(Loopcayman.com) – St Vincent and the Grenadines has recorded its first imported coronavirus case.
She is a Vincentian national, aged 30 to 35 years, who travelled to the United Kingdom for a meeting and returned home on March 7 with a fever and cough.
Health Minister Luke Browne made the announcement during a news conference tonight (March 11).
The patient has been informed about her status and is working with the Ministry of Health.
In fact, Minister Browne says she voluntarily reported her symptoms to the Health Ministry on March 10 and has been in isolation at home under the care of competent health professionals.
Her symptoms are mild and health officials expect the patient to make a full recovery.
The Minister says based on her travel history; health professionals had suspected coronavirus which was confirmed through testing by the Caribbean Public Health Aegncy (CARPHA).
Those results were received in St Vincent and the Grenadines around 5.20 pm.
The patient contracted coronavirus as a result of travel and the Health Ministry is taking steps to prevent its local transmission to communities.
Health Minister Browne says a health team was dispatched to the patient’s home to assess the situation and institute public health measures.
Contact tracing will also be done with the persons the patient would have been in contact with.
St Vincent and the Grenadines has been preparing for this day, as the Health Minister reminded that the Ministry is in an advanced stage of setting up an isolation centre facility in Argyle.
Equipment necessary for in-country testing is also being ordered while the Health Ministry will increase its public health campaigns.
Vincentians have been advised not to panic, to avoid non-essential travel and practice proper hygiene to minimise the spread of infection.