St Lucia Records 69th COVID-19 Death

Monday April 19, 2021 the Ministry of Health and Wellness received confirmation from the Ezra Long Laboratory of 2 new cases of COVID-19. This is from a batch of 30 samples taken on April 16, 2021 and April 17, 2021. These samples were processed on  April 18, 2021.

The two newly diagnosed individuals were seen at various community respiratory clinics where they were assessed and tested for COVID-19. In-keeping with the national COVID- 19 testing protocol, they were each placed in home quarantine by healthcare practitioners while awaiting receipt of their COVID-19 test results. Arrangements have since been made to place them in isolation. The contact tracing for these new cases is underway.

Confirmation was also received of the recovery of 14 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 bringing the total number of active cases in country to date to 85. At present, one of the active cases is requiring critical care at the Respiratory Hospital. The new cases bring the total number of cases diagnosed in country to date to 4419.

The Ministry of Health also reports *two COVID-19 related deaths* bringing the total number of deaths in country to date to *69*.

Death #68 is a 65 year old male from the Castries district with underlying medical illnesses.

Death #69 is a 68 year old male from the Soufriere district with underlying medical illnesses.

The Ministry of Health extends condolences to the families and loved ones of these individuals.

As of April 17, 2021 a total of *23,688* individuals have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 39 individuals have received the second dose. At present, we are in phase two of the COVID-19 vaccine campaign and will targeting people in the education, commercial, tourism and transportation sectors. Tuesday, April 20, 2021 the health team will be administering the COVID-19 vaccine at the Phillip Marcellin Grounds and the Daren Sammy Cricket Grounds.