Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 23, 2021 (SKNIS): The National COVID-19 Task Force has outlined a two-pronged approach to dealing with persons who have been placed in self or home quarantine as a result of the latest cases of COVID-19 in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“We are going to have a two-pronged approach to maintaining and surveilling these individuals.
There will be a periodic roll call that will be done by the Compliance Officers and there will be periodic visits by the Compliance Officers in collaboration with the Police Officers in that district to ensure that individuals who have been asked to self-quarantine at home are at home,” said Abdias Samuel, Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force, during the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) Special COVID-19 Press Briefing on May 23.
Mr. Samuel noted that if persons who were required to self-quarantine are not at home then he or she risks “having to be taken to a government-designated facility and then the law will be applied.”
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws, noted that every citizen and resident has a collective responsibility to ensure the safety and security of all.
“As individuals who are a part of our local population we all have a responsibility in terms of fighting this virus and this COVID-19 Pandemic, and so we all have a responsibility in terms of if you are asked to remain in home quarantine you have a responsibility to adhere to this request and this recommendation,” said Dr. Laws.
“We have a collective responsibility and so we are asking community members if you are aware that your neighbour is supposed to be in self-quarantine you can provide us with that information.
It is an all of society approach and we want everyone to come on board and provide us with the relevant information so that we can be successful even in this regard.”
Dr. Laws said that from a national standpoint, once the information is received then the National COVID-19 Task Force will take it from there.
Superintendent of Police, Cromwell Henry, shared similar sentiments and called on the general public to cooperate fully.
“The police and the authorities cannot do it alone. We always rely on the eyes and ears of you the public. So, those persons who are supposed to be at home if you see them out of their homes then we ask that you call the nearest police station or you can even call 311 or 911 and report those sightings,” said Superintendent Henry. “We are relying on persons’ integrity for them to ensure that they remain at home. We ask persons to really take this directive seriously and remain at home.”
Superintendent Henry reminded the general public that it is an offense to disregard any directive given by the Chief Medical Officer. He added that anyone found to be in breach of the protocols will be dealt with by the law.