BASSETERRE, St. Kitts -- FOLLOWING the recent reduction in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Federation, the Leader of the People’s Action Movement, Shawn Richards, is urging citizens and residents to continue to take the protocols very seriously.
As of last evening (Oct. 17), the Federation reported six new cases of the virus with the death count remaining at 21.
While addressing reporters during his political party’s press briefing today, Richards expressed his sympathy to the families of the 21 COVID-19 fatalities and urged citizens and residents to wear masks while in public to help fight the ongoing pandemic in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“Each of us have a part to play in reducing the high number of active cases and preventing serious illnesses,” added the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Federation is currently going through its third wave of the virus since May and it has resulted in thousands of positive cases and 21 deaths.
Against that backdrop, Richards has called for people to go out and take the vaccine to give themselves protection against the virus.
Currently, the vaccination rate is at 77 percent first dose and 70 percent of the second.
Inoculation amongst children between 12-17 years old is steadily progressing with 10 percent of that target population receiving at least one dose, while over six percent has been fully vaccinated.
“All of these are encouraging signs that we, collectively, should continue to support,” Richards said.
St. Kitts and Nevis leads the region when it comes to vaccine coverage and is well above the various targets set out by international agencies, including the Pan American Health Organisation.
“I agan urge everyone who has not step forward to get vaccinated, now,” Richards stressed.
Even though the Federation is making strides to vaccinate the entire population, there is still a high level of hesitancy.
All of this is despite the public education campaign by health officials.
