St Lucia on Tuesday announced new curfew hours for the upcoming Easter weekend as it continues efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.
From Thursday to Good Friday, a 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew will be in effect. The curfew will be lengthened by an hour on Saturday, beginning at 6 p.m., and then extended further on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, running from 3 p.m. to 4 a.m.
“The Government of St Lucia continues to thank Saint Lucians for their cooperation as we seek to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and encourages everyone to continue practicing the infection prevention and control measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” a government statement said.
The curfew announcement came a day after the country recorded one more COVID-19 death – a 71-year-old man with underlying medical illnesses, bringing the total deaths to 59 – and 22 new COVID-19 cases.
There have been 4,224 cases recorded since the start of the pandemic last year. 133 are active cases and two of those require critical care at the Respiratory Hospital, the Ministry of Health said.
The Ministry added that all 22 new cases were seen at various community respiratory clinics where they were assessed and tested. In keeping with the COVID-19 testing protocol, they were placed in home quarantine by healthcare practitioners while awaiting results of their COVID-19 test results.
Arrangements have been made to place these newly diagnosed cases in isolation and contact tracing is underway.
CMC
