Let me start by wishing everyone a Happy and prosperous 2022. As you all know, we have entered into the new year with our covid-19 positive cases steadily rising and many people in quarantine.

Today, many people tested positive during the end of quarantine testing and special measures testing. The Testing Center processed over 181 tests today, and we are still in the process of confirming all tests and conducting contact tracing.

Some good news is that today we have two cases that are no longer active.

We have noticed that some of our recent positive cases have come up because some persons are not adhering to the safety protocols put in place by our Public Health Department.

Many have called for a lockdown to control this, but we will not close down the island. In 2020 when we decided to close down the island, there was little to no information about covid-19, and the OMT decided on a lockdown to keep the community safe.

One thing we knew then and now is that covid-19 does not spread on its own. It needs a host to move around. And although we had a successful vaccination drive last year and now starting with the booster shot, it’s disappointing to see that people continue to disregard the severity of covid-19 and act like we are not in this together.

Thankfully, with all the cases, persons are experiencing very mild symptoms, if any, but this is no excuse to go against safety protocols and put the community at risk.

I want to send out a stern warning to persons displaying this selfish behavior by not adhering to the on-island measures, safety protocols, and guidelines and persons breaching quarantine or isolation. We will take disciplinary measures, and there will be consequences for your actions.

On a positive note, I am glad that most people in the community take this situation seriously, wear their masks in public, adhere to good hand hygiene practices, and do a self-test for extra precaution.

I want to ask you to be considerate when going for self-tests and take one test per person and only when on special measures or if you might be a low-level contact. Self-tests are not for persons experiencing flu-like symptoms as these persons should stay at home and call Saba Cares (Hospital).

As I mentioned before, our booster drive has started this week, and I would like to encourage everyone to register if you have not. Getting vaccinated has proven to reduce severe illness.

You can register for the booster via Facebook, call the vaccine hotline at 416-5373 or walk into the ambulance bay. Please walk with your identification card and your vaccine card.