Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 22, 2021 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis implemented its vaccine rollout plan on Monday, February 22, 2021, at the Newtown Dental Clinic during a brief ceremony held as part of the Government’s National COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout and Awareness Campaign Launch.
Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, who was one of the first persons to take the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine against the deadly Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) said that although a vaccine is available persons should not let their guard down as the virus is still active.
“We feel, and we should feel proud of the accomplishments to date and even as we rejoice at this significant watershed moment, the country at large must be reminded it is not over. It is not over until we achieve herd immunity; it is not over until our neighbours achieve herd immunity,” said Prime Minister Harris. Therefore, we must all continue to take the prescriptions given – the wearing of our masks, the hand hygiene, the physical and social distancing – we must take them to heart and abide by them even as we buildout.”
Prime Minister Harris encouraged others to get vaccinated.
“We want that everyone should come forward in his or her self-interest and be vaccinated. That way you save not only your life, but you make an effort to save that of your loved ones. So, I want to invite everyone,” he said, adding that the vaccine is being offered for free.
Other ministers of the Federal Cabinet, including Deputy Prime Minister the Honourable Shawn Richards and the Minister of Health et al, the Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett were among the more than 50 persons to take the COVID-19 vaccine today. Additionally, frontline workers, the Commissioner of Police, Hilroy Brandy, and members of the National COVID-19 Taskforce were also vaccinated.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 11, 2021 (SKNIS): With the emergence of new variants of the Coronavirus and the possibility of them reaching the Federation, it is necessary for persons to continue adhering to the prevention and control measures, says Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws.
Dr. Laws was at the time speaking at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) Press Briefing on February 10. She said that wearing face masks is very important at this time.
“As a matter of fact, the latest information coming out is that wearing two masks is going to provide you that additional protection against the new variants,” she said. “So, prior to this we advocated one mask, but the science and the latest information are suggesting that with the emergence of these new variants you may have to wear two masks because these new variants are associated with increased transmissibility.”
“There is a risk of spreading this virus to many other persons and these risks are associated with reinfection and the variant first identified in the United Kingdom is associated with an increased risk of death. So, those who are living in the countries where these variants were first identified I see pictures of them wearing double masks. What they do is wear the surgical mask as the first layer and then they put on a cloth mask over the surgical mask.”
Also vital is maintaining proper hand hygiene and sanitizing high touch areas, said Dr. Laws. Maintaining a physical distance of three to six feet between individuals and avoiding crowds were also listed as significant.
“These are the measures along with the vaccine that are going to help us to get through this pandemic and help us to get through 2021,” she said.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 02, 2020 (SKNIS): Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris has called for discipline on VAT Days and has urged shoppers and suppliers of goods and services to practice physical distancing, to wear masks, and to exercise good hand hygiene.
Prime Minister Harris was at the time speaking at his monthly press conference on December 01, 2020. He said that as usual, the security forces will be on full alert to maintain law and order.
“We really want to have the best behaviour on VAT Day,” he said. “The overcrowding, the rushing, and all those ill-advised behaviour will not be encouraged.”
The Prime Minister asked suppliers of goods and services to put the requisite protocols in place to ensure good order is maintained at the premises.
“It can be done. A good model had been exercised by TDC recently at one of their sales. They were able to manage that activity by involving the security forces,” he said. “The security forces stand ready to assist any business place in making the appropriate determinations to ensure that all will go well.”
In order to accommodate VAT Day Sales, the Government will pay its salaries on Thursday, December 17, 2020, said the Prime Minister.
About 1,200 non-establishment workers will also receive their honorarium on December 17, 2020.
“Some time ago, the honorarium was discontinued by the former administration and the wild promise that their situation would be regularized,” he said. “Having taken note of the injustice to that category of government employees, we are determined until their situation was regularized we will pay them the honorarium, which I gather is about two percent of their annual accumulative wages.”
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