SVG now has 143 active cases of COVID-19

Twenty-four new COVID-19 cases were recorded in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on Sunday, bringing the number of active cases in the country to 143.

Of this number, there is one imported case; a non-national who arrived from the United Kingdom on December 26, 2020 with a negative PCR test and tested positive during quarantine.

All of the other 23 new cases are nationals with no recent travel history.

“A detailed review of all of the positive cases reported over the last two weeks has led to a minor revision of the total number of cases under investigation. This reconciliation has confirmed that there are 120 local cases being investigated,” a release from the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) said.

Up to press time, 249 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in SVG since March 11, 2020, 106 of which have recovered while 143 remain active.

While SVG remains among 13 countries in the world to have recorded no death as a result of COVID-19, at least four COVID-19 patients were admitted for care and all are stable.

This latest update comes as authorities move to clear a backlog of approximately 400 COVID-19 tests that were awaiting analysis. This backlog has resulted in a delay in the issuance of test results.

NEMO said on Saturday that the backlog has arisen from the “extensive testing being conducted as part of contact tracing and the screening of persons with flu-like symptoms”.

Persons who have been asked to quarantine or isolate while waiting for COVID-19 results have been advised to remain in quarantine or isolation until notified of their results.

“Our team is working diligently to resolve the issue. We ask for your patience. Any inconvenience is regretted,” the release said.

As authorities continue working to clear the backlog, persons are also advised that no appointment for swab taking for COVID-19 exit tests will be scheduled if the result is required less than 72 hours after the date of the appointment.

The Health Services Sub-committee, in collaboration with the Molecular Lab Unit of the Laboratory Services also said on January 9 that the steward’s office of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) will not collect fees for COVID-19 exit test results required less than 72 hours from the date of the appointment.

Results for exit tests can only be collected at the MCMH.

The public is also advised that requests for scheduling PCR exit testing must be made via email; coronavirustaskforcesvg@gmail.com at least five days before the required test.