Covid-19 Numbers Rising: Two Deaths Recorded
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 VOLUME 115, No.03 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50 Fees for Exit Opposition in No fire from Tributes to Arise Test the dark Soufriere Randy D Dr. Frankie Page 3 Page 5 Page 14 Page 12&13 Page 24 COVID-19 NUMBERS RISING: TWO DEATHS RECORDED Stories by DAYLE DA SILVA PRIME MINISTER DR. RALPH GONSALVES has admitted that the raw data on COVID-19 told a “worrying story.” In an address to the nation January 18, the Prime Minister said that between March and December 2020, St Vincent and the Grenadines recorded 110 Dr. Ralph Gonsalves admitted to positive PCR a worry story and detailed test results. measures taken to respond to However, the increasing numbers of between COVID-cases. December 28, 2020 and Continued on Page 3. The summary of the COVID-19 situation as of Jan. 19. (Source: MOH) January 17, 2021 NO CURFEW, NO LOCKDOWN, PM DECLARES GOVERNMENT DOES address to the nation. the Prime Minister that the nuance and NOT INTEND to impose Instead of ‘those referenced the targeted approaches are any State of Emergency draconian measures’, Dr. experiences of countries no less effective,” he Instead of (SoE) or curfew Gonsalves said the within CARICOM and said. having measures, far less a government had taken globally, which “But these nuances ‘draconian’ national lockdown at the decision to tighten suggested that States of and targeted restrictions measures this point, despite the and manage more closely Emergencies, curfews and regulations must be like curfews recent spike in COVID- the existing restrictions and total lockdowns properly policed,” imposed 19 cases in the country and regulations, and have not been as Gonsalves continued. upon them, particularly among those where it was deemed effective in stemming And so, the residents locals without any recent necessary and desirable, the rise or spread of the government had taken have been history of travel. to ramp up the virus as was anticipated. the decision that it will urged to Prime Minister Dr. restrictions and controls “Other experiences not order any State of adhere to Ralph Gonsalves made further. elsewhere including here Emergency, lockdown the existing the point crystal clear on In support of his in St Vincent and the and/or curfew. regulations. January 18 during an government’s position, Grenadines have proven 2. THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN V News Rehab for Bequia Markets THE FISH AND VEGETABLE in Bequia has had a full compliments the MARKET in Port Elizabeth refurbishment, Roads, Buildings and General The Bequia Fish and Services Vegetable Market cuts a Authority The new Barrimore road. ‘pretty’ picture after a (BRAGSA). full renovation job by BRAGSA BRAGSA. informed recently that it Right: The interior of had completed the market now boasts a major improved stalls. Market, and replacement being the upgrade of overhaul at the of the toilets, light Barrimore road, facility, after windows and repairs to fixtures, plugs and commonly known as the some eight stalls. outlets. Arnos Vale/Fountain link weeks of Both the interior and All taken, the road in West St. George. ongoing work. the exterior of the refurbishment of the The project saw the The work structure had full paint Market cost $105,000. construction of 328 feet included major jobs. Meanwhile, BRAGSA of road, along with repairs to the In addition, BRAGSA continued with its road Slipper drains, and a roof, saw to the installation of repair/construction 100-foot long retaining replacement of new water pumps, lines programme with its wall, at a total cost of doors and and pipes in the Fish latest completed project $166,000. V News 3 lHE VINCENTIAN. THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021. 3. Fees for exit screening PERSONS REQUIRING EXIT As of January 18, the Prime SCREENING as it relates to COVID- Minister said, the molecular 19 can now access this service at testing facility had conducted private laboratories. 24,705 tests. This, as the Ministry of Health Elliot Samuel, Chief Laboratory moved to outsource testing to Technician explained at a press Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has private laboratories, in light of the briefing on January 13 that the acknowledge that the New Year will be lined surge in the number of samples testing facility had initially with many challenges and ‘worries’. coming into the government’s responded to testing around 300 molecular testing facility, where samples per day. PCR tests are conducted. Since the recent spike and the In for a difficult Prime Minister Dr Ralph requirements for exit screening by Gonsalves, in his address to the Canada, the United States, nation on January 18, said that United Kingdom and Barbados, ride: Gonsalves private sector labs are being that number has increased to an approached to handle exit average of 500 samples per day. VINCENTIANS