The World Health Organisation (WHO) is reporting that COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to decline – globally – with the latest report indicating 17% decline in cases and 3% decline in deaths. “However, not all regions are reporting a similar trend,” observed Dr Aisha Andrewin, Chief Medical Officer – Anguilla.
Speaking at the government’s press briefing on Monday, May 9, she stated: “For us in particular, the region of the Americas – which includes the US and the Caribbean – saw a 13% increase in cases but no increase in deaths.”
Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Foster Rogers, indicted that although Anguilla has recorded an uptick in COVID-19 cases, there is no need to panic. He asked: “Are we going to put in more protections because of the uptick [in cases]?”
“The answer is no,” he said. “We will continue to move ahead with personal responsibility. Persons should wear a mask, social distance as necessary to keep yourself safe, vaccinate, and ensure that we keep our economy open.
“We had a good Festival Del Mar, and are looking forward to the Summer Festival. We have to learn to live with COVID…We are not going to panic and shut down the country…It is not something that we can’t manage, and there is no reason for us to panic. We have to keep on guard. As a country, we are managing quite well. There is no need to impose harsh draconian measures on the country.”
Mr Rogers also underscored the importance of being vaccinated, and boosted, as requisites for admittance to overseas medical facilities in some countries in the Caribbean region.
“Recently, we have had situations where persons could not go to their centre of choice for medical services, either because they were not vaccinated or not boosted. Many countries here in the Caribbean region have not accepted persons because they have not been vaccinated or boosted,” Mr Rogers stated.
He urged persons to get vaccinated as there is still a supply of Pfizer vaccine available on island – enough for persons to get vaccinated as well as boosted.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Aisha Andrewin, noted that with the increase in COVID-19 cases attributed to the recent increase in the highly transmissible BA.2 version of Omicron, within our tourism market sources, many countries – including the US, the UK and some within the Caribbean region – have approved a second booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
The Ministry of Health is expecting a new batch of the Pfizer vaccine to arrive on island this week.
Dr Andrewin noted: “We are expecting a shipment of 400 paediatric doses of Pfizer and 1,170 adult doses so that persons can complete the second dosage and also offer first and second doses to those who are interested.”
The Minister of Health, Premier Ellis Webster, encouraged eligible persons to receive the vaccines and booster doses that are made available to them at the various clinics on the island. This call is an effort to increase vaccination coverage island-wide and remove more of the COVID-19 restrictions on Anguilla.
He said: “The first booster is still available for persons who did not get it, and for those who did, we encourage you to get the second booster if you fall in the specific career categories, or if you are fifty years and older. It is important for travel and also to ensure immunity in our community.”
Persons are also reminded to continue to reduce risk of COVID-19 infection and spread by adhering to the public health protocols
Covid Statistics for Anguilla as of May 9
Confirmed Cases: 2,984
Recovered: 2,916
New Cases: 196
Active: 59
Deaths: 9 (7 unvaccinated adults; 2 vaccinated adults with underlying risk factors; 6 males, 3 females)
New Deaths: 0
Isolation Unit: 0
Vaccination Statistics for Anguilla as of April 29
Fully Vaccinated: 64% adult population
24% 12-17 year olds
15% 5-11 year olds
