St Vincent and the Grenadines on Monday confirmed 41 new COVID-19  cases from samples collected between January 27 and February 8.

A release from the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) said two positive cases were from samples collected on January 27, eighteen from February 1, two from February 3, five from February 5, seven from February 6 and seven from February 8. These cases were detected  during exit screening, contact tracing and testing of persons with flu symptoms.  There are now 1174 local cases of  COVID-19.  

Three persons have been cleared bringing the number of total recoveries to 418. Nine hundred and two cases remain active and  four persons with COVID-19 have died. One thousand, three hundred and  twenty-four  cases of COVID-19 have been reported in St. Vincent and the  Grenadines since March 2020. All positive cases will remain isolated until cleared. 

All close contacts of positive cases currently in quarantine, should contact the flu  clinic in their district to arrange testing for clearance.  

The public is advised that the use of masks in public spaces or private spaces to  which the public has access, is now mandatory under the Public Health Act 2020.  Public transportation vehicles may only transport one half of the persons the vehicle  is licensed to carry. These measures are aimed at reducing the potential for any  increase in the incidence of COVID-19 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.