Healthy practices during the Easter weekend

As we celebrate the Easter weekend, the Ministry of Health advises Saint Lucians to make responsible decisions to keep safe during and after the Easter weekend. Traditionally it’s a time for family activities and socialization. This year may be different for many with the protocols that have been put in place for the management of COVID-19. Despite the difficulties in the past year, let us remain focused on what is truly important: health, family and life. We acknowledge and applaud the public for their cooperation during the last few difficult months of managing this third and intense wave of COVID-19 in country.

We ask the public to celebrate the long weekend responsibly. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, avoid driving under the influence, drive within the speed limits and manage conflict safely especially since we note the increases in violent crime over the last few days. If accessing the beach, do so with caution and monitor young children closely. The Easter weekend is noted for drownings and near drowning events.

In relation to COVID-19, the public is reminded that although the Ministry of Health notes the flattening of this third wave we still have over one hundred active cases in country. We would like to alert the public, that mass crowd activities and open socialization is not recommended nor approved at this time in our management of the pandemic. We are still at high risk at this point. The Public Health Team is working to reduce the active cases to less than 50 to enable safe opening up of activities. We ask the public to work with us and continue to be patient. The premature social activity will lead to an upsurge of cases given the exponential transmission typical of this virus.