SVG records one new Covid-19 case from Italy, new Covid-19 protocols now in place

St Vincent and the Grenadines on Monday, October 26 recorded a new COVID-19 case with the receipt of a confirmatory result from CARPHA.

“The new case is a traveller who arrived from Italy, travelling through France and Martinique before arriving on  Friday, October 23, 2020 with a negative PCR result. The adult tested positive on entry screening and will remain in isolation until cleared with two negative PCR  results,”  a release from the National Emergency Management Organization said.

All passengers who arrived on American Airlines 945 from Miami on Saturday 24,  2020, tested negative for COVID-19 on arrival. They will all remain in mandatory  quarantine for five days in a Tourism Authority/Ministry of Health, Wellness and  the Environment approved hotel, the release said.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has now recorded a total of 74 COVID-19 cases, 66 of which have recovered. There are now eight active COVID-19 cases, all imported from countries categorized as “High Risk”.

The Health Services Subcommittee of the National Emergency  Committee/Coronavirus Taskforce on Sunday, October 26, 2020 implemented a new  protocol for the entry of travelers to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“This interim  phase 5 protocol is effective from October 25 to November 10, 2020. It is aimed at  addressing the increased risk of the introduction of new cases of COVID-19 into St  Vincent and the Grenadines because of the escalation in new COVID-19 cases in  North America, Europe and the Caribbean region. This external escalation of new cases, coupled with the in-country election campaign associated mass gatherings,  has the potential to increase the risk of local spread. All travellers must now arrive in St. Vincent and the Grenadines with a negative PCR result. In addition, travellers except those arriving from Barbados (having been there for at least 21 days) must  quarantine in an approved hotel for five days.