THE DMCA ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS OR FACE COVERINGS IN CROWDED AREAS; PRACTICE BASIC HANDWASHING GUIDELINES & MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS.

The Montserrat Ministry of Health and Social Services announced on Friday, May 8th, 2020, the full recovery of two more patients from the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and no new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

This week the Ministry investigated one suspected case of the disease and results from the CARPHA reference laboratory have confirmed that the sample is negative for COVID-19. The laboratory also confirmed the full recovery of two of the island’s previously confirmed cases. This brings the total recovered to eight (8) and active cases of COVID- 19 now stand at one (1).

Officials from the Ministry also indicate that the number of persons reporting flu-like symptoms continues to decrease. But, while the evidence of containment continues to grow, the Ministry is cautioning residents to remain faithful in practicing good hygiene.

“The hygienic practices of hand-washing and disinfection emphasized throughout this pandemic are the hallmarks of infection control and will continue to protect the island not just from a resurgence of community spread of COVID-19 but from a host of other infectious diseases,” stated Ministry of Health officials.

The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is urging people in the region to remember that despite the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, they must be mindful that other public health threats still exist.

CARPHA executive director Dr Joy St John, in a message in observance of Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week 2020, noted that mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika, have placed an additional burden on the region’s health care systems, and negatively impact social and economic development.

“As individuals and communities, we each have a role to play in preventing an upsurge of mosquito-borne diseases,” she added.

Head of Vector-Borne Diseases at CARPHA Dr Laura-Lee Boodram said that during 2019 the Caribbean region experienced another outbreak of dengue, with many member states reporting an increase in the number of severe and hospitalised cases.

THE DMCA ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO ADHERE TO THE CURFEW DIRECTIVES ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTSERRAT; WEAR MASKS OR FACE COVERINGS IN CROWDED AREAS; PRACTICE BASIC HANDWASHING GUIDELINES & MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS.

THE DMCA ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO WASH THEIR HANDS THOROUGHLY BEFORE & AFTER TOUCHING ANYTHING IN PUBLIC; MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING; WEAR MASKS OR FACE COVERINGS IN CROWDED AREAS & MOST OF ALL DO NOT TOUCH YOUR EYES, NOSE OR MOUTH WITH YOUR HANDS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE CORONAVIRUS.

One person from each household may leave home for the following purposes:

(a) Shop for necessities to include food, medicine, fuel or other necessities

(b) Conduct a banking transaction or a transaction at a money transfer business

(c) Pay utility bills.

(d) Persons are allowed to engage in an activity to include running, walking, swimming, alone or with no more than 4 members of the same household daily from 5 am. to 8 am. and 4 pm to 6:30 pm, but no later than 7 pm. These activities are also permitted on the weekends. However, no motor vehicle is to be used to get to and from the place where these activities are being undertaken. In other words, do not drive to the backroad or to the park or any other location for the purpose of exercising.

The recoveries decrease Montserrat’s active COVID-19 cases from seven (7) to three (3). The three (3) active cases remain in home isolation and are anticipated to also make a full recovery.

The Montserrat Ministry of Health and Social Services has confirmed the full recovery of an additional four (4) patients from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Friday, May 1st, 2020.

Even as the number of active cases and new infections decreases, the Ministry of Health and Social Services continues to build its capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among several initiatives, health officials have indicated that they have increased their stock of personal protective equipment for staff; work has started on the renovations for an expanded isolation ward and efforts continues to build the Glendon Hospital Laboratory’s capacity to carry out testing of the disease on the island.

Given the uncertainty of the future of COVID-19, these necessary measures will ensure the Ministry of Health and Social Services can improve its efficiency and response, should the island face a long term future with COVID-19.

THE DMCA ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO ADHERE TO THE CURFEW DIRECTIVES ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTSERRAT; WEAR MASKS OR FACE COVERINGS IN CROWDED AREAS; PRACTICE BASIC HANDWASHING GUIDELINES & MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS.