No Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Antigua and Barbuda
10 March 2020
As of 10 March 2020, The Ministry of Health, Wellness, and the Environment wishes to assure the public that there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment advises that the first suspected case of COVID-19 infection was tested yesterday by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). The case involved a 72-year-old female visitor from New Jersey who arrived on island on 29 February 2020 and later took ill on 6 March 2020. The patient was being cared for at a private facility and arrangements for the handling and management of the samples to be tested, were made by the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre. Test samples were expeditiously transported to the CARPHA in Trinidad and the results were confirmed to be Negative on 10 March 2020.
The health ministry also advises that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has rescheduled their arrival from Wednesday, 11th March 2020 to another date. The team of technicians is expected to conduct meetings, site visits, training and simulation exercises. Site visits will include a tour of the refurbished Margetson Ward at Holberton Hospital which is the designated area for quarantining, isolation, treatment, and laboratory testing.
