Author: SKNISEditor

15 Mar 2021 Fifteen Caribbean countries will receive just over 2.1 million doses of COVAX vaccines by May, according to allocation figures provided for the first round Kingston, Jamaica, March 15, 2021 (PAHO/WHO)- Jamaica today received 14,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility, a global effort between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Gavi, UNICEF, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).The arrival marks a historic step toward ensuring the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, in the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. This delivery…

17 Mar 2021 PAHO Director reports 728,000 doses will be delivered to five countries in the Americas in coming days. Washington, D.C., March 17, 2021 (PAHO) – Deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines are picking up speed across the Americas as more countries prepare for the imminent arrival of doses procured through COVAX, the global mechanism for equitable distribution of vaccines, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa F. Etienne reported today. During her weekly media briefing, Dr. Etienne said that over the next few days, PAHO’s Revolving Fund will deliver 728,000 COVAX-procured COVID-19 vaccines to five regional countries. In total, PAHO…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 18, 2021 (SKNIS): Businesses, churches, event organizers and other institutions that record the names, addresses and contact details of patrons accessing their establishments are strongly encouraged to store the data for at least 30 days. Abdias Samuel, Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force, said that the information that is collected as part of the COVID-19 health and safety protocols is critical to health authorities. “They help us with the contact tracing that the Ministry of Health will have to do in the event that we have incidents like those that happened on the weekend,” he said.…

17 Mar 2021 Geneva, 17 March 2021 (WHO)—Some countries in the European Union have temporarily suspended use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as a precautionary measure based on reports of rare blood coagulation disorders in persons who had received the vaccine. Other countries in the EU—having considered the same information—have decided to continue using the vaccine in their immunization programmes. Vaccination against COVID-19 will not reduce illness or deaths from other causes. Thromboembolic events are known to occur frequently. Venous thromboembolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease globally. In extensive vaccination campaigns, it is routine for countries to signal…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 18, 2021 (RSCNPF): The eight (8) United States of America nationals who were convicted for the offence of Breaching Quarantine Conditions have all paid their fines. On Thursday (March 18), six (6) of them left the Federation. Two (2) remain in a government quarantine facility in Potworks, Nevis and are expected to leave soon. Asley Loewen, Luke Loewen, Brue DeVoogd, Margaret Flowers, Carrie Freeburg, Kent Freeburg, Jamiyl Shareef, and Matthew Gormly all pleaded guilty to the charge during a virtual hearing with the Charlestown Magistrate Court on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. They were each fined $4,000…

At the conclusion of the 10th UK-Caribbean Forum, held virtually on 18 March 2021, the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom and Caribbean countries, welcoming the Communiqué signed at the Forum, also agreed on the following Action Plan for a two-year period up to 2023, when the next full Forum meeting is currently envisaged. This Action Plan is intended to allow for a strategic and sustained approach to the UK-Caribbean relationship, based on ambitious, yet focussed and realistic commitments. It serves as a road map for the practical implementation of the Communique and sets out the enhanced commitments of both…

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) welcomes the support of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) for its call for a global summit to address urgently the issue of equitable access and distribution of vaccines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.CARICOM Chairman, Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago had written in January , on behalf of the Community, to the Director- General of the WHO Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus urging him to convene at the earliest possible opportunity a Global Summit to address urgently equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, particularly for developing countries. The Summit, Dr…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 18, 2021 (SKNIS): With the increasing demand for water and the decrease in supply, it is important to implement conservation techniques to alleviate impending shortages, says Ryan Phillip, Geologist and Assistant Water Engineer at St. Kitts Water Services Department.Mr. Phillip, while speaking on the March 17 edition of “Working for You”, said that because of the changes in our daily lives and more demand for the use of water, it is important to implement sustainable practices such as water conservation. “For us to combat this national and global issue we would have to plan and plan…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 18, 2021 (SKNIS): A strong no-nonsense message was sent when eight (8) American citizens were arrested, formally charged, and fined for breaching their quarantine conditions on the island of Nevis. The eight offenders appeared before the Charlestown Magistrate Court via a virtual hearing on March 17, 2021. According to Superintendent Cromwell Henry speaking at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Press Briefing on March 17, each of the eight plead guilty and was each charged EC$ 4,000 (US$ 1500) to be paid forthwith or serve six months in prison. They remain at the quarantine facility…

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (March 18, 2021) — The Ministry of Tourism in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) in conjunction with the Nevis Tourism Authority (NTA) and the Ministry of Health will be hosting a number of COVID-19 Vaccination Information Sessions for the tourism sector. These forums will provide relevant and accurate vaccine information for all hospitality employees. The sessions will be held at the Nevis Performing Arts Centre (NEPAC), during which all COVID-19 protocols will be observed. Masks or face coverings are required. The first of three sessions will commence on Monday March 22, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:…