by Devonne Cornelius
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The 24 hour lockdown has been lifted in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis effective 5 a.m. Monday, July 12, 2021 acting on the advice of the National COVID-19 Task Force, so notes Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris in his televised address to the nation on Saturday, July 10, 2021.
As part of the government’s slate of stringent measures to curb the spread of the Lambda SARS-CoV-2 variant introduced in the Federation following the May 19 outbreak, a 24 hour lockdown was implemented for the island of St. Kitts on Sunday, June 27, 2021, which at the time had 299 active cases of the virus and three reported COVID-19 related deaths.
The island of Nevis later saw a similar approach after its 16th and 17th case of the virus was identified by health officials on June 29 and June 30, respectively. Prime Minister Harris declared a 24 hour lockdown for the island at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 03, 2021, which he said became necessary as case 16 on Nevis works in an environment with extremely vulnerable persons.
Other stringent measures included a Shelter in Place Order strictly enforced by law enforcement officers, the closure of all offices for government, statutory bodies and state-owned enterprises, closure of all businesses where employees cannot work remotely from home, a halt on social and mass gathering events, suspension of liquor licenses and the suspension of non-essential travel between St. Kitts and Nevis.
The St. Kitts and Nevis COVID-19 Situation Report No. 472 issued 6 p.m. July 11, 2021, indicates a total of 530 confirmed cases, 400 recovered, 127 active, and three deaths. Of the total confirmed cases in the Federation, there are 512 on St. Kitts and 18 for Nevis.
