 Welcome to NTN Nightly. I am General Norvel. This edition stops stories. St. Lucia records 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The government is planning for a phased reopening of St. Lucia's economy and the Ministry of Education announces that term 3 will be a virtual term. 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. St. Lucia records its 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The chief medical officer speaking Sunday on the National Television Network NTN, the Information Command Centre for the National Response to COVID-19, noted significant improvements in the adherence to stipulated protocols by the public. Commended members of the public for their cooperation, she said the fight is not yet over. More in this report. As of April 13, 2020, the World Health Organization reported a total of 1,773,084 confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally with 111,652 deaths. There are now 610,742 confirmed cases in the region of the Americas with a total of 23,759 deaths. The affected region includes the Dominican Republic with 2,967 cases, Haiti 31, Barbada 68, Jamaica 69, Cuba 669, Dominica 16, Grenada 14, Trinidad and Tobago 112, Guyana 37, St. Lucia 15, and Tiguan Barbuda 21, Bahamas 41, St. Vincent and the Grenadines 12, Guadaloupe 143, Martinique 156, Puerto Rico 897, San Bafalmi 6, Aruba 92, San Martin 33, U.S. Virgin Islands 51, and Cayman Islands 53. As of April 12, 2020, St. Lucia recorded a total of 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The first two cases were repatriated to the United Kingdom between March 24 and 25, 2020, and four of the remaining cases have since recovered and been discharged from hospital care. Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health and Wellness, Dr. Sharon Balmar George, indicated that last week the public health team at the department also took the opportunity to step back, review what has been put in place, assess its position in the curve, analyze the data so far, and prepare strategic pathway on the way forward with St. Lucia's national response to COVID-19. In summary, we note that 77% of our cases are female. The majority of the cases fall into the category of 45 to 49 years of age, 64% of cases reported travel history. To date, all of the confirmed cases are recovering well, with no complications. We continue to report zero deaths of COVID-19 in St. Lucia. The contact tracing process has had significant gains in identifying people at greater risk of exposure and bringing individuals with symptoms into care in a timely manner. This success is in great measure the result of the willingness of citizens to collaborate with our teams, and we at the Ministry of Health are very grateful for that support. In January 2020 during Stage 1 of COVID-19 planning, the main objective was source control. During this phase, the public health strategies included the preparation and completion of COVID-19 national plan, establishment of the COVID-19 Coordinating Committee, regular consultation with regional public health agencies, activation of the National Health Security Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, extensive health education, strengthening and monitoring of the ports, instituting off-travel restrictions to reduce importation from high-risk areas, healthcare facility preparation, procurement of personal protective equipment, extensive training of healthcare workers including fire service and police and non-health stakeholder consultations. As the country moved into Stage 2 with the confirmation of important cases and the start of community spread, the main objective was containment to slow down the increase in cases to flatten the curve. The chief medical officer noted that the public health strategies included aggressive public education, exhaustive case finding and contact tracing, the establishment of local testing, the free hotel quarantine sites, the establishment of the respiratory clinics at strategic points to ensure access to care, the setup of the respiratory hospital, increased medical human resource capacity, with the arrival of the Cuban doctors and nurses, the use of the free 1-1 hotline for dissemination of general COVID-19 information, the establishment of clinical mobile phone services to support medical and psychological care. In anticipation of in-country transmission was the implementation of more rigid social distancing measures which included the cancellation of mass crowd gatherings, the closure of schools, the closure of the ports and cruise industry, the establishment of the national curfew and a 24-hour shutdown period. Although St. Lucia has not quite reached Stage 3, which is identified by the establishment of community spread, many of the measures related to Stage 3 are being implemented as part of a proactive approach. This includes the activation of NIMAC by the Prime Minister Hon. Alan Shasne, the establishment of the Unified Command Centre from the Office of the Prime Minister, the establishment of the curfew and the 24-hour shutdown. This present stage that we are in right now is critical. We need to keep focused on sustaining the gains made nationally in keeping the curve flat. The Chief Medical Officer indicated that it is imperative that everyone works together to keep the population safe. Everybody must take personal responsibility to facilitate the process. Prime Minister V. Hon. Alan Shasne announces a phased approach to the reopening of St Lucia's economy. During his address on Sunday, he indicated that the 10-hour curfew will continue in addition to the opening of hardware and home service stores. Details in this report. Prime Minister the Hon. Alan Shasne addressing the nation on Sunday on the National Television Network, the Information Command Centre for the National Response to COVID-19, expressed gratitude to the frontliners who continue to sacrifice for the health and safety of all St. Lucia's. The Prime Minister also thanked members of the public for their change in behaviour and adhering to the protocols implemented. Based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, the Cabinet of Ministers has taken a number of decisions including the extension of the 10-hour curfew. The Prime Minister explained. Cabinet has agreed to maintain the existing partial