MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, INNOVATION, GENDER RELATIONS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND GENDER RELATIONS
Francis Compton Building, Waterfront, Castries
Telephone: 758 468 5288 / Fax: 758 453 2299
PRESS RELEASE
Monday December 7, 2020
Minister for Education Thanks Teachers as Students Return to Classrooms in Preparation for Exams
On November 27, following a NEMAC meeting, there was some revision to the Covid-19 protocols in relation to various sectors here. One of these was the Education sector, where the green light was given for Grade Six students who are preparing for the Common Entrance exams as well as Form Five students preparing for CSEC exams, to safely reintegrate into the class room for onsite engagements.
As of December 2, 2020 a number of schools took the opportunity to offer facetime teaching and learning to students particularly in areas where students were preparing SBAs and needed practical experience in areas such as labs, science projects and other academic disciplines.
Minister for Education Hon. Dr Gale Rigobert would like to thank the teachers and principals for showing such commitment and dedication to the students at this time. “It is a time of much uncertainty for all of us. However guided by the principle that no child should be left behind, I am aware that despite all that we are doing to ensure that every student is equipped with a device and connectivity for virtual learning, that there are some students who will still need the support and guidance to make it through, particularly in preparation for their important Common Entrance and CSEC exams. Thank you once again to the teachers, principals and staff who have gone the extra mile to ensure that this happens in accordance with the Covid-19 protocols and health and safety measures. Thanks to all the parents as well for your cooperation,” Dr. Rigobert said.
The Minister reiterated that at no point in time will the health and safety of students and staff be compromised and that the Ministry will continue to be guided by the advice of the Ministry of Health and the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Belmar George.
The school term ends officially on December 11.
The Department of Education will continue to work closely with all stakeholders and the Ministry of Health and the Chief Medical Officer as to what will obtain for the new school term in January 2021.
Schools with On-Site Engagement of Students
District Primary Secondary
Dist 1 Des Barras Babonneau Secondary
Dist 1 La Guerre Corinth Secondary
Dist 1 Fond Assau Saint Lucia Sports Academy
Dist 1 Grande Riviere
Dist 1 Monchy
Dist 1 Gros Islet Primary
Dist 2 Gordon &Walcott Methodist Castries Comprehensive Secondary
Dist 2 Morne Du Don SDA Academy
Dist 2 Vide Bouteille Primary Sir Ira Simmons Secondary
Dist 2 Eucharist Lewis SDA St Mary’s College
Dist 3 Bocage Combined
Dist 3 Bishop Charles Gachet RC
Dist 4 Roseau R. C. Combined Ciceron Secondary
Dist 4 Ciceron R. C. Combined
Dist 4 Anse La Raye Primary
Dist 5 La Ressource Combined Clendon Mason Memorial Sec
Dist 5 Derniere Riviere Combined Anse Ger Secondary
Dist 5 Mon Repos Patience Grande Riviere Secondary
Press Release SAINT LUCIA’S NEW ISOLATION STRATEGY The Ministry of Health and Wellness continues our focused efforts to manage the current surge in COVID-19 cases being diagnosed in Saint Lucia. The Ministry has utilized a mixed model of care which allowed for the management of mild cases to take place within communities. They have been monitored by a dedicated medical team overseeing cases being managed at home. This approach had been taken given that approximately 80% of people diagnosed with the virus experience fairly mild disease. As a result, a large number of our cases remain at home to isolate and receive care until they recover. However, in undertaking routine reviews of the national plan to manage the COVID-19 outbreak which includes the treatment and care component, the Ministry of Health recognizes the need to adjust this model of care. There have recently been a large number of people currently being managed in community. This combined with inadequacy of some homes to give the required isolation as well as breaches has resulted in recent changes to the isolation strategy for our confirmed cases. Home isolation is now being transitioned to state-based isolation facilities. Effective immediately, this change now means that mild cases are being placed within hotel sites and the moderate to severe cases continue to be cared for within the national respiratory hospital. This allows for a greater degree of vigilance in the management of the milder COVID-19 cases, given home isolation cannot be effectively conducted for some individuals who are in care.
