One new coronavirus COVID-19 case was reported on the French side on Saturday by regional health authority, ARS, bringing active cases to 15. The latest case has been transferred to the University Hospital Guadeloupe CHU. ARS also reported that two more persons have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries …
Read More »No new COVID-19 cases on French side, two recoveries
There were no new cases of coronavirus COVID-19 reported on the French side on Saturday, a further encouraging sign that the situation remains stable in St. Martin. Regional Health Authority ARS reported that two more persons have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 15. Currently there are five …
Read More »Saturday April 11: Address of Island governor Jonathan Johnson on Covid-19 infection status
Saturday, April 11: Address of Island Governor Jonathan Johnson on Covid-19 infection status. Please be patient during the download of this message if you have a slow internet connection
Read More »St. Maarten: Shutdown can be extended if necessary
The two-week shutdown introduced to stem the spread of the highly infectious coronavirus COVID-19 can be extended if it has to be, Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Silveria Jacobs said on Friday evening. “I will not open up as yet. I want two weeks of …
Read More »Dutch side records 9th COVID-19 death, five persons now recovered
The ninth person in Dutch St. Maarten who tested positive for the coronavirus COVID-19 passed away at St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) on Thursday evening, while a total of five persons have now recovered from the highly infectious virus. The latest victim is a male, who had been in critical …
Read More »Saba coronavirus-free to date, pneumonia patient flown out
Whereas Saba remains coronavirus free, Island Governor Jonathan Johnson informed Friday that one resident would have to be flown out on a medevac emergency flight as this person was suffering of a severe case of pneumonia. The person was admitted into A.M. Edwards Medical Center earlier on Friday but was …
Read More »Emergency Ordinance for Statia extended until May 1
The Emergency Ordinance which was enacted due to the worldwide coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and which was due to expire on April 15 was extended to May 1, 2020. Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij stated that Statia is not scaling down the Emergency Ordinance. All measures that were previously imposed are …
Read More »St. Maartens Prime Minsiter Jacobs’ blunt message goes viral
The no-nonsense tone of Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, in pleading with St. Maarteners to take social distancing seriously in the fight against the new coronavirus COVID-19, has gone viral on Twitter, and was featured most notably on CBS News, Buzzfeed News and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. In the national address of …
Read More »Friday, April 10: Address of Island governor Jonathan Johnson on Covid-19 infection status
Friday, April 10: Address of Island governor Jonathan Johnson on Covid-19 infection status. Please be patient during the download of this message if you have a slow internet connection
Read More »30 respirators, medicines and protective equipment for care coronavirus patients to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao
In the morning of Friday, April 10, a KLM flight left for Curacao with a large shipment of medical equipment, medicines and protective equipment for the three Leeward Islands of the Kingdom: Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. With all goods a total of 30 additional IC respiratory beds can be realised …
Read More »50 positive COVID-19 cases now on Dutch side, 34 male, 16 female
The number of persons who have tested positive for the coronavirus COVID-19 in Dutch St. Maarten has increased to 50, as of 4:00pm Thursday. Of the positive cases, 34 are male and 16 females. Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Silveria Jacobs said in a national …
Read More »Compliance and Enforcement Regarding the Corona Virus Crisis
Even though few or no infections have been detected on the BES islands, it is still necessary to adhere to rules and guidelines, because an infection is still possible, and it can spread at lightning speed. To this end, the islands have ratified new emergency regulations and the Public Prosecutor’s …
Read More »Navy vessel Zr.Ms. Karel Doorman will set course to the Caribbean on Monday
On Monday, April 13, the Navy vessel Zr.Ms. Karel Doorman will depart for the Caribbean from its home base in Den Helder. The Ministry of Defense is deploying the ship to provide support during the corona crisis. The plan is, that she will stay for three months, but that could …
