COVID-19 Response Update – Protocol Breaches and Contact Tracing Investigation

The Ministry of Health is aware of several reports of breaches of COVID-19 protocols by persons and businesses. The Ministry, along with the Royal Anguilla Police Force, is currently actively investigating these allegations and will update the public when these investigations are complete.

Additionally, the Ministry is aware of concerns regarding hotel workers and possible contact with one of the visitors that tested positive upon arrival on Saturday.

The World Health Organization defines a contact of a COVID-19 case as anyone with the following exposures from 2 days before to 14 days after the case’s onset of illness:
• Being within 1 metre of a COVID-19 case for more than 15 minutes;
• Direct physical contact with a COVID-19 case;

• Providing direct care for patients with COVID-19 disease without using proper personal protective equipment (PPE);

The Ministry hereby reassures the general public that none of the persons in question met these criteria. Moreover, the tourism reopening protocols that have been established are designed to eliminate the likelihood of direct contact and high risk interactions.

The public is hereby reminded of the measures in place to protect the island from the spread of the disease: (1) respiratory and hand hygiene (2) social distancing (3) disinfecting critical areas and (4) following the tourism protocols for the reopening of the sector.

For further information, persons may contact the Ministry’s hotlines at 476-7627, that is 476 SOAP or 584-4263, that is 584-HAND.