This country has recorded two new covid related deaths as it continues to battle the viral pandemic.

A release from the Health Services subcommittee of the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), said a 52-year-old female died at home after a respiratory illness and tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday 17th December 2021 as part of the post-mortem assessment. This patient was determined to have died from a COVID pneumonia.

The second person was an 80-year-old male with no underlying conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19 on December 18th, 2021, was admitted to the isolation ward at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and died later that day of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Both patients were unvaccinated. Their deaths bring the death toll from COVID-19 to 79, states the release, dated December 20 which covers the reporting period December 16-19,2021.

It said that eight new COVID-19 positive cases were reported from 70 samples collected on Thursday December 16th, 2021, resulting in a positivity of 11.4%. Ten new rapid antigen positive results were reported from flu clinics on December 16th, 2021.

Eleven new COVID-19 positive cases were reported from 79 samples collected on Friday December 17th, 2021, resulting in a positivity 13.9%.

Seven new rapid antigen positive results were reported from flu clinics on December 17th, 2021.

Seven (7) new COVID-19 positive case was reported from 102 samples collected on Saturday December 18th, 2021, resulting in a positivity 6.9%. Seven new rapid antigen positive results were reported from flu clinics on December 18th, 2021.

No new COVID-19 positive case was reported from 23 samples collected on Sunday December 19th, 2021. Two new rapid antigen positive results were reported from flu clinics on December 19th, 2021.

The Health Services subcommittee said there are currently two patients admitted for COVID-19 at the Argyle Isolation Facility. One patient is fully vaccinated, and the other patient is unvaccinated. Ten patients are admitted to the COVID-19 ward at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. One patient is fully vaccinated and nine (9) are unvaccinated.

Twelve recoveries were noted over the reporting period. Five hundred and eighty-two cases are currently active. Five thousand, seven hundred and eighty-four (5784) cases of COVID-19 and five thousand, one hundred and twenty-three (5123) 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, the Committee is urging strict enforcement and compliance by everyone with all protocols and recommendations.

Also strongly recommended is the correct and consistent use of masks, avoidance of crowds, physical distancing, proper hand sanitising and immunisation with available vaccines which have all been proven to significantly reduce the risk of being infected, getting sick and or dying from the COVID-19 virus.