The government has imposed a lockdown on Grand Fond community after 12 cases of COVID-19 were detected in Dominica. Health Minister Irving McIntyre said the lockdown is necessary to contain the spread of the disease and to facilitate contact-tracing.
McIntyre disclosed that six travelers entered the country from the British Virgion Islands on July 6 and were isolated at the Safe in Nature COVID-certified property. He said two of the travelers tested positive for coronavirus and were quarantined at the St. James Isolation Unit. He added that three of the remaining travelers also tested positive after the quarantine period and were moved to the isolation unit as well.
According to him, health officials embarked on contact tracing to determine if anyone that came in contact with the travelers has the disease. He said residents of Grand Fond were subjected to swabbing tests on a random basis to detect the spread of the pandemic. He revealed that 70 PCR tests and more than 170 rapid antigen tests have been done to people to see if they were positive to the infection.
The health minister further said that 32 people who had primary contact with the travelers have been moved to the government quarantine facility in Portsmouth and that two of them tested positive after some days. He added that one of the more than 170 people that got antigen tests also had the disease and subsequently moved to isolation while their contacts are being traced out and tested.
Parliamentary representative for Grand Fond Constituency, Greta Roberts, said that residents of the community have been cooperative with health officials in getting tested. She urged people to remain vigilant while observing all health and safety protocols to eliminate the disease. She tasked people to continue to wear their face masks, wash their hands constantly, and maintain social distancing.
As part of the lockdown, the government has restricted movements within the community and suspended all social activities such as parties, church services, sports, and drinking joints. Only grocery stores are allowed to remain open till 6pm with strict observance of safety and health protocols for customers.
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