Deputy Government Commissioner Alida Francis
St. EUSTATIUS--Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the focus in health care in St. Eustatius has been on acute and emergency medical care for the past few months. Since Monday, residents of Statia are able to receive elective care again.
Deputy Government Commissioner Alida Francis said that to gradually reopen the island it is necessary for everyone to remain vigilant.
The public entity Statia, Health Insurance Office ZVK, the Public Health Department and Queen Beatrix Medical Centre (QBMC) are coordinating efforts to assist returning patients who do not to have to go into the 14-day quarantine by instituting new rules and regulations to ensure COVID-19 contamination is reduced as much as possible.
This way, the maximum number of slots for persons who have to go in quarantine can be used for persons who are coming from low-, medium- or possibly high-risk COVID-19 areas around the world. Currently, only 45 persons can be monitored by the Public Health Department.
Francis said it is a “good development” that St. Maarten is registered as low-risk because there are currently no positive cases, “but as long as COVID-19 is around it is necessary to be cautious.”
ZVK, QBMC and St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) have worked together to make it possible to start regular care. Where necessary, medical referrals to St. Maarten, Bonaire, Aruba and Curaçao will also be possible.
Pending appointments
The public entity said it was aware of the large number of persons with pending appointments that have to be rescheduled or have to be made with a specialist abroad, as well as the fact that there is a large number of persons abroad, including in St. Maarten, with outstanding appointments as well.
“You can, therefore, understand that it is not possible to attend to everyone at the same time. The fact that someone has been waiting longer than another person does not necessarily mean that his/her appointment is more urgent. The deciding factor lies with the general practitioners, in consultation with the specialist, as to who has first priority,” Francis said.
To facilitate as many appointments as possible and to minimise the risk of COVID-19 contamination, the Public Health Department will allow medical referrals to St. Maarten, Bonaire, Aruba and Curaçao without persons having to go into quarantine on their return as long as they follow certain conditions.
Patients on medical referral and their accompanying person have to make use of a mask during travel and will have to adhere to hygiene and social-distancing guidelines. ZVK will provide transportation for patients from the airport to the hospital and medical appointments, to an in-transit lounge or a day room, if necessary, as well as back to the airport.
ZVK has also arranged a facility where patients can sit and have a meal. Patients will have a choice between three meals depending on their arrival time and the island where the medical referral takes place. The meal will be free of charge, which means that patients will not receive a daily allowance.
Patients must make use of the ZVK-provided lounge and avoid contact with other persons as much as possible. Patients are not permitted to leave the facilities other than for their medical appointment.
Overnight stays will be reduced to a minimum. ZVK will arrange catering to a hotel room, if necessary. This will be mostly related to patients travelling to St. Maarten, because it is virtually impossible to go to a medical referral in Curaçao, Aruba or Bonaire and return to Statia the same day.
The general practitioner will determine the necessity for a person to accompany a patient on medical referral. Factors that determine this may include the patient being a minor child or requiring assistance.
All medical-referral patients and their companion will be asked to sign a statement stating that they will follow the rules to avoid COVID-19 contamination.
“These islands may be COVID-19-free, but this is an extra precautionary measure so that when you return to the island you can go home to your family immediately, instead of being subjected to 14 days in quarantine,” Francis said. “We recognise that some persons see medical referrals as an opportunity to run extra errands, such as shopping or meeting friends and family. However, we appeal to everyone to let us stay safe and adhere to the rules.”
