COVID-19 pandemic in Sint Eustatius
{{short description|Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Sint Eustatius}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox pandemic
| name = COVID-19 pandemic in Sint Eustatius
| map1 = Sint Eustasius location map.png
| legend1 = Map of Sint Eustatius
| map2 =
| legend2 =
| map3 =
| legend3 =
| disease = COVID-19
| virus_strain = SARS-CoV-2
| location = Sint Eustatius
| first_case =
| arrival_date = 31 March 2020
({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=3|day1=31|year1=2020|month2=|day2=|year2=}})
| origin =
| recovery_cases = 20
| deaths = 0
| suspected_cases =
| total_ili =
| website = https://www.statiagovernment.com
}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=273904744837249&set=a.183174647243593/|title=First COVID-19 death on Statia|website=Government of Sint-Eustatius via Facebook}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.elsevier.com/connect/coronavirus-information-center |title=Novel Coronavirus Information Center |last=Elsevier |website=Elsevier Connect|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130171622/https://www.elsevier.com/connect/coronavirus-information-center|archive-date=30 January 2020|access-date=15 March 2020}}{{Cite magazine |last=Reynolds |first=Matt |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/china-coronavirus |title=What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic? |date=4 March 2020 |magazine=Wired UK|access-date=5 March 2020 |issn=1357-0978|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305104806/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/china-coronavirus|archive-date=5 March 2020|url-status=live}}
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,{{cite web |url= https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/196137/crunching-numbers-coronavirus/ |title=Crunching the numbers for coronavirus |website=Imperial News|date=13 March 2020 |access-date=15 March 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200319084913/https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/196137/crunching-numbers-coronavirus/|archive-date=19 March 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/high-consequence-infectious-diseases-hcid |title=High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England |website=GOV.UK |language=en|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200303051938/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/high-consequence-infectious-diseases-hcid|archive-date=3 March 2020|access-date=17 March 2020}} but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.{{cite web |url= https://www.wfsahq.org/resources/coronavirus |title=World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus |website=www.wfsahq.org|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200312233527/https://www.wfsahq.org/resources/coronavirus|archive-date=12 March 2020|access-date=15 March 2020}}
The island has a population of 3,139 people.{{Cite web|url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/83698NED/table?ts=1578654405815|title=Caribisch Nederland; bevolking; geslacht, leeftijd, burgerlijke staat|website=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek|access-date=20 April 2020}} The Queen Beatrix Medical Center run by the St. Eustatius Health Care Foundation{{Cite web|url=http://sehcf.org/about/|title=About|website=St. Eustatius Health Care Foundation|access-date=20 April 2020}} provides the medical care on the island, but patients requiring intensive care need to be transported to Sint Maarten. Testing for COVID-19 is also being performed in Sint Maarten, but due to the limited capacity, tests for people without symptoms are forwarded to Guadeloupe,{{Cite news|url=https://www.saba-news.com/thursday-april-16-island-governor-jonathan-johnson-updates-on-covid-19-status/|title=Thursday, April 16: Island Governor Jonathan Johnson updates on Covid-19 status (audio message)|website=Saba News|access-date=18 April 2020|archive-date=22 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622184244/https://www.saba-news.com/thursday-april-16-island-governor-jonathan-johnson-updates-on-covid-19-status/|url-status=dead}} which takes 3 to 5 days.{{Cite news|url=https://caribischnetwerk.ntr.nl/2020/04/02/sint-eustatius-aangeslagen-door-eerste-coronabesmettingen/ |title=Sint-Eustatius aangeslagen door eerste coronabesmettingen |language=nl|access-date=20 April 2020 |website=Caribisch Netwerk NTR }}
Timeline
{{COVID-19 pandemic data/Sint Eustatius medical cases chart}}
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| image1 = COVID-19-Pandemie - XB (Sint Eustatius) - Infizierte (800px).svg
| alt1 = Cases
| caption1 = Cases
| image2 = COVID-19-Pandemie - XB (Sint Eustatius) - Tote (800px).svg
| alt2 = Deaths
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=March=
On 16 March, the airport and harbor were closed to international travel from high risk areas like Europe and the United States.{{Cite news|url=https://koninkrijk.nu/2020/03/16/tijdelijk-verbod-voor-de-burgerlijke-luchtvaart-in-caribisch-nederland-uitgebreid/ |title=Tijdelijk verbod voor de burgerlijke luchtvaart in Caribisch Nederland uitgebreid |access-date=20 April 2020|language=nl|website=Caribisch Netwerk NTR }}