These changes have been made primarily to protect the health and safety of all, not only people diagnosed with the virus. It is expected that this new model will support efforts to contain the virus and will allow for more focused care being delivered to all our patients as their period of infection is being managed. The Ministry of Health would like to thank the public for the support and cooperation in observing this policy. For more information please contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer or the Epidemiology Unit, at 468-5309/468-5317 respectively
Press Release SAINT LUCIA RECORDS CASES #1030 TO #1106 OF COVID-19 Today Thursday January 28, 2021 the Ministry of Health and Wellness received confirmation of seventy-seven new cases of COVID-19 tested at the Ezra Long Laboratory. Confirmation was also received of the recovery of sixty-three individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 bringing the total number of active cases currently in country to 505. One of the active cases is in critical care at the Respiratory Hospital and all of the others are stable. The individuals range in age from 2 years to 77 years. They are from the Babonneau, Anse La Raye, Gros-Islet, Micoud, Soufriere, Castries, Laborie and Dennery districts. All of these individuals were seen at a community respiratory clinic for assessment and were tested for COVID-19. As per the testing protocol, they were placed in quarantine by health care practitioners while awaiting their COVID-19 test results. Arrangements have since been made to place these individuals in isolation. The contact tracing team is undertaking investigations to identify the contacts of these confirmed cases. The Ministry of Health continues to manage the backlog of COVID-19 tests conducted at the Ezra Long Laboratory. Persons who have been tested are asked to remain in quarantine until communicated via telephone with test results. Everyone is asked to remain vigilant and to continue practicing the behaviors which will help to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Frequently wash hands your with flowing water and soap
Wear a mask when in public places and ensure it covers the mouth, nose and chin
Maintain a six foot distance from others wherever possible
Use a bleach solution to sanitize frequently touched surfaces and frequently handled objects
Avoid contact with other people who have flu-like symptoms If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, it is important to keep away from others and to urgently seek medical care at your closest community respiratory clinic for assessment. The new cases now bring the total number of cases diagnosed in country to date to 1106. The Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue providing updates to the public as new information becomes available. For more information please contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer or the Epidemiology Unit, at 468-5309/468-5317 respectively
Press Release SAINT LUCIA RECORDS CASES #970 TO #1029 OF COVID-19 The Ministry of Health and Wellness received confirmation of sixty new cases of COVID-19 from the Ezra Long Laboratory late Wednesday January 27, 2021. This is from a batch of 258 samples which were tested. Confirmation was also received of the recovery of thirty individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 bringing the total number of active cases in country to date to 491. Currently, one of the active cases is in critical care at the Respiratory Hospital and all of the others are stable. The new cases now bring the total number of cases diagnosed in country to date to 1029. All of the sixty cases are Saint Lucian nationals who range in age from 4 years to 76 years. They are from the Castries, Soufriere, Anse La Raye, Vieux- Fort, Gros-Islet, Dennery, Babonneau, Micoud and Choiseul districts. All of these individuals were seen at community-based respiratory clinics where they were assessed and tested for COVID-19. As per protocol, they were placed in quarantine by health care practitioners while awaiting their COVID-19 test results. Arrangements have since been made to place these individuals into isolation. The contact tracing team is undertaking investigations to identify the contacts of these confirmed cases. The Ministry of Health reminds every one that we are all vulnerable to the COVID-19 and therefore we should take personal responsibility to protect ourselves, family and loved ones. Given that there is increased numbers of COVID-19 cases and risk of transmission, we ask that everyone continue practicing the infection prevention and control measures to reduce the spread of the virus:
Frequently wash hands your with flowing water and soap
Wear a mask when in public places and ensure it covers the mouth, nose and chin Maintain a six foot distance from others wherever possible
Use a bleach solution to sanitize frequently touched surfaces and frequently handled objects
Avoid contact with other people who have flu-like symptoms If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, it is important to keep away from others and to urgently seek medical care at your closest community respiratory clinic for assessment.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue providing updates to the public as new information becomes available.