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COVID-19 reaches Martinique, SVG, Jamaica, DR, St Barths, St Martin, Cuba & Guyana

- 19 cases recorded in Caribbean; CTO says region still open for business as countries take steps to prevent spread
In the Dominican Republic there are health screenings in place as a result of the worldwide outbreak as the country recorded COVID-19 cases. Photo: AFP
As the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) deepens its reach across the tourism-dependent Caribbean region, the Caribbean Tourism Organization says its member countries are still opened for business although the majority of the cases are imported. Photo: NY Times
As the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) deepens its reach across the tourism-dependent Caribbean region, the Caribbean Tourism Organization says its member countries are still opened for business although the majority of the cases are imported. Photo: NY Times
According to the CTO, its outreach will be tailored proportionate to the public health threat and based on local risk assessment in each country. Photo: CTO
According to the CTO, its outreach will be tailored proportionate to the public health threat and based on local risk assessment in each country. Photo: CTO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – As the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) deepens its reach across the tourism-dependent Caribbean region, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation says its member countries are still opened for business although the majority of the cases are imported.

In the Caribbean region, the latest reports are that some 19 cases have been reported so far. Countries reporting cases of infection are Martinique (4 cases), St Vincent (1 case) Jamaica (2 cases), Dominican Republic (5 cases), St Barths and St Martin (3 cases), Cuba (3 cases) and inclusive of Caricom member Guyana (1 death) on the South America coast.

No local case of transmission – CTO 

 “While there continues to be a limited number of imported coronavirus cases and no cases of local transmission in the region, the health authorities across our membership are taking the necessary steps to limit the number of new cases and to curb the possible spread among our populations from the confirmed imported cases,” the CTO said in a release today, Thursday, March 12, 2020. 

The organisation notes that it will continue to engage or member countries, as well as the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and other tourism partners, with the aims of informing on travel-related health measures. 

According to the CTO, its outreach will be tailored proportionate to the public health threat and based on local risk assessment in each country.

30-day Europe travel restriction in US

While the CTO noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not called for any travel and trade restrictions as a result of the coronavirus, the US has since imposed a 30-day restriction on travel from Europe with the exception of UK and Ireleand. 

“As a matter of fact, the WHO continues to advise against such restrictions. Local populations and visitors alike are assured that the Caribbean remains open for business,” the CTO said.

The organisation further advised travellers to take the necessary precaution with regards to personal hygiene practice and other travel health advisories.  

In the Virgin Islands (VI), Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) has affirmed that the Territory has implemented several measures to screen passengers from both cruise ships and flights arriving in the Virgin Islands.

30 Responses to “COVID-19 reaches Martinique, SVG, Jamaica, DR, St Barths, St Martin, Cuba & Guyana”

  • Concerned (12/03/2020, 13:40) Like (33) Dislike (8) Reply
    Please stop the non stop flight from DR immediately
    Thanks
    • On the nose (12/03/2020, 14:15) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
      This was my exact sentiment. And stop flights coming in from SXM. It’s way too close for comfort.
    • @Concerned (12/03/2020, 14:31) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
      I am thinking the same thing. I also think all flights from Guyana, Jamaica and the other Islands should be canceled until further notice. I feel in my heart that someone here is the carrier. It takes two weeks before it becomes air borne. If you have it, you can be walking around for two weeks with the virus and not know. That is the scary part.
      • tretretrete (13/03/2020, 07:43) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
        Why dont you stop the cruise ship them from coming here,its a lot more risky on the ship them
    • The Watcher (12/03/2020, 14:34) Like (7) Dislike (8) Reply
      How do you stop a non-stop flight? It does'nt stop til it gets here....
    • wow (12/03/2020, 15:15) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      LMFAOOOOOOOOO GOD HELP US ALL
    • Trini woman (12/03/2020, 15:16) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
      This is discrimination

