Another COVID-19 case has surfaced in Dominica, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 32. A total number of 18 cases were recorded before the country closed its borders in May, and 14 cases recorded after the borders were reopened in August. According to national epidemiologist, Dr. Shalauddin Ahmed, six of the 14 new cases have been discharged and eight remain quarantined.
Ahmed explained that the 14 cases that occurred after border reopening were imported, and detected during airport screening or during mandatory quarantine after travelers re-entered the country. He revealed that all the infected patients are aged 2 to 59 and fully asymptomatic. Given that eight active cases remain isolated, he expressed hopes that these will be discharged once they meet recommended criteria.
“From case number 14, about 54 contacts have been identified and contact tracing is ongoing,” he said. “I’m happy to say that I have received results just a few minutes before I came to the podium and 48 of them are negative. These were tested yesterday.”
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre disclosed that the health and safety protocols implemented by the government have been working in preventing community spread of coronavirus, and he urged Dominicans on island to comply fully with all government recommendations in order to eliminate the disease from the country.
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