COVID-19 pandemic in Saba

Last updated

COVID-19 pandemic in Saba
Disease COVID-19
Virus strain SARS-CoV-2
Location Saba
Index case The Bottom
Arrival date12 April 2020
(3 years, 8 months, 2 weeks and 4 days)
Confirmed cases741 [1]
Recovered739
Deaths
0
Government website
COVID-19 monthly epidemiological update for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment of the Netherlands - RIVM

The COVID-19 pandemic in Saba is part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba on April 12, 2020. At the beginning of the pandemic, the island had a population of just over 1,900 people. [2] As of 12 May, all cases were reported to have recovered. [3] On 1 August, two new cases were imported [4] which resolved on 9 September. [5]

Contents

Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019. [6] [7]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, [8] [9] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll. [10] [8]

Saba is in a difficult position given its tiny population. Saba's medical facilities can only care for eight people [11] and operations have to be performed on the island of Sint Maarten. For emergencies there is a trauma helicopter available from Sint-Eustatius, [12] however normally it involves a one and a half hour boat journey. [13]

Testing for COVID-19 was originally performed in Sint Maarten, with tests for people without symptoms forwarded to Guadelope. [14] Both rt-PCR based and rapid antigen tests became available on Saba in 2021 through a centralized testing facility which ran from May 2021 until its closure in July 2022. [15]

Timeline

COVID-19-Pandemie - XC (Saba) - Infizierte (800px).svg
Cases
COVID-19-Pandemie - XC (Saba) - Tote (800px).svg
Deaths

March 2020

On 19 March, Saba took precautionary measures by closing the harbor, airport, and schools. [16] Governor Johnson took the measures because of the vulnerable position of the island and the limited medical care. The Saba University School of Medicine ceased classroom activities and switched to online lectures. Some students returned home, but others remained on the island. [17]

April 2020

On 7 April, three people self-quarantined and 18 tests had been performed which were all negative. [18]

On 12 April, the first case was confirmed. [19] The patient had mild symptoms. The origin is unknown, because the patient had not traveled and therefore must have been infected locally. One of the people the patient had been in contact had pneumonia. [20] Governor Jonathan Johnson has ordered a lockdown. [20]

As of 13 April, two cases had tested positive. 22 people had been tested, of which 18 were negative with two still pending. 70 people were under quarantine. [18]

On 17 April, it was announced that a curfew would be in effect between 19:00 and 06:00. 44 people had been tested to this point and 17 tests were still pending. [18]

On 22 April, a semi-permanent field hospital arrived in Sint Eustatius, to be used for COVID-19 patients in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. The field hospital consists of six ICU beds and was expected be operational on 15 May. [21]

As of 23 April, 73 people had been tested; 41 tests remained pending. 63 people had been quarantined. [22]

On 25 April, it was announced that in order to alleviate the economic hardship, the fixed tariff for electricity and water would be set to zero, and that the price of internet would be set at $25 from 1 May through the end of the year. The island will also receive €150,000 of food aid. [23]

May 2020

On 6 May, there was to be a repatriation flight to the Netherlands in Sint Maarten. Saba could not guarantee flights this month, and urged all stranded from the Netherlands or Europe to use this flight. [24]
The first recovery was announced. [25]

On 8 May, Governor Jonathan Johnson announced that from 9 May midnight onward, the stay at home measure would be lifted. Social distancing and prohibition of gatherings would remain. Churches and restaurant may reopen while adhering to hygiene measures. All services and business would be allowed to reopen beginning Monday 11 May. [26] The schools will reopen on 18 May. [27]

On 12 May, all cases recovered. [3] Unrelatedly, Governor Jonathan Johnson was reappointed for his third term. [28] To give recognition to the nurses and everybody involved, the church bells rang on noon. [29]

On 22 May, Governor Jonathan Johnson reported that the person who had been in contact with the first diagnosed case from 12 April, and who had pneumonia, did in fact have COVID-19. She tested negative on the tests, but the results of her blood test showed that she had been infected. The number of cases was therefore increased to three. [30]

August 2020

On 1 August, two new cases were imported. The persons went into quarantine upon arrival. [4]

September 2020

As of 9 September, all patients had recovered, and Saba no longer has active cases. [5]

January 2021

In January 2021, the Dutch government announced plans to provide mRNA vaccinations for all adults over the age of 18, with quantity of vaccine doses shipped to be based on numbers of Saba residents who registered their interest in vaccination. [31] Enough people registered that sufficient doses were shipped to cover the entire adult population. [32]