      U seemed to be annoyed of these direct flights from Santo

      They have 5 cases how many does the USA have over 1000
      • @Trini woman (12/03/2020, 17:55) Like (2) Dislike (9) Reply
        " This is discrimination", says the parasite to its host.
        One way or another y'all must kill.
    • huh (13/03/2020, 07:46) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
      Yall worrying now ,?everything yall talk about is I from here, so when it come,let it deal with who is from here first.. Or tell it who to deal with first.
  • old fool (12/03/2020, 14:03) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Well well, I hope the old @r$e from Belle Vue will stop from saying b!@ck people can't catch it SMH. I can't believe how some people can be so foolish to say such a stupid thing
  • This is serious (12/03/2020, 14:24) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    I live in the States and we are stacking up on water. All flights from Europe to the US is canceled, Cruise ships is being canceled. I truly wish the best for my fellow BVIslanders. People is to the point where they only go out if they have to.
    • @ This is serious (12/03/2020, 17:51) Like (5) Dislike (14) Reply
      This is serious when you make false statements. "All flights from Europe to the US is cancelled....." is blatantly false.
      • oh (12/03/2020, 19:45) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
        Yes they did.
        • Acthallus (13/03/2020, 05:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          The US has NOT banned all flights from Europe to the US for 30 days. The only banned PASSENGER flights from
          SCHENGEN countries. There are still cargo flights and many European
          Countries including the UK,
          Ireland etc are exempt.
    • Not true (13/03/2020, 00:06) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I work in the town that delivered the message. All flights are not canceled. US citizens and their families members can fly from Europe to the US, even if those family members are not US Citizens.
  • warning (12/03/2020, 15:39) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is a pandemic. No one should be allowed to leave or enter at this point. Yet two large ships are here today while everywhere else in the region is turning them away. Is the government taking our health and lives for a home? Openly inviting possible carriers here because of greed.
    • @ warning (13/03/2020, 01:40) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Thank you ...
      What’s going to happen eventually
      The ships may stop
      already the tourist are canceling bookings at least with my company
      When the horse is out the stables they’ll close the gates.
      After the hurricanes did we not survive ?
      By God’s grace we did then and Soo we will now
      I say when not if when it hits it’s going to spread like wildfire where we going to lockdown RT?
  • stop now (12/03/2020, 16:18) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    You are not stopping flights from the US and St Marteen? Or is it virus from those countries don't spread.
  • Help (12/03/2020, 17:15) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    This doesnt look good at all...
  • Negus (12/03/2020, 17:38) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    My people. Let Love Guide you, Not Fear
    F-False
    E-Evidence
    A-Appearing
    R-Real
  • BVI love (12/03/2020, 20:09) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Its time to close our port
  • Jaj (12/03/2020, 20:17) Like (31) Dislike (1) Reply
    Every one is taking this and talking that and for get it is God who is in control let's call upon him for mercy please
  • Categorizing Covid (12/03/2020, 20:23) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    The pandemic is thro8ghtout the entire USA and we seem not to be able to grab the fact that this virus has no race or class. Even though it's widespread throughout, people travel freely in and out U.S via st Thomas and P.R and come to BVI. But it seem that because the USA is the great big hand, youall omit them from the conversations and bans.

    Dead people can't spend no money, no matter what currency it is.

    I'm jurisdictions with medical systems bigger and better than ours, we see ministers of health, heads of medical facility and even head of states getr8ng infected. So tell me where BVI is on the map again?

    How many people who feel sick who ain't gone to the hospital? Let's wake up people. Who says it's not here? Not because it's not reported don't mean it's not here.

    This is a humanity crisis. For one time in the life of this country, can we please stop hating people who run blood in their veins just like us. We are all God's people and I beg for the evil and wickedness to stop. We are all on planet earth and it is obviously fed up with us, yet we can't get the message.
    • Not exactly (13/03/2020, 00:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      45 states out of 50+ HAWAII and the territories.
    • Phoenix (13/03/2020, 11:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Spot on- except our government seems to have overlooked the fact that dead people can't MAKE money, either. Why are cruise ships still entering the territory?
  • watch (12/03/2020, 21:00) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    You ignorant morons .... Stop the cruise ships from coming .... if its not too late . Unbelievable stupidity !!!!
  • again (13/03/2020, 00:09) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    The best thing to do is keep your hands cleaned and sanitized. When my kids get home from school, I spray their back packs with Lysol spray, they wash and sanitize their hands, and I toss their uniforms in the washer and they have to shower. Call me crazy but I wipe down everything at home with pure Lysol or bleach diluted in water. Even the door knobs on the outside of the house I spray with Lysol spray. I also believe someone on the Island is infected and they don’t know because the damn virus takes 14 days before it goes air born. If you don’t feel well, you should get yourselves tested.
  • Doomsday (13/03/2020, 08:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where’s the leadership? Information should be news item 1 each day but we hear so little, behind stories about a stolen wheelbarrow.

    Time for the elected leaders to stand up and lead.

    Letting Italian Cruise ships in is monumentally stupid. Many governments not letting any in. I am also concerned that the first people on the cruise front line hawking for taxi dollars seem to all be in the danger zone of over 60 and not obviously in good health...

  • Hmm (13/03/2020, 08:43) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    ahyo talking about closing ports, we cannot survive here without importing our goods etc so no matter wat we best prepare and hope to keep anything that comes our way under control simple.


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