By Demion McTair. Updated 9:03 p.m., Wednesday April 29, 2020, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Kingstown, St. Vincent (ONE NEWS SVG) – Thirteen percent of Covid-19 tests done in St. Vincent and the Grenadines so far have been positive.
According to the most recent figures released by the Ministry if Health Wellness and the Environment at 6:00 p.m. today, 121 Covid-19 tests have been conducted so far and of those, 16, or thirteen percent were positive and 105 or 87 percent were negative.
So far, there have been no deaths, eight (8) recoveries and 114 people in quarantine.
Some persons have been calling for more testing to be done.
Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Senator Luke Browne said recently that the country could start doing its PCR testing soon.
Currently, St. Vincent relies, primarily, on the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) lab to conduct PCR tests.
It has rapid antibody testing capacity, but rapid tests are mainly used for screening due to their 85 percent validity rate, which is less that the PCR testing.
The public is asked to continue to practice social and physical distancing and to take the necessary precautionary measures to ensure their safety.
A May 1st, 2020 (a public holiday) advisory has been issued by the ministry of health encouraging the public against public social gatherings and other activities.