The island is split in a Dutch and French part, with the main airport on the Dutch side and the major harbour on the Dutch 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.[6] The island had a population of 41,486 people in 2016.[7]
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.[8][9]
Travel restrictions which were issued by the Government of Sint Maarten were increased from 14 to 21 days as ordered by Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs on 11 March 2020.[13] Sunday, 22 March 2020 at 11:59pm was the last day for residents (passengers) of St. Maarten to travel back to St. Maarten. After 22 March 2020 the only flights coming into PJIAE airport would be cargo flights or flights that are coming in to pick up passengers to return them to their home address.[14]
A decision was made on 12 March 2020 to postpone Carnival 2020 after emergency meetings were held with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Members of Parliament. The decision to postpone Carnival was taken in keeping with the WHO recommendations which advises persons to avoid large crowds.[15] The Sint Maarten government denied the MS Braemar the right to dock and evacuate the passengers, because several passenger had been diagnosed positive by the health authorities of Canada and Curaçao.[16]
On 17 March 2020, the first positive case in Sint Maarten was confirmed. A local male resident who had recently traveled to the United Kingdom (UK) via Miami was registered as the country's first Coronavirus COVID-19 case on Tuesday, 17 March 2020 by the Prime Minister and EOC chair-person Silveria Jacobs.[17][18] To further mitigate the spread of COVID-19 all schools and non-essential businesses were shut down for 14 days On 18 March 2020 at 12:00am.[18]
On 22 March 2020, there were 2 confirmed cases on St Maarten.[19] The second case is a student who had returned from abroad.[20]
On 24 March 2020, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs announced that the number of coronavirus COVID-19 cases had risen to 6, of which 2 were hospitalized.[21]
On 29 March 2020, a decision was made by the Government of St Maarten to increase further restrictions on the movement of persons throughout the island via a Ministerial Regulation. This regulation requires citizens to carry a document on them, signed by their employer, declaring the need for them to travel to work (Form A), or one which describes which essential service they are traveling to or for (Form B).[22]
On 30 March 2020, a curfew from 8:00pm to 6:00am was implemented for the remainder of the COVID-19 period.[22] The border between Sint Maarten and Saint Martin is closed and jointly patrolled with the French government.[22] The border had been open since the Treaty of Concordia of 1648.[23]
On 31 March 2020, a further 10 positive cases were confirmed, bringing the total number of cases to 16. St Maarten recorded its first death from the disease that same day. The person was at the time of death a suspected case in isolation at home. In total, 58 persons were tested with 16 testing positive, and 36 testing negative.[24]
April
Medical shipment to Sint Maarten
On 2 April 2020, the total numbers of COVID-19 cases rose to 23, of which 18 were male, 5 were female. 3 cases were currently hospitalized, and 1 new death was recorded bringing the total number of deaths to two. The additional death listed succumbed at St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) on Thursday, 2 April.[25][26] Health Care Laboratory Sint Maarten and the laboratory in Cole Bay now have the ability to test for COVID-19, but they only have a limited amount of kits,[27] therefore tests of people without symptoms are often forwarded to Guadelope which will take 3 to 5 days.[28]
On 3 April 2020, the number of deaths climbed to four when two more persons died. Between 31 March 2020 and 3 April 2020 four persons have died from the illness in four days. 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 23 as of 3 April 2020. Prime Minister and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Chairperson Silveria Jacobs said a total shutdown is being planned due to the trend of increasing COVID-19 fatalities. A National Decree regarding the curfew has been prepared and was sent to Governor Eugene Holiday. The date of the total shutdown is awaiting confirmation of the decree.[29]
On 5 April 2020, a total lock-down went into effect. Nobody is allowed to leave their house for the coming two weeks.[30] The lock-down which was announced on 4 April, caused long queues at the supermarket.[31] It was later announced that supermarkets are allowed to deliver.[32] Respirators, medical supplies, and six ICU beds were flown to Sint Maarten by the Dutch government. Sint Maarten was considered the hardest hit island and therefore received the supplies five days before the other islands.[33]
On 6 April 2020, the government came under scrutiny. Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson of Party For Progress criticised the haphazard announcement one day before the total lock-down came into effect, and the exclusion of Parliament in this decision.[34] The minor roads were physically blocked to prevent border crossings.[35]
As a 15 April 2020, there were 91 people in self-quarantine and 161 in self-isolation. 161 people were tested of which 53 tested positive (35 males and 18 females). Nine people have died and five have recovered.[36]
