By: Chaïra Flanders
Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 19, 2020 (ZIZ News): Retired Nurses have been rehired by the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) to assist front line responders in screening all visitors and returning nationals at the island’s Ports of Entry.
This was revealed by Premier of Nevis, Hon. Mark Brantley earlier this week via his Covid-19 “Coronavirus” address.
“We have rehired some retired nurses and pressed them into service manning all of our ports of entry. Working with the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority (NASPA) we have heightened Port Health surveillance and border control with inter agency collaboration between NASPA, Customs, Immigration and Health” the Premier explained.
Mr. Brantley said, all passengers will be screened by a nurse upon arrival.
“We are now screening all incoming passengers at the Vance W. Amory International Airport by an assigned nurse and all incoming cruise and yacht passengers at our Charlestown Port. Yachts now will be allowed to disembark passengers only at the Charlestown Port”, he said.
Premier Brantley said that the NIA has secured additional supplies such as masks, gloves, gowns, hand sanitizers and other protective equipment for the front line responders while also adding that his government is in the process of securing additional ventilators for the management of critical patients.
In addition to securing supplies and protective gear, the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority (NASPA) established a Port Security Task Force functioning at all ports of entry under its preview to enhance security in response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.