Read More »New COVID-19 case reported in St. Martin on Wednesday
One new coronavirus COVID-19 case on the French side has brought active cases back up to sixteen. Currently 11 cases are isolated at home and five are in hospital, including the latest case. Two COVID-19 patients originally from St. Martin have been transferred to the University Hospital in Guadeloupe leaving …
Read More »Preventative measures on Saba extended until April 19 – Travel restrictions until May 8
The preventative measures implemented three weeks ago to help avert the introduction of COVID-19 on Saba will be extended. Schools, daycare, after school care and after school activities, bars, hotels, and non-essential businesses and services will remain closed until April 19. Travel restrictions remain in place until May 8. Island …
Read More »3 more positive COVID-19 cases for Dutch side, quarantine period may increase to 21 days
Three more positive coronavirus COVID-19 cases have been recorded for Dutch St. Maarten bringing the total number of positive cases to 43, Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Silveria Jacobs announced on Wednesday. The genders of the three latest cases were not available. Authorities will continue …
Read More »Non-essential businesses closed on Statia by emergency ordinance
Non-essential businesses in St. Eustatius have been declared closed under the emergency ordinance that was introduced by the Public Entity to combat the coronavirus crisis pandemic. The ordinance remains in place until Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij said the upscaling of the state of emergency is …
Read More »Sint Maarten: Intense testing to be done in ‘hot spots’
Authorities have identified some coronavirus COVID-19 “hot spots” in the country as a result of contact tracing conducted particularly with the last sets of positive cases that are were not under Collective Prevention Services (CPS) monitoring and had been “in particular segments of society.” Prime Minister and Chairperson of the …
Read More »COVID-19 death toll for Dutch side now stands at 8
Eight deaths in Dutch St. Maarten have now been attributed to persons who had tested positive for the coronavirus COVID-19. Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Silveria Jacobs explained that the latter two, a male and a female, had passed away over the past week. Both …
Read More »Knops updates on the support to the Caribbean parts of The Netherlands
The Dutch government continues its assistance to the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment RIVM is in daily contact with the six islands, a doctor-epidemiologist will be going to St. Maarten, and the Dutch National Police will continue to assist St. Maarten. …
Read More »No new COVID-19 cases on French side for second consecutive day
active cases down to 15 No new coronavirus COVID-19 cases were reported on the French side for the second consecutive day. Four additional persons have recovered and were discharged from the Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital, bringing the number of active cases down to 15 (two in hospital and 13 isolated at …
Read More »Better, cheaper connectivity between islands still far off
The Dutch government is still working on a proposal to improve the connectivity between the Dutch Caribbean islands and to, where possible, lower the tariffs for residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. A concrete solution is not in sight, which is bad news for residents who continue to pay …
Read More »SMMC expects surge in local COVID patients
St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) is preparing for more suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients that need to be admitted to the hospital. Based on case studies and data analysis from other COVID-19 countries where communal spread has occurred, estimates on the actual number – not to be confused with the …
Read More »World Health Day address by Commisioner of Public Health, Rolando Wilson
Today throughout the world, we are commemorating World Health Day, which was proclaimed by the World Health Organization in 1948. The theme chosen could not have come at a better time when Nurses and Midwives are being put to the test and challenged with this Covid-19 pandemic. On this special …
Read More »Update April 7: Latest Covid-19 updates for Saba
While the test results were all negative, all preventative measures are still in place. Maintain social distancing practices, proper hand hygiene, and staying at home as much as possible.
