~ Residents asked to take precautions and get vaccinated. ~
PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of VSA Omar Ottley announced that St. Maarten has seen 25 new cases of COVID-19 cases within two days. He said that CPS shared its concerns on the dramatic increased all of which have been confirmed as the UK variant. He said CPS is concerned that the rapid increase may be linked to the recent carnival parties and events that were held.
Ottley said that RIVM has indicated that the UK variant is circulating widely on St. Maarten, said based on evidence it has been shown that the Pfizer vaccine is very much effective against the UK variant, hence the reason he is calling on the general public to take the necessary precautions as well as get vaccinated.
The Minister said if St. Maarten continues on this trend, then the vaccination efforts will be jeopardized since human resources will have to be redirected to managing the sudden resurgence of cases.
Ottley said that it will be challenged to continue with the national vaccination rollout alongside the resurgence of cases.
In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 the Minister said in collaboration with the Minister of Justice Anna Richardson has decided that all persons that are requesting permits for events must have in place a COVID-19 testing site in place while persons attending should also be vaccinated.
St. Maarten will reopen to the ABC islands.
The Minister also said that St. Maarten will open its borders to the ABC islands, conditions for entry are passengers that are fully vaccinated can travel to the island within 48-hours with an antigen test.
Non-vaccinated persons are only allowed with a 72hours or less PCR test, while residents of St. Maarten will fall in the same category as long as there are vaccinated, non-vaccinated persons he said will have to provide a PCR (nasal swab) upon arrival.
