19 of confirmed COVID-19 cases can be traced back to cruise ship – health minister

Of the 29 confirmed COVID-19 cases in St Vincent and the Grenadines, 19 can be traced to cruise ships.

So said health minister Luke Browne on Monday, June 22 in Parliament during a ministerial statement during which he gave an extensive report on his ministry’s approach to the pandemic.

Browne said that of the 19 cases that can be traced to cruise ships, 11 were due to the recent repatriation of Vincentian crew members while the other 8 were from earlier arrivals via air.

“Six of the 29 cases form part of a cluster that was discovered in a local community, the last case which was found on May 19,” he said. “There were four other cases. We have not seen any positive cases apart from those discovered among Vincentians who came home on cruise ships since May 19 or in other words, over one month ago.”

Up to press time, 27 of the confirmed cases have recovered, leaving two active cases in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Approximately 202 persons are in quarantine.