Four more COVID19 deaths confirmed, six others under investigation

Four additional COVID-19 deaths were reported in St Vincent and the Grenadines today October 14, bringing the official death toll from COVID-19 to 42. The National Emergency Management Organization however said that six other deaths in COVID19 patients are under investigation.  

Today’s report, which is the first since October 10, also said 121 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported from 656 samples collected on Wednesday October 6, resulting in a positivity of  18.4 per cent.

“One of the new cases is an entry screen in a fully vaccinated passenger from St. Lucia.  Four cases were detected during exit screening. All other cases are contacts of known positive  cases and persons seeking care. Sixteen rapid antigen positive cases were reported from flu  clinics,” the release said.

Of the four new confirmed COVID-19 deaths, the first is a 77-year-old male who tested positive  for COVID-19 on October 3, 2021, and died at home on October 10, 2021, of COVID-19 infection.  The second is a 61-year-old female who tested positive for COVID-19 on October 2, was admitted to the  COVID ward at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital on October 5 and died on October 11, 2021 of COVID-19 pneumonia. Another 61-year-old female who tested positive for COVID-19 on  September 24, 2021 and died on October 11, 2021, while admitted to the COVID-19 ward at the  Milton Cato Memorial Hospital is the third death. A 79-year-old male patient who tested positive for COVID-19 on  October 3, 2021 and died on October 13, 2021 is the fourth death.

“All the patients were unvaccinated. Their deaths bring the death toll from COVID-19 to forty-two (42). Six (6) other deaths in COVID-19 positive  patients are currently under investigation,” the release said.  

There are currently 19 patients admitted for COVID-19 at the Argyle Isolation Facility.  Sixteen are unvaccinated, one patient is partially vaccinated, and two patients are fully  vaccinated. Thirty-four patients are admitted to the COVID-19 wards at the Milton Cato  Memorial Hospital. Thirty-three patients are unvaccinated and one patient is partially  vaccinated.  

One hundred and ten  new recoveries were noted over the reporting period. One thousand  three hundred and seventy-two (1372) cases are currently active and forty-two (42) persons with  COVID-19 have died. Four thousand and two hundred and seventeen (4217) cases of COVID-19  and two thousand, eight hundred and three (2803) recoveries have been recorded in St. Vincent  and the Grenadines since March 2020.  

The report from NEMO noted that the release dated October 10 incorrectly noted the number of active cases as 1286; the number of active cases as at that date was 1365.

“In view of the confirmed presence of the Delta, Mu and Gamma variants in the community and  the significant increase in the number of new infections, transmission, severe COVID-19 disease  and deaths, strict enforcement and compliance with all protocols and recommendations by  everyone is strongly recommended. The correct and consistent use of masks, avoidance of crowds,  physical distancing, proper hand sanitizing and immunization with available vaccines have all been  proven to significantly reduce the risk of being infected, getting sick and or dying from the  COVID-19 virus,” the release said.