The COVID-19 pandemic produced another St. Maarten fatality over the weekend, for a total of 28 so far. While still at a relatively low number, each related death is obviously one too many.
Ten new COVID-19 cases were reported both Friday and Saturday, down from the upswing to 15 on Tuesday, 19 on Wednesday and 20 on Thursday. Nevertheless, the spike in infections with the more contagious British variant prompted government to scale back the closure of evening entertainment businesses to 11:00pm, after it had recently been expanded from midnight to 2:00am.
Curfews are generally not popular, and some disagree, arguing that transmission of the virus does not only take place at night. However, experience has shown that partying in large groups during late hours where people often let go of their inhibitions and there is close contact, especially when consuming alcohol and/or drugs, can create so-called “super spreader” events.
The island does not need to go through what happened in Curaçao, where a “third wave” that followed the March 19 elections overburdened medical resources and patients had to be flown out to Aruba as well as Colombia. It therefore remains essential for anybody not yet immunised having been near an infected person to quarantine as required.
But ramping up the vaccination process is crucial too. Initiatives like Saturday’s pop-up at Orange Grove Shopping Centre and others such as the walk-in days are certainly welcome in that sense.
If possible, one thing that could make a tangible difference might be a drive-thru injection facility as seen in other countries. There are obviously logistical issues to overcome, including the very low temperature at which the Pfizer vaccine must be kept, but people do tend to feel comfortable staying in their own vehicle because it has a reassuring effect.
Big empty parking lots such as those of stadiums are frequently used and local experience has already been gained with drive-thru testing at Pointe Blanche. It is just a suggestion, because achieving a greater degree of “herd immunity” has become even more urgent also in support of efforts to restore the hard-hit tourism economy, with cruise homeporting and additional flights to start in the next few weeks.
Make no mistake, this regards practically everyone’s livelihood.
