by Devonne Cornelius
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): St. Kitts and Nevis has confirmed its first Covid-19 related death according to Minister of Health, the Hon. Akilah Byron-Nisbett at a joint press conference by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of National Security on Thursday, June 17, 2021.
“At about 12:14p.m., we received word that the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has recorded its first death as a result of Covid-19. We wish to extend condolences to the family and loved ones of the dearly departed,” said the Health Minister.
Any questions related to the Covid-19 victim as well as his/her vaccination status, will not be addressed at this time according to Dr. Cameron Wilkinson, Medical Chief of Staff at the Joseph N. France General Hospital.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws while speaking at the press conference said “The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is presently trying to contain the current wave of Covid-19 cases. Between May 19 to June 16, we have recorded 234 additional cases. Yesterday, June 16, we received positive results for 28 persons inclusive of 26 cases related to inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison. Over this four week period, we have had twelve Covid-19 related hospitalizations. Seven of the cases have since been discharged so at present, we have five cases in hospital.”
Of the 279 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Federation, 264 were identified on St. Kitts and 15 for Nevis.
CMO Dr. Laws used the opportunity to provide a breakdown of the positive cases at Her Majesty’s Prison and indicated that the cells have been professionally sanitized since the outbreak.
“On June 09, we identified the first case, on June 11, we identified eight additional inmates who were found to be positive. On June 15, two cases and on June 17, 26 cases so in total, we have 37 inmates diagnosed with Covid-19”.
In response to a question about the capacity at Her Majesty’s Prison in Basseterre, St. Kitts, Mr. Osmond Petty, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security said there is adequate space within the prison compound that can be used to isolate prisoners who have tested positive for Covid-19.
According to the June 15, 2021 Vaccination Report, 32,165 people in the Federation have received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine with 24,557 for St. Kitts and 7,608 for Nevis. There are now 10,255 fully vaccinated individuals.