have been warned to prepare screenings, and that those persons This increased demand has themselves for some hard times this year. The requiring the labs’ service will be resulted in delays in getting Elliot Samuel, Chief Laboratory advice came from Prime Minister Dr Ralph required to pay a fee. results within the 24-to-48-hour Technician, in the interim before Gonsalves in his weekly address to the nation, That fee will be determined by period, Samuel admitted. a firm arrangement is delivered last Wednesday January 20. the labs, the PM said. According to Samuel, at one established with private labs, His comments came in the wake of On Wednesday, this publication point they were 921 samples urged persons requiring exit consultations by Finance Minister Camillo was able to ascertain that one behind — but as of January 12 screenings to make their Gonsalves and Agriculture and Fisheries Minister private laboratory here had fixed they were able to bring the figure applications early. Saboto Caesar, bankers, persons in the hotel its rates at EC$195.00 for a rapid down to 394, and it had been industry, business/commerce and insurance. antigen test, and EC$400.00 for anticipated that by January 13 which was expected to minimize The Vincentian Prime Minister pointed to the PCR test. they would have cleared the these delays. adjustments that will be made in the budgetary backlog. And as a result of the recent presentations slated for next week. However a release issued by spike in cases among locals with “We are in for a difficult ride,” Gonsalves Lab overwhelmed the Ministry of Health on January no history of recent travel and the confessed. 19 stated that as a result of the focus on contact tracing and He pointed to expenditure caused by payments According to Dr. Gonsalves, the robust contact tracing and active testing local samples, persons made to persons affected by the COVID crisis. testing capacity of the one flu clinics, the Molecular requiring an exit screening were Some $3.9M will be spent on meeting government facility had been Laboratory was still reporting being encouraged to make their commitments in the first instance. Providing challenged in responding to the delays in the processing and applications early, in order to meals for children at school have been a cost to increased volumes of samples, reporting of results for RT-PCR have their samples in and the the government. But the suspension of face to face stemming from the required exit tests. results returned within the activities have given the matter a different screening for persons leaving the It stated that some additional required time of 72 hours, Samuel outlook. Gonsalves is worried about “child hunger” country and the rise in local cases. equipment was to be installed said. (DD) and the safety of children while they are out of school. Salaries to government workers are also matters of concern as COVID-19 numbers rising: Two deaths recorded attempts to cope with an expanding list of COVID cases surfaces. Continued from Front page. persons and mass gatherings, including immigration, were adequate for the Increases in government the: tightening of quarantine task at hand. expenditure will come from the number jumped to 384, with the measures for nationals and non- He commended the nation saying employing two professionals to help majority of new cases among locals who nationals; temporary closure of schools that the people acted very responsibly with monitoring activities at the had not recently travelled, and worse, and recommencement of online and in a disciplined manner by staying Soufriere volcano. Contributions to the recording of its first COVID-19 schooling; closure of all seaports in the off the road, staying away from the Seismic Research Centre based attributed deaths, two. Grenadines. beaches, picnics and parties, and at the St. Augustine Campus of the As of January 19, with an additional Other measures include: a ban on stayed home, between Good Friday and University of the West Indies is 62 cases reported that day, the total the playing of amplified music; the Easter Monday of 2020. adding to the government’s number of recorded cases of COVID-19 reduction in numbers permitted at They exhibited the same behavior expenditure column. was 602. Of that total, there were 464 mass gatherings; decrease in the when public holidays were announced “We have to do more with less,” cases under review, supposedly persons number of passengers allowed on in August during the days designated the Prime Minister stated. who had had no recent travel history, public transportation; rotation of staff for the time off for Carnival which was He is looking to agriculture, and 481 active cases. in some government departments and cancelled in 2020. fisheries, the medical cannabis According to the Prime Minister, the other statutory corporations; and the “Perhaps it is the appropriate time industry, construction and road to do so again,” he said.