Dominica reports 100 new cases of COVID-19, active cases drop to 408

Roseau: Dominica is suffering from a major setback after reporting new COVID-19 cases every day. The total number of new cases for August 23, 2021, were 100, whereas 408 cases are currently active in the country, According to National Epidemiologist, Dr Shalauddin Ahmed.

Dominica has so far witnessed a remarkable recovery rate with 885 individuals fully recovered and only 1 COVID-19 related death. Following the outbreak, the government had initiated rigorous testing of suspected individuals in the country with 42,527 tests conducted so far. The testing included 23,536 PCR tests and 18,991 rapid antigen tests. Dominica is witnessing 3.3% positivity rate.

For the last six days in the country, the total number of cases remains on average at 80 COVID-19 positive cases a day, which is alarming. According to the national epidemiologist, most of the COVID-19 cases are reported from the Roseau district that represents over 77% of the total cases in the country. In contrast, Castle Bruce represents only 1% of cases with the lowest positivity rate of COVID-19.

According to the Ministry of Health data, there were a total of 440 positive cases of COVID-19 between August 7 to August 20. Surprisingly, over 95% of the total cases that were reported positive represents unvaccinated. Whereas, only 5% of persons who were vaccinated reported positive.

Dr Shalauddin Ahmed expressed entrusted vaccines and their efficiency against the COVID-19 whether it is related to transmission or severeness of the disease. “I tested one family whose child was not vaccinated as the son is actually a young adult and the mother was fully vaccinated while they lived under the same roof, breathed the same air and living for past many months together. The son is symptomatic, who is shedding the virus and mother remain in the same house; when we tested both, only son tested positive and mother’s test came out as negative.”