February 2021

At the end of February 2021, vaccination with the Moderna mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV2 was started. [33] By the end of February 2021, over 85% of the adult population and 70% of the total population had received their first vaccination against SARS-CoV2. [34]

March 2021

By the end of March 2021, over 85% of the adult population was fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV2, having received both shots in the Moderna series. [35]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in the United States</span>

In the United States, the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in 103,436,829 confirmed cases with 1,144,877 all-time deaths, the most of any country, and the 20th-highest per capita worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic ranks first on the list of disasters in the United States by death toll; it was the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020, behind heart disease and cancer. From 2019 to 2020, U.S. life expectancy dropped by 3 years for Hispanic and Latino Americans, 2.9 years for African Americans, and 1.2 years for white Americans. These effects persisted as U.S. deaths due to COVID-19 in 2021 exceeded those in 2020, and life expectancy continued to fall from 2020 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Europe</span> Ongoing viral pandemic in Europe

The global COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Europe with its first confirmed case in Bordeaux, France, on 24 January 2020, and subsequently spread widely across the continent. By 17 March 2020, every country in Europe had confirmed a case, and all have reported at least one death, with the exception of Vatican City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom</span> Ongoing viral pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom is a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In the United Kingdom, it has resulted in 24,812,582 confirmed cases, and is associated with 232,112 deaths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in North America</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in North America

The first cases of the COVID-19 pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 in North America were reported in the United States on 23 January 2020. Cases were reported in all North American countries after Saint Kitts and Nevis confirmed a case on 25 March, and in all North American territories after Bonaire confirmed a case on 16 April.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania</span> Ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania

The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached Oceania on 25 January 2020 with the first confirmed case reported in Melbourne, Australia. The virus has spread to all sovereign states and territories in the region. Australia and New Zealand were praised for their handling of the pandemic in comparison to other Western nations, with New Zealand and each state in Australia wiping out all community transmission of the virus several times even after re-introduction in the community.

The COVID-19 pandemic in Maldives was a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus was confirmed to have spread to Maldives on 7 March 2020 from a 69-year-old Italian tourist who had returned to Italy after spending holidays in Kuredu Resort & Spa. The Health Protection Agency of Maldives confirmed two cases in Maldives, both employees of the resort. Following this, the hotel was locked down with several tourists stranded on the island. As of 11 March, the resorts of Kuredu, Vilamendhoo, Batalaa, and Kuramathi island were also placed under temporary quarantine. Schools were closed as a precaution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in South America</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in South America

The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached South America on 26 February 2020 when Brazil confirmed a case in São Paulo. By 3 April, all countries and territories in South America had recorded at least one case.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Cuba

The COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba was a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus was confirmed to have spread to Cuba on 11 March 2020 when three Italian tourists tested positive for the virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic in the Marshall Islands is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus was confirmed to have reached the Marshall Islands on 28 October 2020, but remained confined to quarantined arrivals until August 2022. The first known community transmission cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Majuro on August 8, 2022, ending the country's COVID-free status. The first confirmed death from COVID-19 in the Marshall Islands occurred on August 11, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Barthélemy</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Saint Barthélemy, France

The COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Barthélemy was a part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the French overseas collectivity of Saint Barthélemy on 1 March 2020. The last positive case was on 31 March 2020. On 21 April, the last case recovered. Between 18 and 24 July, a new case was imported.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in the Collectivity of Saint Martin</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in French Saint Martin, France

The COVID-19 pandemic in French Saint Martin was a part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin on 1 March 2020. The island is split in a Dutch and French part, with the main airport on the Dutch side and the major harbour on the French side. The first positive test was a French couple from Saint Martin who returned from France via Saint Barthélemy on 1 March 2020. They were screened and tested positive on the airport, but are counted on the French count. The island had a population of 35,334 in 2017.

The COVID-19 pandemic in Tuvalu is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus was confirmed to have reached Tuvalu on 20 May 2022. As of 31 August 2022, a total of 25,591 vaccine doses have been administered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Sint Maarten</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Sint Maarten

The COVID-19 pandemic in Sint Maarten, also known as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Sint Maarten,was a part of the ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the Dutch Caribbean island of Sint Maarten on 17 March 2020. By 15 June, all cases recovered. On 1 July, a new case had been discovered, which resolved on 3 July On 15 July, a 79th case was discovered.

