 Welcome to NTR Nightly. I am Genelle Norville. This edition stops stories. A total of 11 of the confirmed 15 COVID-19 patients have recovered. Government provides relief to the unemployed as a result of COVID-19. And the Ministry of Agriculture assists with payments to banana farmers. Hello and thank you for joining us at the Information Commander Centre for the national response to COVID-19 as we bring you the latest developments. 11 of St Lucia's 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have recovered. The Chief Medical Officer urges St Lucia not to let the guards down and to continue adhering to the stipulated protocols from the Department of Health and Wellness. St Lucia continues on a 10-hour curfew from 7pm to 5am daily. Some of the national protocols which apply to this include remain at home, leaving only for food or medical purposes, avoid mass crowd events and social gatherings, practice physical distancing and good personal hygiene. The public is also advised against going to public places with flu-like symptoms, including fever, coughing and sneezing. When visiting the supermarket or public places, refrain from touching items unless you intend to purchase them. Essential service workers and the elderly are granted time for grocery shopping to facilitate their timely return to their posts and homes, respectively. The public is asked to exhibit patients while these segments of our population are being served. Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health and Wellness, Dr Sharon Belmar George, urged the public to adhere to the stipulated protocols. She also provided an update on the well-being of St Lucia's confirmed cases. As of April 14, 2020, St Lucia has a total of 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Follow-up tests were also conducted on the confirmed cases in care and to date, a total of 11 of the confirmed 15 COVID-19 patients have recovered and have been discharged from the hospital. Presently, there are 25 persons in quarantine and 20 in isolation. Quarantine is used to separate and to restrict the movement of persons who are well and may have been exposed to a communicable disease such as COVID-19. This quarantine period allows for monitoring of contacts who develop signs and symptoms over the incubation period of the particular disease. We use the designated quarantine facilities for persons who travel into St Lucia from areas of high risk and persons who are in contact with any positive cases who do not have signs and symptoms. There are certain cases where an assessment is done by the Ministry of Health and that individual may require home quarantine. One example is someone who is confined to the bed and is not able to function independently. Isolation, however, is used to separate known ill persons who have a communicable disease like COVID-19 from others who are healthy. Isolation restricts the movement of ill persons to help stop the spread of infection. In St Lucia, positive COVID-19 cases are kept in isolation. Isolation is also done for persons who have flu-like symptoms who are in contact with positive cases and patients but have not yet been confirmed as COVID-positive cases. These individuals are also kept in isolation until their results are received. Despite the structures being in place and other commercial entities such as hardware stores being open, the public is reminded that the country is still on national scale-down and individuals are only to leave their homes for essential goods. The chief medical officer indicated that the rules of physical distancing and other recommendations must be observed at all times as St Lucia is still at a very critical position in the response to the national COVID-19 threat. We note that there are many people out and some persons are not adhering to the rules of physical distancing. We also note that persons have come out without the use of their masks. One of the recommendations include the use of a face mask or scarf when going to public places such as the supermarkets and stores. The face mask or scarf may be used for source control by reducing potential exposure risk from infected persons during the pre-symptomatic period. For a face mask to be effective in reducing infection, they must be used properly. Some basic guidelines include ensure that the mask is clean before its use. Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer before touching the mask. The mask should be held by the ties or the loops only. The coverings should be fit and they should be fit tightly but comfortably to allow for breathing without restrictions. Do not touch your eyes, your nose or your mouth when the mask is on your face and when removing the mask. Cloth masks should be washed daily after use. Do not place the mask on the forehead or below the chin. Do not remove the masks to talk and to quarrel. Person should avoid using their mobile phones while wearing a mask. The public is asked not to use medical supply masks, surgical and N95 masks, which must be reserved for healthcare workers, first responders and people who are known to be sick. The public should use their handmade cloth masks instead. The Department of Health and Wellness urges the public to continue to follow all protocol as stipulated by the department. Prime Minister the Honourable Alan Chastney on Wednesday 8th April 2020 presented the Government's social stabilisation programme for St Lucia in response to the impact of COVID-19. The programme aims to bring immediate relief to those who have lost their jobs and income earning opportunities due to the effects of COVID-19. More in this report. The COVID-19 pandemic has no doubt impacted economies across the globe and St Lucia in no way has been spared. Many people in the hospitality industry and domestic sector have as a result lost their jobs. The Government of St Lucia in an effort to assist those impacted by the pandemic felt it was extremely important to focus on a social stabilisation programme. Prime Minister of St Lucia the Honourable Alan Chastney during his address where he presented the social stabilisation programme noted that while the funds may not replace the salaries lost it will soften the economic blow and provide some level of relief. The focus of the social stabilisation programme is twofold. The persons who have completely lost their income and the more vulnerable persons in our society the elderly, persons on the poverty list and persons waiting to be on the poverty list. So