Montserrat confirms first Coronavirus case, patient recently returned from UK
Published:Tuesday | March 17, 2020 | 12:00 AM
Montserrat has confirmed its first case of the Coronavirus.
According to Health Minister Charles Kirnon, the patient arrived in the Caribbean island on March 10, 2020 from the United Kingdom.
The patient's sample was sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on Friday March 13.
The patient travelled on British Airways flight (BA 2157) from London to Antigua, which was transporting a passenger whom the Antiguan authorities identified as being positive for COVID-19.
"On learning on the 13th from the Antiguan authorities that a passenger on that flight had fallen ill with COVID-19, my Ministry activated its outbreak investigation protocol to locate, assess and quarantine all passengers who travelled to Montserrat, through Antigua on the same British Airways flight," said Kirnon.
He said the patient has been in isolation since March 13 and will remain there, while being treated and monitored until the disease is no longer detected.
Meanwhile, two other samples that were sent to CARPHA for testing have returned negative.
The Health Minister is urging people to remain calm and follow its instructions.
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