 Welcome to NTIA Nightly, I am General Norville, this edition's top stories. Teachers undergo educational technology training. Members of the public are urged to take special care of the more vulnerable in the society and home care givers undergo sensitization training workshop. Hello and thank you for joining us at the Information Command Centre for the National Response to COVID-19 as we bring you the latest developments. The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Generations and Sustainable Development has decided to undertake the third term of school online in preparation for the reopening of school, scheduled for April 2020 and to ensure an online environment conducive to learning and teaching. Teachers underwent training workshops to enhance their capabilities. More in this report. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed schools and learning professionals to transform quickly from face-to-face to online learning. The Ministry of Education has been providing educational technology training with the most recent being EDMODO training for primary school teachers in all districts. The EDMODO network enables teachers to share content, distribute quizzes, assignments and manage communication with students, colleagues and parents. Jermaine Anthony, Curriculum Specialist at the Ministry of Education, noted that the reception from teachers has been positive. I think the reception has been amazing that the teachers were very happy. They thought that the training was relevant to what they were doing or their needs as professionals in the teaching system, teaching profession. They thought that many, I think about 60% of them were saying that they wanted additional time. Additional support. Definitely they were pleased with the presenters that we had for the training, the facilitators. And by the way I want to mention, I want to just say that the presenters we've had, we could not have done a fraction of what we've been able to achieve just without them. Anthony explained that the focus of the third school term will be revised in material to cater for any gaps in online learning. To the teachers as well, and as much as we anticipate that we have to make that transition, COVID-19 or not, we have to make that transition so that teachers can leverage technologies in the way they support instruction. We are not expecting miracles to happen overnight. And so what we've started to do and we are continuing to do is to train teachers and support teachers so that they're able to use some of the online learning platforms, e-learning platforms that we call them so that they have that option in their toolkit that they're able to use technologies like Edmodo, like Google Classroom, like Moodle so that they would be able to give instructional support for the time being. Anthony reaffirmed that the Ministry of Education will continue to support teachers as they continue to use technology integration to enhance the educational environment. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. Parliament to be convened on Tuesday, April 21, 2020, where the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Growth, Job Creation, External Affairs and the Public Service, Alan Shastney, will present the motion seeking that Parliament extends for an additional period commencing from the 27th of April, 2020 and ending on the 31st of May, 2020 in accordance with Section 176 of the Constitution of St. Lucia, Cap 1.01, the Constitution of St. Lucia Resolution of Parliament, approving Declaration of State of Emergency passed as statutory instrument No. 40 of 2020 that approved the State of Emergency that was published in the Gazette on the 23rd of March, 2020 as statutory instrument No. 39 of 2020 containing a declaration that a public emergency has a reason as a result of the occurrence of the 2019 NCOV, an infectious disease commonly known as COVID-19, for a further period of 26 days commencing from the 31st of March, 2020 and ending on the 26th of April, 2020. Two bills are also to be laid that is the National Insurance Cooperation Amendment Bill by the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Growth, Job Creation, External Affairs and the Public Service that seeks to put in place the structure and stipulations for the economic relief program and payouts. The Tourism Stimulus and Investment Amendment Bill will be laid by the Honourable Minister for Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries. Members of the public are urged to take special precautions when interacting with the elderly as they are more likely to be adversely affected by COVID-19. Family Case Worker at the Division of Human Services' Elder Care Unit, Andrea Alsid, who recently appeared on the National Television Network, the Information Command Centre for the National Response to COVID-19 called on the public to refrain from going to visit the elderly and instead utilize the available mediums to communicate with loved ones so as to prevent the transmission of the virus. Details in this report. People with underlying diseases and older people are especially vulnerable to severe illness more so in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The elderly, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes or cancer are more likely to have severe coronavirus infections than any other age groups. Family Case Worker at the Division of Human Services' Elder Care Unit, Andrea Alsid, encourages the public to take extra precautionary measures if caring for an older loved one. The basic thing is try your best to keep them at home. At home is the safest