Considering the recent spike in the incidence of COVID-19 cases in Dominica, Health Minister Irving McIntyre said there is no reason to shut down the economy or close the national borders. He said there is no evidence of community transmission in the country, and that the general public is showing signs of complying with health and safety regulations.
The minister of health also noted that although a teacher has tested positive for coronavirus, there is no reason to shut down the whole schools in the country. It must however be pointed that Education Minister Octavia Alfred ordered the suspension of activities at three schools – the Isaiah Thomas Secondary School (ITSS), the Mahaut Primary School, and the Massacre/Canefield Primary School – until November 9 after one teacher tested positive to COVID-19.
“Honestly, I really don’t think there is enough evidence to support closing our borders now or even support shutting down and going down into lockdown and curfew,” the Health Minister said. “And when we look at a lot of entertainers postponing their events, some of them canceling their events, when we look at the bars and restaurants shutting down, if you notice now people are a little more indoors, they are getting back to their little gardening and staying at home.”
Dr. McIntyre made it clear that many people in the communities are getting to understand the strict recommendations of the Ministry of Health for social distancing, face masks, and personal hygiene, and “so to say we need to shut down, curfew, lockdown; I am not convinced that is necessary now.”
The health minister blamed illegal entry into the country as responsible for the sudden hike in the number of coronavirus cases in Dominica. According to him, there are now 22 active cases of the disease and 57 total positive cases in the country. There has not been any single death so far and 35 patients have recovered after undergoing treatments at government facilities. There are 44 people now in quarantine and 144 contacts being traced to know their status.
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