On 16 April 2020, Egbert Doran, Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure, asked all the flags to be flown half-mast and observe a day of mourning.[37]
On 17 April 2020, the total lock-down was ended causing long lines at the supermarkets.[38]
On 19 April 2020, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs announced that the tenth and most recent death was a Dutch citizen who was being treated on the French side. Last week he was flown to Guadelope for critical care, however as Dutch citizen he will be removed from the French Saint Martin count and added to the Dutch Sint Maarten count.[39]
On 20 April 2020, Prime Minister Jacobs announced that nine people had been found with flu-like symptoms, but that only six consented to be tested. These are the preliminary figures of the Ministry of Health going door to door to find suspected cases.[40]
27 April: additional police arrived in St.Maarten
On 24 April 2020, Jacobs announced that there were three health care workers among the recent updates. There were no new cases reported on 23 April, because the test results were still pending. 900 additional test kits had been received.[41] The Zr. Ms. Karel Doorman which was dispatched from Den Helder on 13 April to assist with food aid, border control and public order,[42] has arrived in Sint Maarten. The Netherlands, France and United Kingdom will jointly patrol the waters of the Caribbean.[43]
On 27 April 2020, the Sint Maarten government allocated NAf 4.7 million ($2.4M) for additional healthcare of which NAf 450,000 is for testing (~$0.25M) in its 2020 budget. The hospital which has been suffering from a decrease in its cash flow will get an additional NAf. 17.8 million.[44]
On 30 April 2020, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs announced that Sint Maarten will start rapid testing. The test kits will have a 98% accuracy.[45]
May
On 5 May 2020, Prime Minister Jacobs announced that the fourteenth death which was reported had occurred on 24 April but had not been counted. Jacobs apologised for the mistake.[46]
On 6 May 2020, the Council of Ministers decided to reduce their salaries by 20%.[47]
On 7 May 2020, Prime Minister Jacobs announced that the State of Emergency will be lifted on 17 May. The details will be announced, and businesses who wish to reopen have to submit a plan which has to be approved. The night curfew will remain in effect.[48]
On 12 May 2020, the Health Ministry's Collective Prevention Services had screened 5,132 residents up to now. Only one case had been found. Five people refused to be tested, but have been quarantined.[49]
Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs announced that the Dutch side wanted to reopen the borders on 18 May. President Daniel Gibbs of the French side wanted a reopening as well, however Prefect Sylvie Feucher wanted to keep the borders closed for now. It is now up to the French government to decide whether the internal borders will reopen.[50] The internal border will be reopened on 2 June.[51]
June
As of 6 June 2020, Catholic mass will commence. The number of people allowed depends on the size of the church. People under 12 and over 70 should are requested to stay at home.[52]
On 30 July 2020, Ludmila de Weever, minister of Tourism, announced that the border opening for passengers from the United States is still 1 August as scheduled.[53] This has resulted in a response by Sylvie Feucher, Préfète Délguée of French Saint Martin who announced that Americans are not allowed on their side of the island, and the French-Dutch border will be closed to prevent circulation of the virus.[54]
Preventive measures
On 17 March, the airport and ports are closed for passengers. This does not apply to residents of Sint Maarten who have to quarantine for 14 days, and essential travel from Saba, Sint-Eustatius, and Curaçao.[18] All schools are closed.[18]
On 20 March 2020, a list of maximum prices for some essential goods was published.[55][56]
On 29 March, everybody should stay at home except when they have a special permission to travel.[22] The border between Sint Maarten and Saint Martin is closed and jointly patrolled with the French government.[22] Restaurants are take-away only and are not allowed to sell alcoholic beverages.[22] The alcohol ban was lifted on 15 April.[57]
On 30 March, a curfew was implemented from 20:00 until 6:00.[22]
On 5 April 2020, a total lock-down was announced. Nobody is allowed to leave their house for the coming two weeks.[30] The lock-down ended on 17 April 2020.[38]
On 21 April 2020, the post office reopened for three days a week in the morning.[58]
On 21 February 2022, the Minister of Public Health Omar Ottley announced that Sint Maarten will begin transitioning into the endemic phase of COVID-19 with the extending of night life business hours and revised travel restrictions.[59]
Saint Martin is an island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 300 km (190 mi) east of Puerto Rico. The 87 square kilometres (34 sq mi) island is divided roughly 60:40 between the French Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but the Dutch part is more populated than the French part. The division dates to 1648. The northern French part comprises the Collectivity of Saint Martin and is an overseas collectivity of the French Republic. The southern Dutch part comprises Sint Maarten and is one of four constituent countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands. As an overseas possession of two European Union member states, the island is itself part of the EU.