By 26 March, there were no confirmed cases in the territory, with seven suspected cases coming back negative.{{Cite web|title=St Eustatius government tightens COVID-19 quarantine enforcement|url=http://www.loopnewsbarbados.com/content/st-eustatius-govt-tightens-covid-19-quarantine-enforcement-3|access-date=2020-03-26|language=en|publisher=Loop|date=2020-03-26|archive-date=7 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407192525/http://www.loopnewsbarbados.com/content/st-eustatius-govt-tightens-covid-19-quarantine-enforcement-3|url-status=dead}} Schools have also been shut on the island. Most international visitors are also currently banned from entering the territory.{{Cite web|title=Sint Eustatius implements travel restrictions due to COVID-19|url=http://www.loopnewsbarbados.com/content/sint-eustatius-implements-travel-restrictions-due-covid-19-4|access-date=2020-03-27|language=en|publisher=Loop|date=2020-03-16|archive-date=7 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407192527/http://www.loopnewsbarbados.com/content/sint-eustatius-implements-travel-restrictions-due-covid-19-4|url-status=dead}}
On 31 March, the first two cases were confirmed.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus a yega Sint Eustatius: a confirma e prome 2 casonan! |url=https://24ora.com/coronavirus-a-yega-sint-eustatius-a-confirma-e-prome-2-casonan/ |access-date=1 April 2020 |work=24ora.com |date=31 March 2020 |language=pap}} The patients are young men from the Netherlands who arrived on 15 March and self isolated after arrival.
=April=
On 1 April, a €13 million support package for businesses, employees, and the unemployed was announced for the BES islands.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/bonaire-st-eustatius-saba-relief-package-13m-euros|title=Bonaire, St. Eustatius, Saba relief package 13M euros|website=The Daily Herald.sx|access-date=22 April 2020}}
On 2 April, it was announced that restaurants, bars, sport centres had to close and that gatherings of over 25 people are banned.
On 7 April, Island Governor Marnix van Rij announced that all non-essential business should close, in supermarkets a maximum of 15 persons is allowed inside including employees, and that Sint Eustatius will not implement a curfew yet.{{Cite news|title=Non-essential businesses closed on Statia by emergency ordinance |url=https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/non-essential-businesses-closed-on-statia-by-emergency-ordinance |access-date=21 April 2020|website=The Daily Herald.sx}}
Peter Glerum has been appointed as crisis management advisor by the Public Entity of St. Eustatius.{{Cite news|url=http://bes-reporter.com/index.php/2020/04/16/statia-recruits-peter-glerum-as-crisis-management-advisor/|title=Statia recruits Peter Glerum as Crisis Management Advisor|website=BES reporter|access-date=20 April 2020|archive-date=23 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423011649/https://bes-reporter.com/index.php/2020/04/16/statia-recruits-peter-glerum-as-crisis-management-advisor/|url-status=dead}}
On 17 April, a mobile intensive care unit was delivered from Maastricht via Sint Maarten. The two positive cases were retested and are still positive.{{Cite news |url=https://www.saba-news.com/ez-air-brings-medical-supplies-to-statia-saba-and-st-maarten/ |title=EZ Air brings medical supplies to Statia, Saba and St. Maarten |access-date=20 April 2020 |website=Saba News |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927222428/https://www.saba-news.com/ez-air-brings-medical-supplies-to-statia-saba-and-st-maarten/ |url-status=dead }}
As of 19 April, 19 people have been tested and 15 people are in self quarantine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/euxgov/|title=Coronavirus update Sint-Eustatius|website=Government of Sint-Eustatius via Facebook|access-date=20 April 2020}}
On 20 April, there was an unclear official statement that the number of cases went to 1,{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/euxgov/photos/pb.1354475961315096.-2207520000../2876468212449189/?type=3&theater|title=Coronavirus Update (COVID-19) Sint Eustatius|website=Government of Sint-Eustatius via Facebook|access-date=22 April 2020}} but it turns out that one recovered.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/covid-19-in-statia-down-to-one-case|title=COVID-19 in Statia down to one case|website=The Daily Herald.sx|access-date=23 April 2020}}
On 22 April, a semi-permanent field hospital has arrived in Sint Eustatius, and will be used for COVID-19 patients in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. The field hospital consists of six ICU beds,{{Cite news|title=Hospitainer for Statia to be functional on May 15|url=https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/hospitainer-for-statia-to-be-functional-on-may-15|access-date=26 April 2020|website=The Daily Herald.sx}} and is expected be operational on 8 May.
