BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – On February 4, the Federation confirmed one additional case of coronavirus disease. The international traveler landed in the Federation on January 30, from the United States.

The patient has been in quarantine at a COVID-19 certified hotel since arrival. The patient was notified and is now in isolation.

This additional case brings the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases to 40, with 28 cases in St. Kitts and 12 cases in Nevis. Thirty-six cases have fully recovered with no deaths. There are now four active cases. These patients are stable and are being monitored.

The Federation continues to adhere to the ‘St. Kitts and Nevis Health and Travel Protocols.’ They can be found at: https://www.knatravelform.kn.

All front-line workers 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 confirms that the following measures are being taken to restrict the spread of coronavirus:
• In-depth contact tracing to effectively assess the front-line workers 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 assures all citizens and residents that every effort is being made to prevent the spread of this virus locally.

With reports of the SARS -CoV-2 variant in the region and with increase in cases locally more and more persons are adhering to the COVID-19 prevention and control measures. These include:
• Wearing a face mask when in public places;
• Maintaining good hand hygiene;
• Maintaining a physical distance of at least 6 feet from others when in public places; and
• Avoiding crowds and events.

These control measures work. The Ministry of Health encourages everyone to continue. It encourages everyone to work together to maintain and protect the health and well-being of the people of the Federation.

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — MSR Media, the production company filming ‘One Year Off’ on Nevis, has issued a casting call to select Nevisians for various roles in the movie.

The comedy film, the first of a two-movie production deal between MSR Media and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) will begin production within the next few weeks. Several locals have already been hired for the pre-production process.

Nevis Premier, Hon. Mark Brantley, NIA Minister of Finance, Foreign Investment and Tourism, encouraged locals to take up the opportunity to be part of this historic venture and earn some money.

“I’m encouraging locals both here in Nevis and in St. Kitts to take advantage of the opportunities that this presents,” said Brantley. “Positions include acting, those who have the acting bug, and they will be hiring additional people to assist with various roles during this filming period which ought to extend until May.

“We know that the jobs are difficult and hope that people will take advantage of this opportunity and make some money, but also expose themselves to this new industry that we are seeking to build.”

The Premier emphasized that the NIA entered into the movie deal as part of its economic recovery plan to have persons employed and to generate revenue for Nevis.

“We are very excited about this new thrust that Nevis has made into film and film production as we try to diversify our economy and attract new and different investment,” he said.

Brantley said approximately US $1 million will be directly injected into the local economy as result of having the cast and crew for the movie filming and staying in Nevis for about four months.

Producer Phillippe Martinez said it is important to him to have Nevisians featured in the movie.

“In every film the casting of the supporting artistes who will appear in the film is a very exciting time,” said Martinez. “In this case it is even more-so as this is a wonderful way to meet the people of Nevis.

“I insisted that we want to use real people in the film; people who will appear in the film in their real jobs such as sellers in the farmers’ market, shoppers, restaurant owners, and bartenders,” explained Martinez. “It will be a great pleasure to introduce them to the new film industry in Nevis and a wonderful way for the filmmakers to include the people of Nevis in the making of films here.”

MSR Media is casting persons with previous acting or modelling experience for three speaking roles in the movie.

Robyn, a female 30-40 years-old; Joseph, a male 25 -30 years-old; and Farah, a female 30-35 years-old.

Interested persons should send a recent photo and resume to Ma***@*********co.uk.

The production company is also casting for supporting actors and non-speaking roles.

They are also seeking 40-to-50 men and women, ages 30-to-60, of diverse backgrounds for relaxed fun atmosphere scenes; 40-to-50 local men and women, including farmers and vendors, for market scenes; and 40-to-50 local men and women for beach-bar scenes.

Interested persons are asked to send a recent photo and contact information to Ma***@*********co.uk.

All persons cast for the film will be paid for their roles.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Honourable Alexis Jeffers, said his vision for the agricultural sector in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is to increase the production of food; improve food security; and the nutrition and health of the population.

Minister Jeffers spoke at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Annual Review and Agenda 2021 Meeting on February 4, under the theme “Together, We Invest, Transform and Build Partnerships for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security.”

He said his vision “seeks to stimulate greater economic growth in the agricultural sector through the development of a well-coordinated planning and implementation framework that is interactive and effective.”

The Minister of Agriculture said there are great opportunities today in St. Kitts and Nevis for new and expanded food enterprise development.