Read More »Monday, April 6: Majority of COVID-19 cases on French side in 15-64 age range
Of the thirty-one cases of coronavirus COVID-19 in St. Martin since the island was first included with affected countries around the world, the majority of cases have been people in the 15 to 64 age range (71 per cent), the Préfecture and regional health agency ARS disclosed. There have no …
Read More »Update April 6 – Island Governor Johnson reports: So far all results negative for Covid-19 testing
Address of Island Governor Jonathan Johnson on Monday, April 6, 2020 Please be patient when downloading the communication if you have a slow internet connection. GIS Saba
Read More »Sint Maarten: Two more deaths, positive cases jump to 37
Two more persons died from coronavirus COVID-19 in St. Maarten, while the total number of positive cases has increased to 37, said government in its update on Sunday, April 5. The jump to 37 is an almost 50 per cent increase on Saturday’s numbers, with 12 new positive cases being …
Read More »French side COVID-19 active cases rise to 19 as Gendarme reinforcements arrive
Two more coronavirus COVID-19 cases were reported Sunday by the Préfecture and regional health agency ARS bringing total active cases on the French side to 19. The two new cases are confined to their homes bringing the total cases isolated at home to 13 while six other patients are in …
Read More »Six new intensive care beds on SXM to be operational by Monday, April 6
The six intensive care beds that were delivered with a Dutch military C-17 aircraft on Sunday afternoon will be operational as of Monday, April 6, said Head of the Public Health Department Fenna Arnell during a press conference on Sunday. This will increase the capacity of health authorities to treat …
Read More »Dutch military plane arrives on SXM with medical equipment and medicines
A C-17 transport plane has arrived on Sint Maarten from the Eindhoven Air Base. The aircraft holds medical equipment, protective equipment, and medicines to treat corona patients. In part, the shipment includes a mobile hospital, a so-called ‘Hospitainer’, in which 6 independent Intensive Care spaces will be set up. In …
Read More »Update April 5: So far all results negative for Covid-19. There’s one test pending.
The latest test results are in. So far all results negative for Covid-19. There’s one test pending. Most people are gradually coming out of quarantine and have been given the all clear based on the test results and check ups by the Public Health Department. Patients returning to the island …
Read More »Medevac aircraft flies Saba patient to Bonaire
With the increasing number of infected COVID patients on St. Maarten the situation of how our patients can be assisted becomes worrisome. Although St. Maarten Medical Center can and will still accept our patients we would like to alleviate some of their burden. Fundashon Mariadal in Bonaire has offered their …
Read More »Medical equipment and medicines on their way to Sint Maarten
A C-17 transport aircraft left for Sint Maarten this morning from Eindhoven Air Base with medical equipment, protective equipment and medicines to treat corona patients. It partly concerns a mobile hospital, a so-called Hospitainer, with which six independent Intensive Care places are being realized. In addition, equipment is included that …
Read More »St. Maarten: State of emergency called, two-week shutdown to start midnight tonight – April 5 – 9 am
~ Community spread has started ~ Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Silveria Jacobs declared a state of emergency on Saturday evening in response to the growing spread of coronavirus COVID-19 in the country. Starting midnight tonight, St. Maarten will be under a 24-hour curfew for …
Read More »Saturday, April 4: French side reports five new cases of COVID-19 and two more patients recovered
Five new COVID-19 cases were reported by the Préfecture and regional health authority ARS on Saturday. This brings total active cases on the French side to 17. Six persons are hospitalized and 11 persons are in quarantine at home, including the latest five cases. Two more persons have recovered, …
Read More »Second Chamber worried about medical capacity in Saba, Statia
Concerned about the limited health care facilities in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament wants to know how the Dutch government is providing support to the islands in terms of their medical needs and capacity. The Second Chamber’s Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations sent …
Read More »April 3 – Address Island Governor Jonathan Johnson: testing continues – so far no COVID-19 cases
Address Island Govenor Jonathan Johnson on April 3, 2020 Please be patient if you have a slow internet connection
Read More »Two new COVID-19 cases on French side, ARS reports
Two new coronavirus COVID-19 cases were confirmed on Friday by regional health authority ARS, bringing the number of current active cases to 14. Six persons are in hospital and eight (including the two new cases) are in quarantine at home. Two tourists who were in the Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital were …
Read More »2 more COVID-19 deaths on Dutch side, total shutdown being planned
The coronavirus COVID-19 death toll on the Dutch side climbed to four on Friday when two more persons succumbed to the highly infectious illness. Collective Prevention Services (CPS) Head epidemiologist Eva Lista de Weever, who confirmed the two additional deaths, said the total number of confirmed cases still stands at …
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