2020 “is negative – a recession at least…
(St. Lucia News Online) — St. Lucia has confirmed its third coronavirus (COVID-19) case. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Belmar-George made the announcement Monday at a news conference. The patient is a 43-year-old female who travelled to the US and returned to Saint Lucia with flu-like symptoms, Belmar-George said. She was then tested, treated and is now in isolation. The authorities are currently looking for persons who’ve had contact with the patient who is reportedly recovering well.
#Press release The COVID-19 disease has spread around the globe to the Caribbean, including St Vincent and the Grenadines where there is still only one confirmed case. In order to reduce the likelihood of further spread within St. Vincent and the Grenadines, WHO has recommended “social distancing”. Social distancing is a non- medical tactic used to keep people physically apart from each other, as close contact helps to spread the virus. Social distancing is particularly important to prevent the spread of COVID-19 because there is no vaccine to protect against the virus which causes this disease. Therefore, the Ministry of…
1. The Cuban Medical Brigade consisting of 12 health professionals (doctors and nurses) is due to arrive in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday. 2. Effective this morning at 6:00am, travellers arriving in St. Vincent and the Grenadines from the USA, UK and European Union countries would be required to self-quarantine for 14 days. The official quarantine list also includes the following countries: China, Iran, Italy and South Korea. 3. A message from the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment was delivered in about 100 churches yesterday. The Ministry would explore the possibility of having the message delivered…
(Excerpts of Dr. Friday’s presentation on Heroes Day) On Wednesday 11th March, it was revealed that St. Vincent and the Grenadines recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19 infection. This is an extremely serious matter for all Vincentians. It will affect the way we do business and how we go about our daily lives. We must do all we can to protect our lives. There is currently no vaccine to prevent the disease COVID-19. The only way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. The virus is spread mainly from person-to-person. Between people who are in…
The government has announced that the Cuban doctors and nurses who will arrive Antigua on Thursday, March 26, 2020, are experienced in the management of infectious diseases. The Cuban team will be supplementing the Antigua and Barbuda teams that have been assigned to the airport and the seaport, the Margetson Ward Infectious Disease Center (IDC) and the Mount St. John Medical Center. Screenings at the V.C. Bird International Airport will continue to be carried out by the additional doctors and nurses; and, the arriving passengers will be allowed entry if several conditions are met. The passengers must show no signs…
Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the government is enforcing the 1946 Quarantine Act which states that a maximum of 25 persons are allowed at restaurants, bars, clubs and other public places in order to reduce the risk of community infections. That number has been reduced from an original 50. Those restaurants, clubs and bars that choose to exceed the 25-person limit are subject to having their licenses suspended or revoked. Churches, funerals and prayer groups are also limited to 25 persons for the same reason. While preparations are being made for the possibility of caring for more than 100 sick and…
The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment (MOHWE) cautions the general public that the use of the antimalarial drugs Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine to treat or prevent COVID-19 has not yet been approved. The named drugs have been widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus (along with its related complaints of hair loss and joint pain). Although both Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine have been proposed by some researchers as being possible treatments against COVID-19, this has not yet been confirmed by health and regulatory authorities. The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment strongly urges the rational use of drugs…
Though Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett could not come to grips with what could have caused minibus driver Kentish Jack to burn up the belongings of his 14-year-old brother, the Magistrate understands real life situations. This was reflected in his sentencing of the 27-year-old Redemption Sharpes man at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. He was unpresented. After adhering to the principles of sentencing, taking the circumstances of the case into account, as well as his own understanding of the situation, Burnett opted not to send Jack to prison. Jack was instead bonded for one year in the sum of $1,500,…