place. Keep them at home, keep them informed because as much as they're older persons they need to be in the know of what's going on so keep them informed, let them have factual information not the hearsay but let them have factual information. Avoid visitors. The same practices, the same hygiene practices that we've been taught and told to do on several occasions. We teach them the same, we remind them of the same and most importantly just try to keep them safe, keep them comfortable. Alsid encourages the public to practice social distancing and utilize the various technological mediums to stay connected with the elderly loved ones. What we can do for those older persons who are tech savvy the constant video calling, the WhatsApp calling for those who don't call them at least twice, three times a day have the neighbors shout them or go to see them but stay outside and have the conversation from a distance that can help and just have them call us whenever they feel like talking so there we have to ensure that we're able to provide that service to them that access to them so they can reach us whenever possible just to say hello, I'm feeling tired, I'm feeling sick this is getting me miserable, when will this be over and they will ask you the regular questions and it's okay to answer them a million times. Ms Alsid noted that the Division of Human Services has been paying special attention and enforcing safety protocols to protect the more vulnerable older people in the society. Ensure that the residential units like the homes, the senior homes Marion Home, Comfort Bay, that they follow protocol in keeping the distancing, doing the washing of the hands, all of that and we need to pay special attention to those who are at risk those who are ill, who have medical conditions ensure that their medication is available, they eat on time they've been showered and cared for on time all the people who have cognitive challenges like mental health challenges ensure that they have their medication ensure that they take the medication and ensure that if there are any signs of a relapse that you know who to call, what time to call, what to do Alsid urged the public to focus on the maintenance of standard recommendations to prevent the spread of the infection From the Government Information Service I am Anisia Antoine reporting This is Ntia Knightley, please stay with us Thank you Welcome back! In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic the Department of Health and Wellness conducted a sensitization workshop for home caregivers throughout the island More in this report The sensitization session was geared towards residential caregivers from various organizations such as Home for the elderly the Boys Training Center Women Support Center and Transit Homes It provided an opportunity for health officials not only to provide an overview of COVID-19 but to sensitize those providing services to the more vulnerable of the population particularly the elderly and persons with chronic medical conditions in one residential space Another component of the session was to review and adapt infection prevention and control guidelines at the various organizations to reduce the potential risk of transmission of COVID-19 within these facilities Senior Councilor the Boys Training Center Patrick Ferron highlighted the importance of such a session given the need for accurate and factual information so as to combat COVID-19 We have actually started the process already using information that is substantiated to work alongside our persons that we are serving Now in coming together as a team now we're actually adding to what we have been using so far and it will just help us to improve or to continue to find the best practices with certain things that are actually changing as one day moves on and another day comes Administrator Adda St. Lucie's home Sylvester Phillip emphasized the timeliness of the session The seminar today was in a sense very informative, very interactive and a lot of my new details were gone through and I'm very happy that I participated in the workshop The information that I have acquired will be passed on to my caregivers In fact I wasn't here alone I was also here with my residential manager and one of my senior staff members we will get together and we will disseminate the information to our communities When I say communities I mean our caregivers people who come, general public and who require that kind of information to enable us to overcome whatever problems that we may have as it relates to COVID-19 Bearing in mind what has transpired in other countries with COVID-19 outbreaks and transmission in similar facilities resulted in poor health outcomes Early preparedness is necessary so as to prevent similar events in St. Lucia The session for caregivers was organized by the Department of Health and Wellness Carbet St. Lucia made a donation of 50,000 EC dollars to the government and people of St. Lucia to help fund essential resources for health service and frontline staff as well as to provide support to residents across the island COVID-19 pandemic is having significant impact on lives and livelihoods across the globe challenging the resources of large and small economies alike St. Lucia is no exception and Carbet St. Lucia sees it as imperative to join in the fight and do its part Jules Kwan, dual vice president of sales and marketing stated One of Carbet's guiding principles has always been supporting the communities in which we operate This is an unprecedented time and we are grateful to be able to contribute to the COVID-19 relief efforts in