The 'National Alliance' is a political alliance in Sint Maarten, formed by the Sint Maarten Patriotic Alliance (SPA) and the National Progressive Party (NPP). It is one of main political parties within Sint Maarten. At the legislative elections in the Netherlands Antilles, 18 January 2002, the alliance won 4.8% of the popular vote of Sint Maarten and 1 out of 22 seats. At the elections in the Netherlands Antilles of 27 January 2006, it won one extra seat.
Sint Maarten is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean. With a population of 41,486 as of January 2019 on an area of 34 km2 (13 sq mi), it encompasses the southern 44% of the divided island of Saint Martin, while the northern 56% of the island constitutes the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin. Sint Maarten's capital is Philipsburg. Collectively, Sint Maarten and the other Dutch islands in the Caribbean are often called the Dutch Caribbean.
The prime minister of Sint Maarten became the head of government of Sint Maarten after the Netherlands Antilles had been dissolved on 10 October 2010. The prime minister, together with the Council of Ministers and the governor of Sint Maarten, form the executive branch of the government of Sint Maarten. Sint Maarten's current prime minister is Silveria Jacobs.
The Second Marlin cabinet was the sixth Cabinet of Sint Maarten installed following the achievement of constituent country status of Sint Maarten within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 10 October 2010. The cabinet was a coalition between the National Alliance, the United St. Maarten Party and the Democratic Party.
Miss Sint Maarten is a national beauty pageant that selects queen from Sint Maarten representative to Miss Universe pageant between 1976 and 1982. This pageant is incorporated to Miss St. Martin who selects the winner to Miss France since 2012.
Silveria Elfrieda Jacobs is a Sint Maarten politician and the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten as of 2019.
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.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Curaçao was a part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was documented for the first time in Curaçao on 13 March 2020. The case was a 68-year-old man who was on vacation from the Netherlands. By 9 July 2020, all cases resolved. On 15 July, a new case was discovered, and on 6 August all cases resolved again briefly until 10 August.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Aruba was a part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was documented for the first time in Aruba on 13 March 2020. As of 29 May, all cases recovered. On 29 June, two new cases were discovered.
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.
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 Saint Kitts and Nevis is part of the ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached Saint Kitts and Nevis on 24 March 2020. By 19 May, all cases had recovered, with the disease reappearing on 4 July. By 10 August, all cases had again recovered.
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.
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.
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. As of 12 May, all cases were reported to have recovered. On 1 August, two new cases were imported which resolved on 9 September.
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.
Anna Richardson is a Sint Maarten politician. As of 28 March 2020, she serves as Minister of Justice in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs.
Ludmila de Weever is a Sint Maarten politician. As of 28 March 2020, she serves as Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs.
Ardwell Irion is a Sint Maarten politician. He served as Minister of Finance in the first cabinet of Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and, as of 28 March 2020, he serves in this role in her second cabinet.
†Physiographically, these continental islands are not part of the volcanic Windward Islands arc, although sometimes grouped with them culturally and politically.
#Bermuda is an isolated North Atlanticoceanic island, physiographically not part of the Lucayan Archipelago, Antilles, Caribbean Sea nor North American continental nor South American continental islands. It is grouped with the Northern American region, but occasionally also with the Caribbean region culturally.
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