firstly the persons who have lost their jobs. Temporary income support will be provided to the NIC contributors and non-NIC contributors for a period of three months in the first instance. With respect to NIC contributors a monthly payment relative to your salary of no less than $500 and $1500 a month will be offered depending on what your salary was for a period of three months in the first instance starting in April. Persons eligible for this programme had to have paid contributions to the fund for at least one month prior to February 2020. They must have become unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They must not have been in receipt of any other benefits from the NIC. The NIC allowance is estimated to cost between $33 million and $80 million over a period of three months depending on the number of eligible persons. A review will then be conducted to determine whether an extension for another three months will be needed. The government will provide a subsistence allowance to persons who have been displaced through loss of employment or income as a result of COVID-19. This income support will be in the amount of $500 monthly for three months. This is expected to be in excess of $16.8 million based on the number of eligible persons. The Prime Minister highlights then that the current situation brought to the fore the importance of persons signing up to NIC. He noted that for those not making a contribution and who the government will be providing support to a precondition will be that they must sign up to the NIC. The National Insurance Corporation NIC indicates that it has taken extraordinary measures in response to COVID-19. According to an issued press statement, it noted that the coronavirus pandemic has put a serious strain on health care systems and economies of many countries, St Lucia included. Alongside the direct health risk of contracting COVID-19, many workers have been laid off or made redundant by the closure of businesses, particularly in the tourism sector. There is an expectation from its contributors that the NIC will intervene and provide some economic relief beyond its normal payment of benefit claims. To help workers navigate the economic hardship arising from COVID-19, the NIC has moved quickly to put measures in place to provide income support to contributors directly affected by the virus. The program is expected to cost anywhere from 40.1 million to 80.2 million dollars over a three month period covering the months of April, May and June. Payments for the month of April are being planned for the last week in April for the soonest practicable time thereafter. Under the NIC Economic Relief Program, the NIC will pay 50% of insurable earnings salary amount on which contributions are levied subject to a minimum payout of $500 and a maximum of $1,500 monthly to persons unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. In other words, a person with a monthly salary of $3,000 or higher will receive $1,500. A person with a monthly salary between $1,001 and $2,999 inclusive will receive 50% of salary. A person whose monthly salary is $1,000 or less will receive $500 who qualifies all individuals who contribute to the NIC who were in employment in February 2020 and are currently out of work as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Payments are to employees only, not employers. To be entitled to benefit or to meet the qualifying criteria the claimant must have contributed to the fund for at least one month prior to February 2020 and the claimant must be unemployed as a result of COVID-19. This is NTIA 9thly, we'll be right back. Welcome back. The Ministry of Agriculture assists in settling outstanding payments to banana farmers. Amanda Faye-Clock has the details. The move which comes as a response to a breach on the part of Winfresh to provide payments to farmers through the NFTO is seen as timely as agriculture officials work to address concerns by farming and agriculture constituents in keeping their livelihoods buoyant and in securing local food sources. Chairman of the National Fair Trade Organization, the NFTO Eustace Monroe says he's elated by the Agriculture Ministry's assistance in settling outstanding payments to banana farmers which have been delayed for about five weeks. I'm grateful and I have to demonstrate gratitude on behalf of the NFTO and the farming community, especially banana farmers for this government response. Government understood the plight of farmers. Government understood where farmers were. They were not able to go over to supermarkets at least to replenish the stock when all others were able to have done that. So this gesture is something that is really, really appreciated and we're indeed grateful for this government response and government understood and the minister in his efforts really attempted hard so that the farmers would have been able to get this benefit. This is not the first time that the Agriculture Ministry has stepped in to prioritize the welfare of farmers where Winfresh failed to meet its obligations to the NFTO and the local banana farming community. As Agriculture Minister Ezekiel Joseph explains, a restructuring of Winfresh is even more critical now as the industry faces additional unique challenges posed by COVID-19. That advance payment is going to come from our COVID restructure plan for the government as far as giving support to our agriculture which of course include the our banana farmers. So based on discussions with the Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Cabinet, we agreed that we should approach the investment closure where investment closure would advance the government one million dollars in the first instance so at least they would be able to have a very enjoyable Easter. In the coming weeks, Minister Joseph vows to engage all the Winwood Island Agriculture Ministers to make good on its promise to the farming community to ensure the necessary adjustments are made within Winfresh to better serve the needs of the banana industry for which it was first commissioned. From the Ministry of Agriculture, this is Amanda Fey-Clock reporting. We now join Prime Minister Hutchinson for today's Nouvelle-Arcuyol. Thank you, General. Thank you, Madam. The Department of the U.S. for its information. The government is here, G.I.S., the National Television Agency, N.T.N. Capuzetou, Nouvelle-Arcuyol. Capuzetou, Prime Minister Hutchinson. The shops that have been sold, such as Zooty and Matoio, to serve the