COVID-19 pandemic in Montserrat

The COVID-19 pandemic in Montserrat is part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat on 17 March 2020.[2] The first death occurred on 24 April 2020.[3] By 15 May, all patients had recovered.[4] On 10 July, a new case was discovered.[5] On 7 August, there were no more active cases.[1]

COVID-19 pandemic in Montserrat
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationMontserrat
Arrival date18 March 2020
(10 months, 2 weeks and 5 days)
Confirmed cases13[1]
Active cases0
Recovered12
Deaths
1
Government website
COVID-19 page at gov.ms

Background

On 12 January, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, who had initially come to the attention of the WHO on 31 December 2019.[6][7]

Unlike SARS of 2003, the case fatality ratio for COVID-19 [8][9] has been much lower, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[10][8]

The island had a population of 4,649 people in 2018.[11] Testing for COVID-19 was being performed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency.[12] until 13 May when the island received their own testing machine.[13] There is one small hospital (Glendon Hospital) which has no ICU capacity. Specialised health care has to be performed on Antigua or Guadeloupe.[14]

Timeline
COVID-19 cases in Montserrat  ()
     Deaths        Recoveries        Active cases
MarMarAprAprMayMayJunJunJulJulAugAug
Last 15 daysLast 15 days
Date
# of cases
2020-03-18
​
 1(n.a.)
⋮
​
 1(=)
2020-03-23
​
 2(+100%)
⋮
​
 2(=)
2020-03-26
​
 5(+150%)
⋮
​
 5(=)
2020-04-03
​
 6[lower-alpha 1](+20%)
⋮
​
 6(=)
2020-04-07
​
 9(+50%)
⋮
​
 9(=)
2020-04-12
​
​
 11(+22%)
⋮
​
​
 11(=)
2020-04-17
​
​
 11(=)
⋮
​
​
 11(=)
2020-04-24
​
​
​
 11(=)
⋮
​
​
​
 11(=)
2020-04-29
​
​
​
 11(=)
2020-04-30
​
​
​
 11(=)
2020-05-01
​
​
​
 11(=)
⋮
​
​
​
 11(=)
2020-05-08
​
​
​
 11(=)
⋮
​
​
​
 11(=)
2020-05-15
​
​
 11(=)
⋮
​
​
 11(=)
2020-07-10
​
​
​
 12(+9.1%)
⋮
​
​
​
 12(=)
2020-08-07
​
​
 13(+8.3%)
Data sourced from gov.ms

March 2020

On 18 March, the first case in Montserrat was confirmed. The patient had travelled from London to Antigua before arriving in Montserrat. On the 13 March the authorities had notified that a COVID-19 patient had been discovered on that flight and subsequently all passengers were quarantined and tested.[2][16]

On 23 March, the second case was confirmed. The patient had no travel history and was the first case of community spread.[17]

On 26 March, three more cases were confirmed to be positive bringing the total to five cases of COVID-19 on the island of Montserrat.[18]

April 2020

On 7 April, the number of cases had increased to eight.[19]

On 24 April, the first death related to COVID-19 on Montserrat, that of a 92-year female, was sadly announced.[3]

On 25 April, Montserrat had been without new infections for its second week.[20]

May 2020

On 6 May, Premier Joseph E. Farrell announced that the testing machines for COVID-19 will arrive shortly and that island will soon be able to test.[21]

On 12 May, a business impact assessment was released. COVID-19 caused US$3.6 million in economic disruption.[22]

On 15 May, it was reported that there are no more active cases on Montserrat.[4]

July 2020

On 10 July, a new case had been discovered. The person had been on the island since March. Contact tracing is under way.[5]

August 2020

On 7 August, the last two cases recovered, and the island once again has no more active cases.[1]

Preventive measures
  • 24 February: Travel restriction for China (including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Iran.[23]
  • 26 February: Travel restriction extended to Northern Italy.[24]
  • 14 March: Schools are closed and gatherings over 50 people are prohibited.[25] Visits of hospitals and senior citizens homes are prohibited. [26]
  • 21 March: Gatherings over 25 are prohibited. Mandatory 14 day quarantine for travellers.[27]
  • 25 March: Gatherings over 4 are prohibited. Curfew will be instituted between 19:00 and 05:00. Non-essential travel is prohibited. Non-residents are banned to enter by plane or ship.[28]
  • 28 March: 24 hour curfew from 28 March until 14 April.[29]
  • 9 April: 7 day complete shutdown came into effect and the curfew was extended to 30 April. On 11 and 12 April, people were allowed to shop for essential goods in four groups based on their last name. [30]
  • 17 April: Shutdown extended to 1 May. Between 20 and 22 April people will be allowed to shop for essential goods based on their last name.[31]
  • 29 April: There will be limited opening for essential business from May 1 until May 7. People will be allowed to leave their house for essential business and limited exercise outside.[32]
  • 6 May: People are allowed in public on Monday to Friday between 05:00 and 19:00 for essential business. People are allowed to engage in an activity alone or with no more than 4 members of the same household between 05:00 and 08:00 and 16:00 to 18:30. [33]
  • 22 May: Curfew will be modified to 20:00 to 05:00. There will be no weekend lock-down. All retail stores can reopen. Restaurant can reopen as take away only. Construction work can resume. Visits to retirement homes are possible for family only.[34] Barbers, churches, buses, and taxis are allowed to reopen with strict conditions. Bars, night clubs, gyms, and schools will remain closed.[35]

