Sixteen COVID19 positive persons have been admitted to the Argyle Isolation Facility (AIF) as active cases of COVID19 in St Vincent and the Grenadines soar to 475.

“Thirty-nine new COVID-19 positive cases were reported from 389 samples processed on Saturday September 18, resulting in a positivity rate of 10.0 per cent. All cases are contacts of positives or persons seeking care,” a release from the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) said on Sunday, September 19.

“There are currently 16 patients admitted for COVID-19 at the AIF. All are unvaccinated,” the release said.

“Six new recoveries were noted over the reporting period. Four hundred and seventy-five  cases are currently active and 14 persons with COVID-19 have died. Two thousand eight hundred and thirty (2830) cases of COVID-19 and two thousand, three hundred and forty-one (2341) recoveries have been recorded in St. Vincent and the Grenadines since March 2020.

“In view of the confirmed presence of the Delta, Mu and Gamma variants in the community and the significant increase in the number of new infections, transmission, severe COVID-19 disease and deaths, strict enforcement and compliance with all protocols and recommendations by everyone is strongly recommended. The correct and consistent use of masks, avoidance of crowds, physical distancing, proper hand sanitizing and immunization with available vaccines have all been proven to significantly reduce the risk of being infected, getting sick and or dying from the COVID-19 virus,” the release said.