Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 23, 2021 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis’ Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Hazel Laws, issued advice for adults to remain safe while caring for a child who may have been exposed to COVID-19.
The information was shared on Sunday (May 23, 2021) during a Special National Emergency Operations Centre COVID-19 Briefing. At the special briefing, it was announced that two additional cases of the coronavirus were detected, taking the total number of active cases to seven. Health authorities also announced that the Sandy Point Primary School is now temporarily closed as an extensive testing and contact tracing exercise for all who work and attend the educational institution is carried out.
“You can protect yourself by wearing the face mask while at home because that is the issue (concern) at hand. Wear your facemask while in the house at home and make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before eating and after providing care to the child,” Dr. Laws stated
She added that in a household it may be difficult for everyone to physically distance given space limitations. The caregiver (s) will also be required to come into close contact with the child.
However, health experts advise that the non-pharmaceutical measures outlined above as well as disinfecting high touch areas such as doorknobs, counters, light switches and the like, have proven to be very effective in containing any spread of the virus.
“You need to wear your facemask and make sure your hands are clean after any physical interaction between yourself and the other family member. Those are critical points to remember,” CMO Laws emphasized.
Additional advice will be shared with parents of the Sandy Point Primary School at an update and information session on Monday, May 24. The Ministry of Education announced that two meetings will be held at the school for two groups.
The first meeting is specifically for parents or guardians of children in Kindergarten and Grades 3 and 4. It starts at 9:30 a.m. The second meeting is specifically for parents or guardians of children in Grades 5 and 6. It starts at 11 a.m.
Parents/Guardians of children in Grades 1 and 2 are not to attend as they are in self-quarantine at home.
A team from the Ministry of Health will be on hand at the meetings to share on the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and to administer jabs to interested individuals.
Minister of Education, the Honourable Jonel Powell, said that the meeting is part of the ministry’s and the government’s support for the school.