St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) recorded two new COVID-19 cases on Friday, October 16.

A release from Chief Medical Officer – Dr Simone Keizer Beache, Chair of the Health Services Committee of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) said both new cases arrived in SVG on Caribbean Airlines BW200 on Thursday 15, 2020.

“One person traveled from the United Kingdom, transiting through Barbados. The other person  also transited through Barbados, but from Canada. Both persons arrived with negative SASR-CoV-2 PCR test results. The adults will remain in isolation until cleared by two negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test results. All of the close contacts on the flight to St Vincent are being informed and will continue in quarantine,” the release from NEMO said.

This is the second consecutive day on which SVG has recorded a new COVID-19 case.

On October 15, a national of the United States who arrived in SVG on Wednesday October 14 from Florida with a negative PCR result, tested  positive on entry screening.

That was the first positive case the country had recorded in 34 days.

St Vincent and the Grenadines has now recorded a total of 67 COVID-19 cases, 64 of which have recovered. There are now three active  COVID-19 cases.

“The USA, Canada and Europe are all reporting new spikes in the number of new  COVID-19 cases. Neighboring islands are also reporting disturbing changes in the  nature of the spread of COVID-19. These increases in the incidence of cases increase  the risk of travelers arriving in St Vincent and the Grenadines testing positive for  SARS-CoV-2.

“In view of this increased risk, the Health Services Subcommittee of  the National Emergency Committee/Coronavirus Taskforce will continue to closely  monitor these situations and will recommend changes to the existing protocols as  necessary,” the release said.