shutdown, scale-down operations for the period of April 14th until April 26th, 2020. We've agreed to expand the activities under the hardware service as well as home suppliers to include emergency renovation and maintenance activities at the household level to facilitate water storage, plumbing maintenance in preparation for the drought alert. And I know that there are many solutions that are handymen and have probably been equally frustrated that they're at home and there are so many things that they could have done at home. So this is to help you be able to get access to the materials that you would need to be able to continue repairing your own homes as well as preparing your home for the drought and certainly preparing your home for the upcoming hurricane season. The Prime Minister noted that the Cabinet is planning a phased reopening of the economy. However, the partial shutdown continues for the duration stated. The Prime Minister also highlighted the commercial entities to come on stream in the first instance, which includes hardware and home service stores. He added that there must be strict adherence to the protocol or else consequences are to follow. The hardware service will also include home suppliers and activity stores such as SNS, Voyager and Flavio. Those companies will apply through the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Commerce will work with the Ministry of Health as well as the Ministry of Security to make sure that they're fully aware of the expected protocols now that we've extended the responsibility of being able to open and provide additional services to the public. I want to re-emphasize adherence to physical distancing protocols and other public health protection guidelines at all levels of operation and ensure consistency in messaging. Continued non-compliance to physical distancing protocols and public health protection guidance may result in suspension of service and imposition of extended curfew. Despite the plan for the gradual reopening of the economy, Prime Minister Hon. Alan Shasne reminded the country that St. Lucia was not yet out of the woods. He urged members of the public to continue with caution as the island continues to battle COVID-19. We will not rest in our efforts to make sure that despite the results that we've had so far that we are fully prepared, Corona has proven to be very elusive and there are many times in which countries or communities have believed that they have won the battle only a couple of days or weeks later to find out that it had only taken a reprieve and it now had come back. So the fight's not over. I also want to say to you that we have to learn how to live with COVID. It is going to be required that we're going to have to open up the economy. We cannot keep our economy and our traditional way of life at a payment while we're doing this. But we've learned a lot about COVID and we know that what the CMO and her team and Pao Hu and WHO have said are working. The public is urged to continue social distancing, staying home as much as possible and practicing other hygienic practices advised by the Department of Health and Wellness to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For the Government Information Service, I am Rajvaro Lawrence reporting. The National COVID-19 Response Telephone held Easter Sunday saw some $2.5 million being donated to be used to provide the necessary personal protective equipment, PPE, required in the lines of duty for our servicemen and women who continue to work tirelessly in the fight against COVID-19, as well as to provide food supplies to the underprivileged in St Lucia. We hear more from Anisia Antoine. The telethon also featured live at-home musical performances by St Lucia artists, including Shane Ross, Rob Zay Taylor and Finesse and Ronald Buhingson who came together to support the cause. Currently, the National COVID-19 Response Telethon has raised in excess of $2.5 million. Prime Minister of St Lucia Hon. Alan Shasne expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of the initiative. We have two sets of people that we're really working hard for tirelessly. Those are the frontliners and what makes them different is that they're certainly going up every single day and exposing themselves to this virus. We're fighting here to be able to raise monies, to augment what the government is already doing, but to take it to another level to be able to provide them with the PPE materials that they need, the face mask, the mask on their face, the gloves, the aprons, all these things are incredibly important. I mean if we have to run Victoria Hospital with a full fledge of staff and every single day that they're having to change their outfits, we're talking about over a million masks that we would need just to be able to service a three month period of time. So now's the time to be able to raise the monies, to be able to purchase this equipment, materials and bring it in and prepare our frontliners for what they're doing. Prime Minister Honourable Alan Chastney explained that the government has been working closely with the same Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association and the local farmers to put together a plan for the national meals program. Imagine how many farmers have lost the opportunity to sell their produce to the tourism industry. That's a very difficult market to be able to replace at this time. So we came up with this idea to merge these groups together and to get the chefs to create healthy menus using our local recipes, our local products to start today to be able to disperse, I think it's 2700 meals to persons who are in our poverty list. And we're looking to expand that and so by next week we're looking to start off with about 5000 people that we want to be able to feed a day. And the goal is to be able to raise that to 10,000 people a day that we'll be getting at least one meal prepared by these incredible chef, talented chefs from Lucia who are working with our farmers. The National COVID-19 Response Telethon took place live on the National Television Network and other supporting media houses, island wide, on April 12, 2020. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for a 30-day period for anyone who may want to contribute towards the cause. From the Government Information Service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. Welcome back. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed a number of sectors into digital operations in an effort to continue business during these challenging times. The education sector is no different as the Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development announced that Term 3 of school will be undertaken virtually. We have more in this report. As the world continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Honourable Dr. Gil Rigabet highlighted that no one is certain as to how the situation will unfold. The Minister addressing the nation on Sunday 12 April 2020 indicated that Ministry officials have been dialoguing with stakeholders and based on discussions, the Ministry has decided to undergo the third term of school virtually. The third term will be a learning from home term. We can all agree that these are challenging times and the way we deliver to or serve our students in the education sector of necessity will change. Already I have seen remarkable demonstrations of creativity and innovation by our educators. The proposed interventions will require us to be even more flexible and nimble as we seek to ensure that our nation's children are not disadvantaged and that instruction is provided in a manner that ensures no child is left behind. The Minister explained that provisions are being made to ensure the delivery of virtual classes via various means. On the instruction front, what is being proposed by the Ministry assumes a multi-faceted approach or blended learning or teaching modality using a mix of media including television, radio and online platforms, activity sheets and student textbooks. Interventions will be differentiated based on grade levels and forms. In the coming days, the Ministry will advise on the protocol for collection of activity sheets and textbooks which would have remained at some schools. The Minister noted that the move is not without its challenges as a survey conducted indicated that many students and teachers alike were not equipped with the educational devices or internet connection to allow for online learning and teaching. Consequently, Minister Honourable Dr Rigabet noted that the Ministry is exploring several avenues including training for teachers as to the use of various virtual platforms and programs, working with telecommunications companies and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission NTRC to facilitate internet connection and to provide support for parents and students during this difficult time. It is being proposed then that the third term commence on 20th April 2020. The week beginning 13th April will afford administrators and teachers time to meet virtually to plan each school's operational intervention and to undergo training, upskilling and retooling in the use of digital and media technologies. Though, admittedly, several training sessions have been conducted in the use of various platforms, it is necessary that more targeted sessions on the use of the platforms be convened. The Ministry of Education indicated that parents are needed now more than ever to ensure that their children are encouraged and assisted in the continuation of their studies. We now join Prime Minister Hutchinson for today's Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. The Ministry of Education indicated that parents are needed now more than ever to ensure that their children are encouraged and assisted in the use of digital and media technologies. Prime Minister Hutchinson declared that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. Prime Minister Hutchinson said that his doctors had prepared all the necessary equipment to conduct work in this area. He also said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. However, Prime Minister Hutchinson said that it is also necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. He also said that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. Prime Minister Hutchinson said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. Prime Minister Hutchinson said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. He also said that Prime Minister Alain Chassny said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. He also said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. He also said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. Prime Minister Chassny also said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. Prime Minister Chassny said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. He also said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. He also said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. He also said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. He also said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. He also said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. Prime Minister Chassny said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. He also said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. He also said that it is necessary that the government and the Ministry of Health should prepare for the third stage of the Nouvelle-à-Cueillol. The Ministry of Health and Wellness in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister launched a website on April 9, 2020 as a dedicated platform for COVID-19 information. This aims to provide the public with information and recent updates on the COVID-19 pandemic within its inclusion context. The website will be managed and updated at 12 noon daily. The website will provide the following content. A dashboard with recent global and national COVID-19 statistics, audio-visual products to support the COVID-19 response, educational material on COVID-19, interviews and statements from stakeholders and St. Lucia's response to COVID-19 and contact information for assistance with COVID-19 response. The website can be accessed on the World Wide Web on the site www.covid19response.lc For further information, please contact the Bureau of Health Education at 468-5342-468-5349 or 468-5318. That brings us to the end of NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7pm, before we repeat at 7am. You can also catch up with us anytime on the St. Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am General Nouvelle.