July 2021

Two Visitors Tests Positive for COVID-19 –Two Active Cases on Island

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BEAT COVID-19
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Two adult male visitors – one from the United States and the other from Brazil – have tested positive for COVID-19. The men, who are both fully vaccinated – one with the Pfizer vaccine and the other with the Moderna vaccine – arrived in Anguilla yesterday, July 1st. They submitted negative COVID-19 PCR test results prior to arrival and were subsequently tested upon arrival. Those tests came back positive. Both are asymptomatic and remain in isolation. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 111 with two active cases on island at this time.

The Ministry assures the general public that all protocols for testing, isolation and contact tracing are being followed to minimize the risk of transmission.

These cases are vaccine breakthrough infections, defined as the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen in a respiratory specimen collected from a person ≥14 days after receipt of all recommended doses of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine. Even though the vaccines are highly effective, breakthrough cases are expected, especially before population immunity reaches sufficient levels to further decrease transmission. However, vaccine breakthrough infections occur in only a small fraction of all vaccinated persons and account for a small percentage of all COVID-19 cases. Furthermore, the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths that will be prevented among vaccinated persons will far exceed the number of vaccine breakthrough cases.

Four hundred and sixty six (466) fully vaccinated persons entered the island on July 1, 2021 out of which four hundred and sixty four (464) tested negative upon arrival.

As part of the opening protocols, the government has implemented revised regulations to limit the spread of the virus due to imported cases. This includes a “stay in place order” where all fully vaccinated arrivals (visitors and residents) must remain at their place of residence or accommodations and cannot visit gyms or spas until a negative test is received from the Ministry of Health. Once cleared by that initial test these individuals are not required to quarantine.

All unvaccinated or partially vaccinated returning residents are required to quarantine for no less than ten (10) days. At the end of quarantine, they will be tested for Covid19 and must receive a negative test before they are permitted to exit quarantine.