country, to build the country, I have seen in the operation, under the coronavirus protocol, such as the precepts that the country has to follow. The Minister has made a commercial investment to make consumers. After a lot, we have Bradley Felix, who made a statement on this. Let's discuss the N.T.N. Then, we have Felix's decision to leave this store, Matoio, to live in operation. It is part of the decision that the Prime Minister has made, N.T.N. The Minister has made a commercial investment. The Prime Minister, and Cabinetly, N.T.N. and Minister of Health. We have Felix, who made a decision to consider the operation of this store, but you have to follow the supermarket cash-free route. So, we discussed this and we said about the crisis. Besides, the cost of clothing and what is needed is to find a way to invest in the strive and the company. We said that we would give We use it to go to the water tank, to the cement, to put the water tank in the water tank. We use it to put the water tank in the water tank. What we consider is the cycle season. We don't know who is going to do it, but we want everyone to prepare. We don't know who is going to do the cycle. There are people who have done a lot of things. But we don't know who is going to do it. We go to the water tank. We don't know who is going to do it. We don't know what is going to happen. So, actually, everyone at home is going to have a chance to do the same things. Okay? Um, to, to, to eat koiopu for these, um, hurricanes. Um, among these magazines that I have found consideration and permission to open these SNS, flavor and voyager. The students who are in Kai, as a result of the corona virus, I have found the theme of the koiology, as a consultant, all the students, who are able to follow the lessons of the Kai. This is the Ministry of Education. We have Dr. Gil Rigabet, who is doing our Salah during the last few months. According to Dr. Rigabet, the students and the institutions, Kaini, to develop more collaboration, to launch Salah, which has brought so much pressure to their education period. According to Dr. Rigabet, the great efforts and initiatives, which have been dedicated to them, I have done, according to what I have learned, extraordinary. This is the Ministry of Education by Asi Muslaki. This is the school that has organized in a way, which is the student room, which has been established, which has found the opportunity to follow the program of education. For this Salah, the Ministry of Education has called for parents, who have the most important role in the program of education Salah, for their children. According to the Ministry of Education, the methods of education, have been used by the media organizations, such as Radio, Television, Internet, by school books, even among other things. Dr. Rigabet has also announced that Kaini is doing for its institutions in this way, to serve its technology tools, to engage its students. The Ministry of Education, by Asi Muslaki, for the teachers and the institutions, with the students, who are part of this Salah technology, and by the way, to find them, the Ministry has decided to correct this, by how to strengthen the connection with the institutions and the students, when they have found their own Salah, and also for the parents, who have experienced these difficulties in the Salah situation. The Ministry of Education, which has also joined the gymnasium and diverse business colleagues, to assist the institutions and the students with the power. The third theme, which is the school, is the education Salah, which has always been there, since the beginning of the year 2002. But Kaini has been working on it, and the administrators and the students have been training the students in a way to serve the media technology, to lead the Salah students. The third theme is Salah. The Ministry of Education, Alain Shasne, has made a plan to help the committee to plan a commercial activity for the whole year. The Ministry of Education, Alain Shasne, has also joined the gymnasium and diverse business colleagues, and the Ministry of Education, Alain Shasne, has decided to help the Salah committee to plan a commercial activity for the whole year. The Ministry of Education, Alain Shasne, has also joined the community, for the celebration of the Salah Awakening, which is being held in the public sector, and every protocol is in place before the opening of the commercial activity, and therefore, the Salah has to be set up as it is going to be planned in this country. The Ministry of Education has made a arrangement, and the international community has started all its joint business activities, including the Salah Awakening. This project was designed to save the lives of the students. The problem is that the biggest citizens will find the most sensitive to various diseases. The Prime Minister said that everyone who is ready to continue to be ready will not only be able to read and read the Cabinet and the health services of the country, but they will be able to settle the issue completely. Thank you, Madam. I would like to thank you for your invitation to continue to be ready to read the Cabinet and the health services of the country. Thank you, Prime Minister. The St. Lucia Air and Seaports Authority slasper advises customers requiring access to the seaports, pod castries and view fort for clearing of personal effects, burials, packages, boxes, etc. to be guided as follows. One customer only per transaction will be directed by the pod police officer or officers on duty to the shed. A limit of 10 customers at any one time will be facilitated in the customer area and a safe distance of at least six feet must be maintained. Only upon completion of the transaction and delivery of the personal effects, the driver should be contacted and will be directed by the pod police officer on duty. Customers are required to wear masks upon entering the ports. Effective 14th April 2020 operations at the sheds are from 8am to 3pm Mondays to Fridays. Slasper stands committed to serving its customers and requests the cooperation of the public in keeping the established protocols for COVID-19 as it relates to social distancing. For more information, please feel free to contact the Director of Seaports at 457-6100. That brings us to the end of NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7pm with a repeat at 7am. You can also catch up with us anytime on the St Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am regional novel.