The COVID-19 pandemic in the Isle of Man is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have reached the British crown dependency of the Isle of Man on 19 March 2020, when a man returning from Spain via Liverpool tested positive. Community transmission was first confirmed on 22 March on the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Anguilla</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Anguilla

The COVID-19 pandemic in Anguilla is part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla on 26 March 2020. On 26 April 2020, all patients had recovered and on 22 November a new imported case was announced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Sint Eustatius</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Sint Eustatius

The COVID-19 pandemic in Sint Eustatius is part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the Dutch Caribbean island of Sint Eustatius on 31 March 2020. On 5 May all cases recovered. The island's first COVID-19 death was recorded on 19 January 2022. The patient died at the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMCC) where they had been transported for treatment according to the press release of the St. Eustatius government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in the Cook Islands</span> COVID-19 viral pandemic in the Cook Islands

The COVID-19 pandemic in the Cook Islands is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. As of 30 October 2021, 12,841 first doses and 12,498 second doses of vaccine had been administered, which represents over 97% of the eligible population (12+) fully vaccinated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Niue</span>

The COVID-19 pandemic in Niue is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Niue reported its first confirmed case on 9 March 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Bonaire</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Bonaire

The COVID-19 pandemic in Bonaire is part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire on 16 April 2020. On 28 April, all cases recovered. On 14 July, two new cases were discovered. On 13 August, all cases recovered.

The COVID-19 pandemic in American Samoa is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the unincorporated United States territory of American Samoa on 9 November 2020.

References

  1. Epidemiological report of SARS-CoV-2 on the Dutch Caribbean CAS- and BES-islands: January 2023 (week 1-4) National Institute for Public Health and the Environment of the Netherlands
  2. "Trends in the Caribbean Netherlands 2020;". Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek . Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 "COVID-19 Update May 12th 2020". The Official Website of The Island Government of Saba. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Saba registers two new cases". BES Reporter. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. 1 2 "COVID 19 Update September 9, 2020". Government of Saba via Facebook. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  6. Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN   1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  8. 1 2 "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  9. "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  10. "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  11. "Practical Information". Saba Health Care. Archived from the original on 8 February 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  12. "Saba locked down. We are vulnerable and limited". Caribisch Netwerk NTR (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  13. "Medical Emergency". Saba Health Care. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  14. "Thursday, April 16: Island Governor Jonathan Johnson updates on Covid-19 status (audio message)". Saba News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  15. "Saba's Public Health centralized Covid-19 Testing Center will close". Public Entity Saba official via Facebook. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  16. "Saba closes non-essential businesses due to novel coronavirus". Loop News Barbados. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  17. "COVID-19 Update". Saba University School of Medicine. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  18. 1 2 3 "Latest News". The Official Website of The Island Government of Saba. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  19. "Saba first new confirmed case". Masnotica. 12 April 2020.
  20. 1 2 "Coronavirus now also on Saba Fear for more cases". Caribisch Netwerk NTR (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  21. "Hospitainer for Statia to be functional on May 15". The Daily Herald.sx. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  22. "Thursday, April 23: Status Covid-19 update & Address Island Governor Jonathan Johnson". Saba News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  23. "Reduction in ferry, electricity, Internet prices in Saba, Statia". The Daily Herald.sx. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  24. "Last KLM flight from St. Maarten to Amsterdam on Wednesday, May 6th". Saba News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  25. "Wednesday, May 6th: Address Island Governor Jonathan Johnson – One Covid-19 patient recovered". Saba News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  26. "Thursday, May 7th: Address Island Governor Jonathan Johnson – End of 'Stay at Home'". Saba News. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  27. "Friday, May 8th: Address Island Governor Jonathan Johnson". Saba News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  28. "Reappointment Island Governor Saba". The Official Website of The Island Government of Saba via Facebook. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  29. "Church bells will be ringing for essential workers in Saba". Saba News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  30. "Friday, May 22nd: Address Island Governor Jonathan Johnson – ' 3 positive, 0 active'". Audio message via Saba-News. 22 May 2020. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  31. "Saba News, "Vaccination forms are available now for registration," 21 January 2021". 21 January 2021.
  32. "Saba News, "Successful start vaccinations on Saba," 22 February 2021". 22 February 2021.
  33. "Saba News, "Vaccines arrive today, Friday, February 19, vaccination starts Monday," 19 February 2021". 19 February 2021.
  34. "Saba News, "First vaccination round closed off—more than 85% of adults vaccinated ," 2 March 2021". 2 March 2021.
  35. "Saba News, "Saba completes second vaccination round successful ," 1 April 2021". April 2021.