On 23 April, it was announced that the person who was evacuated to Sint Maarten Medical Center on a helicopter on 21 April has tested negative.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/statia-patient-on-medevac-flight-tested-negative-for-coronavirus|title=Statia patient on medevac flight tested negative for coronavirus |website=The Daily Herald.sx|access-date=23 April 2020}}
On 25 April, it was announced that in order to alleviate the economic hardship, the fixed tariff for electricity and water will be set to zero, and the price of internet will be set to $25.- from 1 May until the end of the year. The island will also receive €150,000 of food aid.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/reduction-in-ferry-electricity-internet-prices-in-saba-statia|title=Reduction in ferry, electricity, Internet prices in Saba, Statia|website=The Daily Herald.sx|access-date=27 April 2020}}
On 28 April, Governor Marnix van Rij announced that repatriation flights for European and United States citizens stranded in Sint Eustatius were being planned.{{Cite news|url=https://www.saba-news.com/repatriation-flights-for-european-united-states-citizens-in-statia/|title=Repatriation flights for European, United States citizens in Statia|website=Saba News.com|access-date=28 April 2020|archive-date=18 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618025545/https://www.saba-news.com/repatriation-flights-for-european-united-states-citizens-in-statia/|url-status=dead}}
St. Eustatius started preparation with the Caribbean Netherlands Fire Brigade for a joint hurricane COVID-19 strategy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/government-of-sint-eustatius/statia-prepares-hurricane-covid-19-strategy/2897141103715233/|title=Statia prepares Hurricane COVID 19 strategy|website=The Government of Sint Eustatius via Facebook|access-date=30 April 2020}}
=May=
On 1 May, Governor Marnix van Rij announced that the schools will gradually reopen from 11 May onward.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/all-schools-in-statia-to-reopen-gradually-from-monday-may-11|title=All schools in Statia to reopen gradually from Monday, May 11|website=The Daily Herald.sx|access-date=1 May 2020}}
On 5 May, all cases recovered.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/euxgov/photos/a.1479300035499354/2911178558978154/?type=3&theater|title=Coronavirus Update Sint Eustatius May 5th, 2020|access-date=6 May 2020|website=Government of Sint-Eustatius via Facebook}} There is still one test pending. The island is under an emergency ordinance which will expire 15 May.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/medical-staff-for-hospitainer-scheduled-to-arrive-on-statia|title=Medical staff for Hospitainer scheduled to arrive on Statia |website=The Daily Herald.sx|access-date=6 May 2020}}
On 18 May, the Queen Beatrix Medical Center gradually reopened. There are still a number of conditions, but normal medical care will be provided once more.{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/queen-beatrix-medical-center-reopens-with-new-measures|title=Queen Beatrix Medical Center reopens with new measures|website=The Daily Herald.sx|access-date=20 May 2020}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- Consulytic, [https://www.consulytic.com/corona Dashboard Caribbean]
{{COVID-19 pandemic}}
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{{#related:COVID-19 pandemic in Aruba}}
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Category:2020 in Sint Eustatius