The Hospitainer is to become operational on Friday, May 8.
- EUSTATIUS--The setting up of the Hospitainer is nearing completion, stated Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij. Workers from St. Eustatius as well as technicians who flew in from the Netherlands have worked “very hard,” including working over the holiday weekend to ensure that the Hospitainer becomes operational. The commissioner explained that some extra work will be required before the container hospital becomes operational, including day-to-day management. The Hospitainer is supposed to become operational by Friday, May 8.
On Tuesday, the first doctor and a nurse for the Hospitainer arrived. Recruitment of Hospitainer staff is still ongoing.
The doctor and nurse both fall within the category of essential workers and will, therefore, follow the strict regulations of quarantine and testing prior to their arrival on the island, Van Rij said.
Currently, there are 11 persons in self-quarantine and one person in isolation. The number of tests carried out on Statia stands at 22, with nine retests being performed. Of these tests, 19 returned negative and two positive. There is one pending COVID-19 test and one person has recovered. There is currently one active case of coronavirus on Statia.
Currently, the island is under an emergency ordinance until May 15, under which non-essential businesses are closed. Restaurants and eateries can only offer takeout or delivery service and supermarkets are only allowed 15 persons inside at a time. The emergency ordinance includes a gradual reopening of the schools from Monday, May 11.
Every Monday the commissioners meet with directors and unit managers of the public entity St. Eustatius for an update in matters regarding COVID-19 and government plans and projects.
Under the contingency plan a number of civil servants in key positions are currently working from home. Given the present situation concerning the outbreak of COVID-19, directors and unit managers have been requested to start preparing for a gradual return to a normal situation while adhering to the guidelines for social distancing. “The public entity wants to be the example of how to gradually reopen its services to the general public,” Van Rij said.
Deputy Government Commissioner Alida Francis said that persons who want to leave Statia mainly for the Netherlands, other parts of Europe and the United States and who have made their request either through the Dutch Representation Office in St. Maarten or through the consulate of their country of origin, are currently being accommodated.
“Persons who were stranded on the island, whether due to their work assignments coming to an end, persons on vacation or family visit or any other reason and wishing to repatriate to their home country are being given the opportunity to do so,” Francis said.
She stated that some 40 persons on Statia are expected to travel to the Netherlands and other European countries with KLM today, Wednesday, May 6. The flight has been arranged through the Dutch Representation in St. Maarten. Travellers on this flight will have to adhere to strict guidelines of social distancing and will need to wear a mask. All persons travelling are responsible for all cost related to their travel.
“During the course of next week, a similar flight is scheduled for persons who would like to repatriate to the United States. These persons would have to adhere to the same procedures,” Francis said.
