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Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 28, 2021 (SKNIS): As the Lambda variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 disease continues to spread throughout communities in St. Kitts, with Nevis spared, for the time being, the Government on the advice of health authorities has instituted a 14-day stringent action plan that includes a majority of 24-hour lockdowns and a few days of limited operations in order to curb the spread of the deadly and evasive virus. Since May 19, 2021, the country has seen 384 confirmed positive cases in just five weeks, in stark contrast to a total of just 45…

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, June 27, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — Saturday June 26 saw a historic high of 1,374 doses being administered in the current Covid-19 vaccine rollout, with 1,303 persons taking their second dose, and Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris who was pleased by the high turnout has asked more persons to come forward on Sunday June 27 to take their second dose as all health centres will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. “I have, every Saturday, been going religiously to the health centres, encouraging, cajoling, and enticing persons to do what is necessary so that…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 27, 2021 (SKNIS): Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Hazel Laws, announced during a Special NEOC COVID-19 Press Briefing on Saturday, June 26, that the new COVID-19 strain that was picked up in St. Kitts and Nevis in May 2021, is identified as the Lambda variant. In early June, the Ministry of Health sent samples to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for genomic sequencing to determine the variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is presently in circulation. “The report says that the SARS-CoV-2 variant belongs to the lineage B.1.1.1 or C.37. The World Health Organization label…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 27, 2021 (SKNIS): The government’s care package initiative that provides meals, groceries and toiletries to persons in quarantine and isolation, as a result of COVID-19, continues to positively impact individuals in need across St. Kitts. At the June 26, 2021, National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) COVID-19 Briefing, Janelle Lewis-Tafari, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs, reported that the assistance programme has benefitted 1,182 individuals to date. This is up from 686 persons assisted according to numbers shared at the June 21 NEOC Briefing. Additionally, Mrs. Lewis-Tafari indicated that the number of…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 26, 2021 (SKNIS): All outbound passengers who are scheduled to travel during the two weeks of total lockdown will be permitted to have their pre-departure testing done, said Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Hazel Laws, during a Special NEOC COVID-19 Press Briefing on Saturday, June 26. “Over the next two week period of complete lockdown, there are persons who will be leaving St. Kitts and so they would require a pre-departure RT-PCR COVID-19 test and so we are recommending that once you have confirmed your flight arrangements we want you to call 662-9196,” said CMO Laws. “If…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 26, 2021 (SKNIS): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis in its efforts to have continued food security has allowed farmers and fisherfolk to engage in their trade under the new restrictive measures implemented to keep citizens and residents safe from the further spread of COVID-19. This was announced by the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, during his national address on June 25, 2021. “We make a special exception for farmers and fishers to tend their flock, and to go fishing to keep our food supply going during days of…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 26, 2021 (SKNIS): The borders of St. Kitts and Nevis will remain open over the next two weeks to facilitate the arrival and departure of commercial travellers including nationals who are returning home. Attorney General, the Honourable Vincent Byron Jr, shared the information on Saturday (June 26, 2021), during a live interactive engagement on ZIZ Radio and Television. The engagement addressed questions and comments following last evening’s announcement of a 24-hour lockdown by Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris. The 24-hour lockdown is exclusive to St. Kitts and forms part of new restrictive measures for…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 26, 2021 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Health’s robust contact tracing continues to identify new cases of COVID-19 with zero positive results within the last 24 hours. St. Kitts & Nevis COVID-19 Situation Report No. 457 as of Saturday 26th June, 2021, states that the total number of confirmed cases now stands at 428 with 313 active cases, 112 recovered cases and three deaths. 413 of those cases were recorded in St. Kitts while 15 were registered in Nevis. To date, there have been 20, 427 negative results. The country’s vaccination programme has been making steady progress with…

SAINT CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS STATUTORY RULES AND ORDERS No. 25 of 2021 Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No. 2) Regulations, 2021 In exercise of the powers conferred by section 5 of the Emergency Powers Act, Cap. 19.02 the Governor-General makes the following Regulations: [Published 25th June 2021 – Extra-Ordinary Gazette No. 38 of 2021] Part I Preliminary Citation and duration.These Regulations may be cited as the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No. 2) Regulations, 2021.These Regulations shall come into force from 12:01 a.m. on Sunday 27th June, 2021 and shall expire at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday 6th July, 2021.Interpretation. In these Regulations, “Court” includes…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 26, 2021 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Health, the Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett, expressed condolences to the families mourning the loss of their loved ones from COVID-19 while offering support and extending sincere wishes for all persons within the Federation who have been affected by the deadly virus. “To those persons who have tested positive and are in quarantine, some in the hospital, we continue to hold you in our prayers,” the minister said at Wednesday’s (June 23) briefing of the National Emergency Operations Centre. “We know it’s very difficult. COVID-19 is not an easy, walkover type of disease. “For some persons, it is difficulty breathing, it’s painful just to take…