Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed the country’s first imported case of COVID-19.
On March 10 a passenger arrived from UK on British Airways, went to her mother’s home and then a private medical clinic.
This follows an announcement yesterday that there were two suspected cases being investigated. They were sent to Trinidad for testing and only one came back positive.
Prime Minister Browne says the patient is under isolation and her parent will be tested.
He said other people who came in contact with the patient will also be tested.
“No doubt you are wondering about the possibility that others may have been affected by the subject within the last two days. Health officials assured me that this possibility is unlikely since the person has been isolated at home for the entire period in the company alone of a parent.”
Browne called on residents not to panic.
“I have been saying for sometime that it’s not a matter of if but when COVID-19 reach our shores.”
He said short of closing down every port of entry by air of sea there is no way to seal our borders.
“Sealing our borders was no more possible for us than for any other country in the world.”
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Soooooo sailing week cancelled then since most of these sailor come from England where the virus is rampand.
The health department may have done so already and I’m just not aware of it as yet; but they need to set up a hotline and beg people who have flu like symptoms to call to get direction or have a medical practitioner come to them to receive samples for testing. The suspected persons are not to leave their homes to go to any hospital or clinic; that will further compound the problem. Can you imagine a person going to MSJMC emergency room with flu like symptoms spreading all over the place up there? That would be disastrous!! When they create a hotline have all media houses repeat the public announcement every hour.
I wonder how many people were exposed at the doctor’s clinic. Waiting rooms are always full and it always seems to take an hour to get to see the doctor
They already have a hotline.
“Sealing our borders was no more possible for us than for any other country in the world.”
But yet this is starting to happen globally!
Maybe it’s time to get proactive instead of reactive. Insist on checks/medical clearance from departure points.
And what about the other passengers on the flight??
And customs and immigration officers and other airport personnel?
Imagine going through life knowing YOU were the one who brought Covid to the island!!!!
Imagine going through life knowing that Just Saying was Just Saying that a man *Burga who had a reduced sentence found it harsh after that man killed two people ..family or no with intent..if he was given a slap on the wrist and was set free and he end up killing his sister and god knows who else..imagine going through life knowing you advocated /supported that roll eyes
Instructions have been given to those who have contracted the Corona Virus – 19 symptoms to call the EMS hot line instead of going to MSJMC… It is expected that directives will be given…….Certainly, it is a very good idea but the question is HOW MANY PERSONS WILL ADHERE TO SUCH RULE? Prevention is better than to cure!! Perhaps some form of security checks should be put in place at the entrance of each clinic and the Emergency Room at MSJMC….. Some persons may not be that responsible to call the hotline and choose to visit the medical services where many persons are, and unintentionly spread the disease….
People need to educate themselves and not panic. Stop spreading false news and Stop over posting foolishness on social media and just use common sense and be safe. The young and people over 60 are Most at risk. Most people before never practice safe hygiene and they should Start and continued even after the virus has past. Those who have been practicing good hygiene should continue. Antigua has only one case as is now.
The government should stop flights from Europe for at least 15 days, then revisit the option to extend it further or lift the band. Moat people are saying, Antigua depends on tourism but it’s not a medically advance country … and we know this.. that’s just a fact… so they should protect their citizens at all ALL cost … it’s either 2 things .. test everyone that gets off a plane from Europe or in transit to Antigua from other islands BuT since we obviously can’t test everyone cause we have to send test to Trinidad and Barbados like we do everything else medically. .. then we need to ban fights from Europe and quarantine those in transit from other countries.
People That have underling issues are also at risk and we all know Asthma, Diabetes etc can hit people younger then 60 hence the 50 something woman who died the other day. Be safe.
Stopping schools and parties in Antigua. Parties where locals attendants not tourist when at this point it’s one victim who is quarantined makes little sense … IF the government is going to continue to let in flights from Europe and the U.K. in droves daily..
States in America stopping social gatherings are those with a large outbreak of hundreds so for Antigua government to stop the local fetes And sports makes no sense. They should stop anything to do with sailing week … they also need to stop the flights from Europe and the U.K. immediately. At least for 2 weeks.
Think smart think smart and sensible! Act out of common sense. Not fear and hysteria.
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