Health Minister Assures That If There Is Community Spread, It Is At A Minimum

21
Health Minister Molwyn Joseph

Minister of Health, Molwyn Joseph, says that if there has been community spread of the COVID-19, it is at a minimum.

Joseph revealed this information as he shared the results of the last tests dispatched to CARPHA.

The results from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) revealed one new laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19.

This has brought the total number of persons with laboratory confirmation of the disease in Antigua and Barbuda to 24.

The other five samples, sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) were negative for COVID-19.

However, Joseph reminded that it only takes one carrier of the virus to begin community spread.

For this reason, contact-tracing remains integral to preventing the virus’ spread.

Twenty-four people remain in quarantine at their home; these are people who came into contact with carriers of the virus. Thirteen are quarantined in Barbuda. Only two remain quarantined at the Hawksbill Hotel.

Approximately sixty students are to be flown from Jamaica; they are likely to be quarantined at the Hawksbill for 14 days before being allowed to join their families at home.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]

21 COMMENTS

  1. We’d feel more reassured if they tested the people who suddenly dropped dead. Also, the level of testing is way too low for a 100K population island. It’s one of the lowest levels of testing in the region.

  2. It only takes a single match to burn down an entire forest….. The same can go for a single carrier of the virus who has the potential of infecting an entire nation. The govt’s contact tracing exercise needs to be to its optimum and each resident need to be responsible and mature towards carrying out our hygienic practices, staying indoors and wearing our masks as often as possible so that this Covid -19 virus will be at its minimum and perhaps, eventually a natural death…

  3. You do not know if community spread is a minimum because we do not have full testing. We have done less than 100 tests in total. Impossible to know if there is community spread with so little testing.

    • We have completed (108) tests so far, for 5 others we are awaiting test results. When received that will be 113 tests

      • They’ve tested 97 persons, the 113 tests includes retests that they have done on persons who already confirmed to have covid-19. So 16 of the 113 tests done are retests. They aren’t testing enough persons

    • Exactly! They can’t possibly know how many cases there really are when they’ve tested less than 100 people and apparently haven’t tested the people who have suddenly died.

      It’s irresponsible to relax curfew and talk about reopening the island until they’ve done enough testing to ensure things are under control.

      The goal should be (like in New Zealand) to eliminate the virus from the island. That requires a strict lockdown and widespread testing.

  5. The students need to be tested!! It would be faster than the 14 days and more accurate in preventing spread of virus

    • There’s no students arriving any time soon. And apparently when the airports are reopened, passengers will be tested twice – once before boarding the plane and once at the Antiguan airport.

  6. Health Minister assures that if there is community spread it is at a minimum. How does he know that? Have they completed all the required contact tracing and tested all those who have been traced? That statement by the Minister is so idiotic it is mind boggling. Lord help us.

  9. COVID-19 or any other virus, that cause the flu, are not going anywhere, anytime soon!
    They should be educating the Public in more meaningful ways, as to how to, EAT TO LIVE, and not LIVE TO EAT, to build their immune system and overall health.
    Since, these viruses are not going anywhere, anytime soon,
    QUARANTINES, lockdowns, stay at home, Social Distancing will only go but so far, to protect the People.

    BE AWARE of Da BOOMERANG Effect.
    BEWARE it’s A Horror Movie…COMING SOON, to a Village near you!

  10. Lock down really driving some people crazy boi. Anyhow I guess this is a ways and means to vent their fustration. Instaed of whining and crying and finding fault in everthing why don’t some of you miserable people go do some home improvment work or some meditation. go find a good book to read and stop taking the government. Some of you go drop dead and it is not from CIVID 19 instead it be from stress and high blood pressure!

Comments are closed.