The island’s COVID-19 crisis has potentially taken a turn for the worst. The Health Ministry on January 25 confirmed the more contagious UK variant of the virus has been detected in Saint Lucia. Five people which include two visitors from the UK have tested positive for the new COVID-19 strain. They were initially diagnosed in December. However, Health authorities say the Caribbean Public Health Agency, the only lab capable of analyzing viral samples, require up to four weeks to confirm the test results.

Concerns and frustrations have grown among staff at the Clendon Mason Memorial Secondary School, following news that a form 4 student at the institution has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
The teachers allege that health and education authorities are pussyfooting, therefor placing their health and lives at risk.
We now join Senior Investigative Correspondent Miguel Fevrier in studio with the details.

With the United States and United Kingdom issuing “do not travel” notices to their citizens, attracting would-be travellers to Saint Lucia amid a raging pandemic has forced tourism officials to overhaul their marketing strategies. Saint Lucia is now offering deep discounts and extended stay packages in an attempt to keep the island’s reeling hotel sector afloat.