“Expanding access to fresh, healthy, locally grown products enhances the ability of our families, schools, and institutions to serve nutritiously balanced meals,” said Jeffers. “They create more liveable-wage jobs in agriculture to ensure that our families and communities will thrive,” He highlighted that these positive changes will go hand in hand with efforts to improve the health care system of the Federation.

“Our vision speaks to the view that our agricultural sector can be technology-driven, competitive, and market-oriented, and can contribute to national development,” concluded Jeffers.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — The Violent Crime Unit is investigating an officer-involved shooting incident that occurred in Sandy Point on January 30.

Sometime after 4 p.m. on Saturday, a man contacted the Sandy Point Police Station. He reported that his neighbour had beaten his 7-year-old son and requested assistance. The Police responded.

Preliminary investigations so far have revealed that the Police arrived at the scene and the assailant was behaving in a violent manner and used threatening language. He refused to cooperate with their instructions.

The Anti-Gang Unit was summoned to provide assistance. While there, the assailant continued behaving in a violent manner. He advanced towards the Officers with a knife, swung the knife at them and threatened to kill one of them. He was warned and refused to comply with the commands of the Officers. As a result, he was shot in the legs by members of the Anti-Gang Unit. He was transported to the Joseph Nathaniel France General Hospital via the Emergency Medical Service ambulance where he is warded in a stable condition.

Personnel from the Forensic Department processed the scene and collected items of evidential value. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — A series of training in the coming weeks and months designed to improve the effectiveness of youth groups in meeting their goals in service to their respective communities are being hosted by the Department of Youth Empowerment.

“Capacity building training sessions are timely,” said Youth Officer, Mrs. Shenisia Puran. “Their goal is to improve the quality and effectiveness of youth development services and to provide youth access opportunities and play a significant role in community development.”

Ms. Puran said the sessions are important and will prove beneficial to the groups.

“These training sessions will benefit them in the development of their groups so we can see how far they are in terms of how effective the club is,” she said. “We are trying to empower them to enhance their structure so they can be more effective in what they are trying to do.”

It is hoped that the youth groups would have more to offer to the communities after completing the training.

The capacity building training sessions run for the entire year with the first one slated on February 11. All groups desiring to participate must register with the Department of Youth Empowerment. Groups can sign up for sessions on or before February 12 for free. An EC $50 fee will be charged for groups that sign up after February 12.

All sessions will begin at 5:00 p.m. and last until 6:30 p.m. every second Thursday of the month at the Department of Youth Empowerment Conference Room on the top floor of The Cable building located on Cayon Street in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

All health and safety protocols will be carried out given the current COVID-19 environment. A schedule was implemented for the first session on the topic ‘Youth Work and the Principles of an Effective NGO.’ This session will be attended by group presidents only.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, and more specifically the Department of Sport, on the advice of the Cabinet and the National COVID-19 Task Force, has taken the decision that permission to host all inter-team and inter-club competitive matches shall be granted to the exclusion of spectators until further notice.

This decision has been taken on the heels of an upsurge in COVID-19 reported cases in the Caribbean Sub-region as well as travel source markets to St. Kitts and Nevis. The Department of Sport is committed to supporting sport development and competition in the safest possible manner for athletes, management, officials and spectators.

On February 2, a meeting was convened between the Minister of Sport and Representatives from the various National Sporting Federation to discuss the decision to exclude spectators from competitions as well as several other matters. The Ministry has pledged its full support to each discipline.

The absence of spectators from sporting competitions does not limit in any way the playing of any sport or the holding of any competitions. The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture has led by example in recent times through the hugely successful virtual presentation of National Carnival, and SugarMas 49, and encourages all sporting associations to devise creative means by which fans can view their various competitions.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Having lost five games in a row in the first round of the St. Kitts National Domino Association (SKNDA) tournament currently taking place at the New Town Community Centre, the King Balang Domino Club turned the tide and won their first game on Thursday evening, February 4.

The King Balang Domino Club team rallied against Newcomers II Domino Club for a registered an empathic 26-12 win. They were the first team, out of the 12 teams taking part in the tournament, to register a win for the evening.

For King Balang, Vernon ‘Budgy’ Elliott, and Yazid Francis won eight game and lost one; while Charles Morton and Julian ‘King Balang’ Morton won four games without blemish.

