Opening Remarks Press Conference on COVID-19 Virus

Citizens and residents of Anguilla, members of the media, we are gathered here once again to discuss the state of play as relates to the COVID-19. Since our last press conference there have been quite a few developments:

I’ll start with the one that I believe to be the most significant which was the declaration by WHO on Wednesday, March 11th, just two days ago in fact, that this epidemic can now be characterized as a pandemic. Recall that the WHOs definition of a pandemic the “worldwide spread” of a new disease and the virus reportedly has found a foothold on every continent except for Antarctica.

According to yesterday’s figures, there are now 125 048 confirmed cases and 4613 deaths spread across 118 countries and the number of countries reporting their first imported cases is still increasing.

This has been the case for several of our sister Caribbean Territories – since the last time we met Martinique, Jamaica, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Cayman, Antigua and Curacao – have reported their first cases. These cases were imported from visitors and citizens returning from countries including the Italy, UK, France and even Switzerland…I say this, not to single out any single country at this point, but to draw our attention to the dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of the situation.

Not too long ago, only mainland China was the country considered high risk and the exporter of the first new cases globally. However, these developments, while unfortunate have not been unforeseen. As you may recall, we have indicated to the general public that the risk to the Caribbean, at present, is through imported cases. At this point, therefore, there needs to be a renewed pragmatism in how we are going to move forward in our approach to our visitors. This applies to the US in particular, on which our tourism market so heavily depends and where we are seeing areas with community spread.

We can already see the devastating impacts on the global economy and this is most frightening for our little Anguilla. We note the drastic decrease in air traffic and cruises globally and we have already begun to experience cancellations by large groups. The recent travel bans by neighboring St. Maarten are sure to have negative impacts as well. So there is, understandably, great anxiety and uncertainty as to what the future holds.

On a very positive note, we were able to report yesterday that the sample we sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) tested negative. However, as welcome as this news was, it also underscored the dangers of having panic overcome protocols, procedures and sound public health practices. Invariably, the situation was made worse by rumour mongering and disparaging comments propagated via social media.

Ladies and gentlemen, this threat is far from over and we need the support of the public in ensuring that our national responders reserve their professional, intellectual and emotional capacities to be able to competently respond when the occasion arises so that we may keep Anguilla safe. Shortly, we will be establishing a hotline for persons in Anguilla to call to get the most accurate information.

Finally, notwithstanding that we are now officially dealing with a pandemic, I want to quote the director of the WHO in his remarks at their most recent briefing this week: “We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time,” He went on to state that “describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO’s assessment of the threat posed by this coronavirus. It doesn’t change what WHO is doing, and it doesn’t change what countries should do.”

Central to this, now more than ever for Anguilla is a reinforcement of prevention and protection through hygienic practices: frequent hand washing being the most important, along with the appropriate covering of coughs and sneezes and avoiding close contact with persons suffering from acute respiratory illness.

All of us observing these basic hygiene practices will help to protect those most vulnerable in our population. We continue to make a plea for those with underlying chronic diseases – especially heart disease, high blood pressure, lung and kidney disease, to make every effort to get their conditions under control. We need the combined efforts of all of us in practicing these measures to protect Anguilla from the COVID-19 threat.

Once again, it is this combined effort of all of us that is needed to keep Anguilla safe. Her destiny is literally in our hands.