Healthcare director Carol Jack-Roosberg.
ST. EUSTATIUS--Several businesses in St. Eustatius have changed how they offer services to their customers as a result of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases on the island.
Local telecommunication company EUTEL NV closed its offices because one of its employees had been in direct contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. The company’s employees will work from home for the workflow to continue. Eutel Managing Director Maryteresse “Liesje” Lijfrock-Redan said this is being done to protect the well-being of EUTEL’s staff and customers.
National Department Caribbean Netherlands RCN has also closed it office doors.
Windward Islands Bank (WIB), the only bank that is operational on the island, has also limited its hours of operation from 8:30am to 12:00pm. The bank has requested that persons utilise online services to limit the number of persons waiting in line.
Golden Rock Pharmacy has limited the number of persons inside the building to three, with a requirement for persons to wear face masks. Patients are asked to call ahead to verify that their medication is ready for pick-up.
At the Caribbean Netherlands Fire Department off-duty firemen were called in to fill out a shift due to one of the positive COVID-19 patients having contact with some firemen.
St. Eustatius Healthcare Foundation GGD Director Carol Jack-Roosberg said that contact-tracing has provided a list of 50 persons who were in direct contact with a person infected by COVID-19 over the past 14 days.
With the new cases that were discovered on Tuesday, the list of people the department has to trace has become even longer. When someone who has been exposed to the virus has been located, this person is either put into quarantine or isolated at a location.
Roosberg said some persons have been hesitant and untruthful when asked questions about whom they have been in contact with. She reminded everyone that even though questions might make them uncomfortable, the ultimate goal is to stop the further spreading of the virus on the island. Roosberg said she knows that this situation is “scary, … but the community has to come together now to stop the virus from further spreading.”