Match of the evening saw Los Fuertes del Domino beat Spartans Fig Tree Domino Club 26-24 in a nail-biter. It was closely followed, in terms of excitement generated, by the game in which Newcomers I Domino Club edged out Eagle Claws Domino Club 26-22.

In other results of the evening, current points standing leaders Terminal Boyz Domino Club defeated Til Ah Marnin Domino Club 26-20; Latecomers Domino Club handed Poor Man Pocket Domino Club their second straight loss, as they won 28-16; and Masters Domino Club beat Lodge Domino Club 26-20.

Points standing after six segments of play: Terminal Boyz, 31 points; Masters, 25 points; Poor Man Pocket, 21 points; Latecomers, 21 points; Newcomers I, 21 points; Til Ah Marnin, 16 points; Los Fuertes del Domino, 16 points; Lodge, 15 points; Newcomers II, 5 points; Spartans Fig Tree, 5 points; Eagle Claws, 5 points; and King Balang, 5 points.

The competition, which is sponsored by the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis – Platinum Sponsor, First Federal Credit Union, Best For Less Trading Ltd, The Craft House, and NAGICO Insurances, will continue on Sunday, February 7, at the New Town Community Centre starting at 5:00 p.m. with the teams meeting in the seventh segment of play in the first round.

Order of play: King Balang will come up against Eagle Claws; Masters vs. Terminal Boyz; Spartans Fig Tree will face Til Ah Marnin; Los Fuertes del Domino vs. Latecomers; Poor Man Pocket vs. Lodge; and Newcomers I will battle it out with Newcomers II.

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STUDY: YOUNGER ADULTS ARE BIGGEST US CORONA SPREADERS

Adults age 20 to 49 are the biggest spreaders of COVID-19 in the US, according to British researchers who say targeting this age group for vaccination could hasten school reopenings.

A team at Imperial College London used cellphone data from more than 10 million people to calculate that 65 of 100 infections originated from those ages 20 to 49 in the US.

A team at Imperial College London used cellphone data from more than 10 million people to calculate that 65 of 100 infections originated from those ages 20 to 49 in the US. (iStock)

They found that people in that age bracket accounted for about 72 percent of the cases after schools reopened in October. Less than 5 percent came from children, and less than 10 percent from teens.

Adults ages 35 to 49 accounted for 41 percent of new cases through mid-August, compared to 35 percent for adults ages 20 to 34, according to the peer-reviewed study published in Science.

FAUCI BACKS ‘DOUBLE-MASKING’ IN CORONAVIRUS FIGHT

“We find adults aged 20-49 are a main driver of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United State and are the only age groups contributing disproportionally to onward spread, relative to their population size,” Imperial College’s Dr. Melodie Monod said.

“While children and teens contribute more to COVID-19 spread since school closure mandates have been lifted in fall 2020, we find these dynamics have not changed substantially since school reopening,” she added.

The college’s Dr. Oliver Ratmann said: “We believe this study is important because we demonstrate that adults aged 20-49 are the only age groups that have consistently sustained COVID-19 spread across the US, despite large variations in the scale and timing of local epidemics.

“Thus, at least where highly transmissible variants have not established, additional interventions targeting the 20-49 age group could bring resurgent epidemics under control and avert deaths,” he added.

Meanwhile, a new study suggests that coronavirus antibodies last for at least six months after infection for the majority of people who contracted the bug.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

The research from UK Biobank found that 99 percent of participants who had tested positive for previous infection retained antibodies for three months after being infected, while 88 percent did so for the full six months of the study, according to Sky News.

“This important study has revealed that the vast majority of people retain detectable antibodies for at least six months after infection with the coronavirus,” said Professor Naomi Allen, UK Biobank chief scientist.”Although we cannot be certain how this relates to immunity, the results suggest that people may be protected against subsequent infection for at least six months following natural infection,” Allen said.

“More prolonged follow-up will allow us to determine how long such protection is likely to last,” she added.

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Coronavirus Cases:

105,502,306

view by country

Deaths:

2,296,454

Recovered:

77,200,023

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NEW YORK (AP) — A fund set up to provide money to scores of women who say they were abused by financier Jeffrey Epstein when they were as young as 14 has abruptly suspended payouts over uncertain funding, an action the Virgin Islands attorney general blamed Thursday on Epstein’s estate as she moved to freeze its assets.

The announcement by the Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program came through a release that attributed the suspension to uncertainty about the liquidity of estate assets needed to finance payouts.

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