St. Lucia and Quote We now join Primers Hutchinson for today's Nouvelle, Aquéol Monsieur Tain, General Monsieur Madame Department of Health and Wellness for Information and Government Services, GIS and National Television at NTN Caposito Nouvelle, Aquéol Presito Primers Hutchinson I would like to begin this week for the school's students who have started but this is not a school as usual but an Aquéol as the Minister of Education has already informed Minister of Education who has informed parents and guardians for the students who are at the school who are the first in this country who have approached to embrace several ways of restriction that I have found established by the consequences of the COVID-19 situation So, all the students who have started this week in August 2020 advise all parents and guardians I have found a notification that the students are at the school to establish the school for the third time so that they can contact parents and guardians for the students for the students for information or for the students to know about the school especially for communication and to avoid the school At the same time the restrictions I have already prepared for the teachers and parents have already started their lessons starting Monday to Friday at 8 a.m. at 8 a.m. for the afternoon for the students who are at the school Minister of Education has continued to advise parents and guardians of COVID-19 to do their exams to protect the hands in the form of a purification for the health services for social services and for the children and all of them who are still at the school the teachers who are at the school to go to school Let's talk about this Your specialist has already made a lesson on technology at Colleges Aafelus Mr. German Antony to explain how to make a lesson in a way that facilitates for all the students who are at the school with Antony who have already made a lesson on computers and on the internet for the students who are at the school but Antony has made a lesson on how to make a lesson for the students who are at the school for social services Mr. German Antony to explain how to make a lesson in a way that facilitates for all the students who are at the school to take care so that when you are at school you can always communicate with the teachers if you have a problem if you have difficulty you can always talk to the teachers and tell them That's what we do If the teachers train and engage they will also be able to do it after the event The reason for the common entrance examination is because the Minister of Education said it is very important because it is very important for the students who are not at the school but Mr. Antony to explain how to make a lesson in a way that facilitates for all the students who are at the school to communicate in a way that facilitates for the students to communicate even if the students are not at the school they can communicate so that the students can communicate so they can always communicate with the teachers to communicate of people who have started to register in September and October. The institute has continued to receive training to learn in this way, to build the students on the computer during the archive, to follow the lessons on the new school terms. I would like to ask you, for the education of technology, Roy Stearn Emmanuel, to make sure that the teachers of the institute are comfortable and to make new communication, new restrictions, and to use the computer to build initiatives that are easy for the institute to develop relationships in the form of restrictions for the students during the archive to follow the lessons on the new school terms. I would like to ask the ministry to prepare teachers for this so that the students can learn how to use the computer to learn how to use the computer. I would like to ask the ministry to prepare the students to learn how to use the computer. I would like to ask you, for the education of technology, to make sure that the students can learn how to use the computer. I would like to ask you, for the education of technology, to make sure that the students can learn how to use the computer. I would like to ask the ministry to prepare the students to learn how to use the computer. Thank you, Apil Primus. The St. Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority wishes to advise the public that all residents will continue to receive a one residential waste collection per week until advised otherwise. Regular collection will only be undertaken on the first collection day of each week. If your first collection day is normally Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, you will receive collection only on that day. bulk waste collection will remain suspended until further notice. All are encouraged to adhere to the new schedules in order to maintain clean communities. The Department of Labor wishes to inform all farm workers scheduled to travel to Canada for the 2020-2021 season to contact the staff of the Employment Unit via email or telephone. Farm workers are asked to call one of the following telephone numbers between 8.30 and 4.00 pm. 7-2-2-0-6-8-1, 7-2-0-1-9-3-7, or 7-1-6-0-8-5-7. Farm workers are also advised to contact the office via email address employment.unit at govt.lc. The farm workers are asked to contact the department without any delays as there are urgent matters to be discussed. That brings us to the end of NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7 pm with a repeat at 7 am. You can also catch up with us anytime on the St. Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am Genelle Norville.