Chief Medical Officer Simone Keizer-Beache has stated unequivocally that St Vincent and the Grenadines doesn’t need more Covid-19 restrictions and protocols at this time; rather what the country needs are enforcement of the current restrictions and compliance with the protocols.
Dr Keizer-Beache said the only way this country is going to reduce the Covid-19 infections is through an increase in vaccination and compliance with the protocols, for example, wearing masks in vans and avoiding travel in over-crowded vans.
“I would say, we have a lot of protocols, a lot of regulations in place. We need enforcement, you know, and we need compliance. And we need not to be persons who need to have somebody with a stick behind you to make sure you do this,” she said.
The Chief Medical Officer’s comment came while she was a panellist on the Round Table Talk programme on NBC Radio/VC3 cable channel Wednesday evening.
Programme host Theresa Daniel had asked the CMO about possible measures to minimize the Covid-19 spread in the Christmas season and what actions can be taken against bus drivers who continue to disregard the protocols.
“In terms of Christmas is coming up, we don’t even have to go that far. We’re not even going to have independence celebrations. We’re not even going to have an independence parade. Why is that so? Because, that’s a mass gathering,’ Keizer-Beache said.
Keizer-Beache said the public need to understand that every individual in this country has a responsibility to comply with regulations and recommendations. She noted that they are very simple.
“Wear your masks, sanitize, distance and get your vaccines,” Keizer-Beache said.
Meanwhile, according to information presented at a media conference held by the Ministry of Health on Tuesday afternoon, this country recorded 42 Covid-19 deaths between September 9 and October 17, bringing the number of deaths then to 54.
Epidemiologist Tamara Bobb said there was an average of six deaths per week.
In terms of the deaths according to age groups; 10 persons (23.8%) between ages 55–64 died. Eight persons between ages 45-54 and eight between ages 65-74 died of Covid-19, representing 19 percent in each of the two age groups.
Covid-19 accounted for five deaths between ages 75-84 and five between ages 85-94 representing 11.9 percent in each of the two age groups.
In the age group 35-44, there were four deaths (9.5%); and in the age group 25-34 there were two deaths representing 4.8 percent of the total.
In terms of infections between September 1 and October 17, in relation to age groups, there were 419 cases (21.25%) among persons of ages 25-34; 365 cases (18.51%) among persons between ages 15-24; 337 cases (17.09%) among persons of ages 35-44; 240 cases (12.17%) among persons of ages 45-54; 200 cases (10.14%) among the age group 5-14; 184 cases (9.33%) among the age group 55-64; 104 cases (5.27%) among persons 65-74; 67 cases (3.40%) among children up to age 4; 33 cases (1.67%) among persons 75-84; 22 cases (1.12%) among persons 85-94; and one case (0.05%) in the age group 95-110.