Statistics

Chronology of the number of active cases

[lower-alpha 2]

See also

Notes
  1. There was one more positive: a visitor who has left the island.[15]
  2. On 8 May it was reported that the number of active cases is 1, even though the numbers seems to suggest 2.[36]

References
  1. "NO ACTIVE CASES OF COVID-19 ON MONTSERRAT". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. "FIRST CASE OF NEW CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) CONFIRMED IN MONTSERRAT". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  3. "First COVID-19 Related Death Recorded on Montserrat – Ministry of Health Statement » Government of Montserrat". www.gov.ms. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  4. "NO ACTIVE COVID-19 CASES ON MONTSERRAT". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  5. "MONTSERRAT CONFIRMS A NEW COVID-19 CASE". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  6. Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  8. "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  9. "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  10. "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  11. "MONTSERRAT STATISTICS DEPARTMENT LABOUR FORCE CENSUS" (PDF). Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  12. "POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES ON MONTSERRAT INCREASE TO EIGHT". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  13. "Phased Reopening of the Economy Updates & Protocol Discussions on Phased Reopening of the Tourism Sector". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  14. "Montserrat-Today". Montserrat Today. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  15. "STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES HON. CHARLES T. KIRNON Two New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  16. "Coronavirus Update (Live) - Worldometer". www.worldometers.info.
  17. "Second Case of Coronavirus confirmed on Montserrat". Government of Montserrat
  18. "STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES – HON. CHARLES T. KIRNON". Government of Montserrat
  19. "POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES ON MONTSERRAT INCREASE TO EIGHT". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  20. "MONTSERRAT GOES SECOND WEEK WITH NO NEW CASES OF COVID-19". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  21. "PREMIER'S WEEKLY COVID-19 MESSAGE- NEW MEASURES FOR MONTSERRAT'S PHASED REOPENING". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  22. "BUSINESS IMPACT ASSESSMENT: 3.6 MILLION DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC DISRUPTIONS DUE TO COVID-19". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  23. "MONTSERRAT'S MINISTER OF HEALTH ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY DUE TO THE CURRENT OUTBREAK OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  24. "MONTSERRAT'S TRAVEL ADVISORY DUE TO CORONAVIRUS DISEASE UPDATED TO INCLUDE NORTHERN ITALY". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  25. "GOVERNMENT OF MONTSERRAT RESTRICTS GATHERINGS OF MORE THAN 50 PERSONS & CLOSES SCHOOLS – COVID 19 UPDATE". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  26. "VISITS PROHIBITED AT THE HOSPITAL AND SENIOR CITIZENS HOMES". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  27. "NEW COVID-19 MEASURES BY GOVERNMENT OF MONTSERRAT". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  28. "PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER WITH NEW COVID-19 MEASURES TAKES EFFECT AT 6PM ON MARCH 26". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  29. "24 HOUR CURFEW UNTIL APRIL 14 AMONG NEW MEASURES ANNOUNCED BY GOVERNMENT". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  30. "7-DAY COMPLETE SHUTDOWN AMONG NEW GOVERNMENT MEASURES TO CONTAIN COVID-19". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  31. "SHUTDOWN EXTENDED— THREE DAYS ALLOWED FOR SHOPPING". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  32. "COVID 19 Weekly Message by Premier, Hon. Joseph E. Farrell – Measures from May 1 -May 7, 2020". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  33. "PREMIER'S WEEKLY COVID-19 MESSAGE- NEW MEASURES FOR MONTSERRAT'S PHASED REOPENING". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  34. "Premier's COVID-19 Weekly Message Premier – From May 22, 2020 More Businesses to Open and Curfew in Place from 8:00p.m. to 5:00a.m." Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  35. "RESTAURANTS, SALONS, BARBER SHOPS, CHURCHES ALLOWED TO RESUME OPERATIONS FROM FRIDAY MAY 22, 2020". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  36. "NEW RECOVERIES & ONE SUSPECTED CASE TESTS NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19". Government of Montserrat. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
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