In a report at the Government’s Press Conference on Monday, August 30, the Permanent Secretary, Health, Mr. Foster Rogers, and the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Aisha Andrewin, spoke about donations from the UK Government and the Pan American Health Organisation, PAHO.
Mr. Rogers said it was arranged for 240 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to arrive in Anguilla on Tuesday, August 31, from the United Kingdom via Antigua. He explained that the Health Team would soon commence administering second doses to persons at the Welches Polyclinic.
He took the opportunity to explain the increased cost for COVID-19 tests from US$100 to US$200 – a matter that has been the subject of much discussion in Anguilla recently.
“I want to address the cost of incoming tests for the four-day quarantine,” he stated. “This is not the cost of quarantine. It is simply the cost of the test. It is a very expensive test which is critical in our protocols to ensure that Anguilla is safe. Almost all of the cost is borne by the Government.
“The US$100 is not even the cost of the test. It is a highly-subsidised cost, and the US$200 is to clear the cost of the arrival test and the clearing quarantine test.”
Meanwhile, CMO, Dr. Aisha Andrewin, acknowledged the receipt of various COVID-19 tests from PAHO – at a cost of US$56,000 – including almost 6,000 rapid antigen tests; and almost 15,300 swabs. She expressed thanks to PAHO which continues to be a stalwart supporter of the Health Authority of Anguilla.
