 Coming to you from RGIS Studios, I am Anicia Antuan, and this is your Mayday News Brief. St. Lucia is updating its influenza preparedness plans as the coronavirus continues to spread. The World Health Organization reported on the new strain of the coronavirus in China on January 9th, 2020. As of January 25th, 1,320 cases confirmed. Of those cases, 1,297 reported from China with 23 cases outside of China across 9 countries. Local health authorities have been working closely with international and regional partners and they provide guidelines to manage the virus. Dr. Sharon Belma George, Chief Medical Officer, says that although the risk level for the Caribbean subregion is currently classified as low and the disease is at an early stage of the outbreak, the Department of Health and Wellness will continue to monitor the coronavirus. In the interim, physicians are asked to continue standard recommendations to prevent the spread of viral infections which include washing of hands, covering your mouth and nose with disposable tissues of clothing when coughing and sneezing, as well as avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing. The Department of Health and Wellness has embarked upon the Steps Behavioral Risk Factor Survey to monitor the causes and effects of chronic diseases. The survey which began in December 2019, monitors behavioral risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and unhealthy eating, as well as biological risk factors including high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and obesity. Alma Dolo, Assistant Principal Nursing Officer at the Ministry of Health, is urging the public to cooperate with their enumerators and nurses during the predator collection process. 71% of deaths worldwide are attributed to chronic diseases. In St. Lucia, 82% of the mortality rate is attributed to chronic diseases. Over $1 billion in recovery funding and in-kind services Alma recently pledged at a private sector pledge in conference for Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian as a category 5 storm battered parts of the Bahamas in August 2019 leaving immense devastation and loss of life. The Office of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas in a release following the conference said the pledges included initiatives in home-building and repair, educational assistance, renewable energy partnerships, relief aid among others. In expressing his gratitude, the Bahamas Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Yubat Minas said the conference was an important step in the ongoing reconstruction and rebuilding efforts. This has been your midday news brief. Thank you for watching.