BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE number of COVID-19 cases in several territories across the region continues to climb, with some even recording triple-digit figures consecutively.
In St. Lucia, health officials today (Feb. 9) have reported that the territory has confirmed more than 200 cases in a 24-hour time span, the second consecutive reportage of triple digits cases in less than a week.
In a statement issued today, the Ministry of Health said that it has confirmed 214 new positive cases from data received over the weekend, a slight decline from the 257 reported last Friday, with 1091 confirmed cases on the island since the virus started.
In that statement, the Ministry also confirmed that the island’s 19th death was a 57-year-old male from the Castries district with multiple underlying illnesses. He was admitted on January 22, 2021 and was in critical care when he passed away on February 6.
Despite those figures, there were 42 individuals who recovered from the virus and were discharged. Two of the active cases are in critical care at the Respiratory Hospital and all of the others are presently stable.
Over in Kingston, Jamaica the territory recently broke its highest one-day record when it confirmed more than 300 cases of the Coronavirus, as it too has consistently recorded triple-digit cases.
Last Friday, the territory reported 263 cases which were its highest one-day record, but one day later the territory reported 65 more.
These cases are being attributed by the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie to large social gatherings at feters.
“These events will increase exposure and infections. The younger age groups who attend these functions are likely to become infected, but will have mild symptoms. They are however spreading to the older and more vulnerable populations leading to an increase in hospitalizations and severe illness,” she was quoted as saying by the Jamaica Information Service.
She noted that it is the 20-30 age group that is driving the increasing numbers.
All of this comes as a time when the Ministry of Health is preparing to step up public education about the vaccine before its rollout.
Unlike St. Kitts and Nevis and several other territories, these islands have the new variant of COVID-19 which is easily spread.
Currently, there are only four active cases in the Federation, with 40 confirmed overall.
