BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — One additional case of COVID-19 was confirmed on January 7 in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. The new case brings the total number of confirmed cases to 34, with 22 cases in St. kitts and 12 cases in Nevis. Thirty-one cases have fully recovered with no deaths.

The new case was discovered when an international traveller landed in the Federation on January 6 on a flight from the US. The patient has been in quarantine at one of the COVID-19 certified hotels since arrival in the Federation. The patient was duly notified and is in isolation.

There are now three active cases. These patients are stable and are being monitored.

All front-line workers at the Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport, the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority and in the hotel and tourism sector continue to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols along the corridor of containment between the ports of entry and hotel/accommodation sites.

The Ministry of Health has assured the public that the following measures are being taken to restrict the spread of coronavirus:
• In-depth contact tracing to effectively assess the persons with whom the recently diagnosed cases would have interacted; and
• Quarantine, monitoring and testing of contacts as indicated.
The Ministry of Health and Federal Government remind all citizens and residents that every effort is being made to prevent the spread of this virus locally.

More and more persons are adhering to the COVID-19 prevention and control measures which include:
• Wearing a face mask when in public places;
• maintaining good hand hygiene, maintaining physical distance of at least 6 feet from others when in public places; and
• avoiding crowd s and events.

These control measures work, and we are encouraging you to continue. Let us work together to maintain and protect the health and well being of the people of the Federation.

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BOSTON, Massachusetts — The Greater Boston Building Trades Unions released the following statement today following the announcement and confirmation issued by the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden that Boston Mayor and union member Martin J. Walsh will be appointed to the position of U.S. Secretary of Labour.

“The Greater Boston Building Trades Unions, like President-elect Biden and incoming U.S. Secretary of Labor Walsh, believe in building an economy where all workers can thrive and access family-sustaining careers. We have seen first-hand the incredible work that incoming U.S. Secretary of Labour Walsh has done to build the middle class and to improve the lives of workers across industries in his time as the President of Labourers Local Union 223, as a legislator, as leader of our Boston Building Trades Unions, as Mayor, and as someone who has dedicated his life to combatting inequities and to building a more just future and a more just economy for all.

“A tested legislator, union leader, and successful mayor, Marty Walsh has stood up for all workers, including low-income workers and workers of colour. During his tenure as Mayor, 135,000 new jobs were created. He has worked tirelessly as Mayor and throughout his career to rebuild the middle class, to build a more inclusive and resilient economy, including by supporting the fight for a $15 minimum wage.

“The appointment of incoming U.S. Secretary of Labour Martin J. Walsh is great news for working people across the country. We applaud his appointment by the Biden-Harris administration. He will lead a Department of Labour that centres its policies on the interests of workers.

“Marty Walsh is an authentic and effective leader who will help the nation build back better. He recently helped us convene the Construction Stops COVID coalition, uniting labour unions, industry partners, and global health experts in order to keep workers and our communities safe and to fight back against the pandemic — together.

“He centred his work within, through and in partnership with the labour movement to advance an agenda through the lens of racial, gender, social, environmental and economic justice. Through his enormous empathy and ability to bring people together, he has made life safer and better for working families. Throughout his entire career as an organizer, as a legislator, and as Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh has been guided by a profound commitment to pursuing policies, reform and progress that help to advance the public good and the needs of working people.”

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Two senior health officials in St. Kitts and Nevis, who have been at the forefront of crafting the successful COVID-19 health and safety protocols, are prepared to take the lead in being inoculated when COVID-19 vaccines become available in the twin-island Federation.

On Wednesday, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws and Medical Chief of Staff of the Joseph N. France General Hospital Dr. Cameron Wilkinson signalled that they are willing to take the jab publicly to reassure residents.

“I believe in the safety and efficacy of the vaccine,” said Dr. Wilkinson. “When the vaccine becomes available, and if I am considered to be on the priority list, I will be happy to take it so that we can demonstrate to the entire nation that the vaccine is safe.”

Dr. Laws supported Dr. Wilkinson’s stance noting, however, that she would avoid taking the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine due to her aggressive allergic reactions. Health professionals advise persons with severe allergic responses not to take the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech.

Instead, she said that she will “probably take the Moderna or the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.”

As for the timeline when a vaccine may be made available for use in St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Laws estimated that it may be some time in the second quarter of 2021.

“Anywhere between April, May, June,” said Dr. Laws. “That’s the projected timeline. However, once we are told specifically the date, the general public will be informed.”

St. Kitts and Nevis has signed on to the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX) and will receive enough vaccines to cover 20 percent of the population in the initial stages. The Republic of China (Taiwan) has also pledged financial assistance of US$600,000 to purchase vaccines for the twin-island Federation.

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