Dominica has recorded five new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of positive cases in the country to 68. There are now 27 active cases with six already discharged according to national epidemiologist, Dr. Shalauddin Ahmed.
The national epidemiologist said four of the new cases are imported and one is a contact of an imported case. He disclosed that the five cases range between 20 and 56 years of age, and they consist of three females and two males. Ahmed also revealed that the five new cases are asymptomatic and they do not have any underlying chronic medical conditions.
He stated that officials of the Ministry of Health have embarked on contact tracing and that people tested are negative so far. He added that community testing has been completed in St. Joseph, Portsmouth, Laplaine, and Grandbay among other major communities. He clarified that 80 community tests have been completed, and the only two that turned out reactive subsequently returned negative with PCR testing.
Considering that isolated persons have not been complying health officials in quarantine facilities, Health Minister Irving McIntyre stated that a new quarantine facility will be completed in Portsmouth by December. He said the facility will be very comfortable to occupants and this will make quarantined persons more cooperative with health officials while awaiting test results. He urged Dominicans to continue to adhere to safety and health protocols recommended by the health ministry.
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