 Welcome to NTN Nightly, I am General Norville, this edition's top stories. The National Mills program gains momentum, the national health care system to provide a more robust response to COVID-19 and the Ministry of Education forges ahead with the commencement of the third term. Hello and thank you for joining us at the Information Command Center for the National Response to COVID-19 as we bring you the latest developments. The National Mills program is gaining momentum. The program that began on Easter Sunday, according to Prime Minister of St. Lucia, the Honourable Alan Shasne, is geared towards feeding the underprivileged. The Prime Minister indicated that the program is expected to eventually feed some 5,000 people. Details in this report. The government of St. Lucia continues its strategic response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes taking care of the most vulnerable in our society. Prime Minister Honourable Alan Shasne announced in the social stabilization plan that hot meals prepared by chefs and cooks from hotels and restaurants are part of the new National Mills program, which began on Easter Sunday. The SLHTA is also collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture, other private sector associations, non-governmental and service organizations to undertake a National Mills program. The first phase of the program will begin this Easter Sunday with a limited rollout. However, the program will eventually feed up to 5,000 underprivileged persons who are on that singular list on a daily basis using produce from our local farmers. The National Mills program, spearheaded by the St. Lucia Hotel Tourism Authority, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, saw the opening up of hotel kitchens for the preparation of food to be distributed throughout the length and breadth of the island. The soul of this project are the many farmers and fishers who will get a market for their produce during this time of uncertainty. The CEO of SLHTA, Nurani Aziz, expressed that this National Mills program is an excellent example of public and private sector collaboration, provides an opportunity for the hospitality industry to keep active and to give back to the country. The SLHTA essentially reached out to a number of our hotels which have since been closed and a few other restaurants as well as kitchens around the island to enlist their support to donate their time and their resources to literally cook and prepare the meals and to prep them for distribution and consumption. In addition to that, we also assisted in costing out the meals and presented the various ministries with the necessary information regarding the procurement needs as well as the volume of ingredients to serve as inputs to the meal preparation. We also assisted in enlisting the support of a few tourism transportation providers who assisted in transporting the ingredients from point A to point B. The National Emergency Management Organization, NEMO, was responsible for logistics and dispatch and worked closely with the Ministry of Social Transformation in ensuring that meals reach those in need. The initiative took off very well. We were able to get the food to the various drop-off points. Castries, for instance, the Castry City Council was responsible for delivering to the various communities within the castries area. A total of 15 hotels took part, the Bay Gardens, Jackson Rodney Bay, Sanders Grand, Serenity Vacation, Coco Palm, Landings, Windjama, June Catering, Pink Papaya, Rendezvous, Marigobay Resort, Moyanesque, Ladera Resort, Jade Mountain, Fordu, and Coconut Bay. All of these hotels came together to provide the meals for those persons. We would like to thank also the Cadet Corps who came on board to deliver these meals to the various communities. They did a wonderful job in getting those meals to those persons. And so, NEMO, together with the Cadet Corps, Event St. Lucia and SLHTA came together to ensure that those meals get out to those persons who were in need of the meal on Easter Sunday. I believe that this initiative is a great one. It will continue. The National Meals Programme is just one of the initiatives by the government to provide relief and to keep St. Lucia's economy growing. Reporting for the Office of the Prime Minister, I am Danielle Dubois. As the Department of Health and Wellness continues to respond to the global pandemic of COVID-19, the national healthcare system has been adapted to allow for a more robust response to COVID-19. More in this report. As of 18 2020, St. Lucia has on record a total of 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 11 of whom have recovered. On Thursday, April 16, 2020, the test results for 25 samples for COVID-19 were received and they were all negative. St. Lucia continues the partial shutdown and 10-hour curfew which spans the time period 7pm to 5am daily. This forms part of the national effort to protect public health as St. Lucia is still at a very critical stage in the response to the COVID-19 threat. The Department of Health and Wellness warns that the nation still needs to remain vigilant and be guided that the threat of COVID-19 to our nation's health is real and still exists and to act accordingly. Bearing this in mind, Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health and Wellness, Dr. Sharon Belmore George, explained that the healthcare system has been adapted to provide a more vigorous response to COVID-19. New pathways to care have been created and the public is asked to utilize these as required to access care. The 311 hotline is available to provide general information of COVID-19 and access points of care and support. The 311 service is available seven days a week and function from 7am to midnight daily. A review of the utilization of the services of this hotline indicates that 90% of the calls offer guidance and linkage to available services for the management of signs and symptoms of the virus. This has resulted in onward transfer of these clients to our telemedicine services and to our community respiratory clinics. The telemedicine services are delivered by physicians via mobile phones to allow for the delivery of telephone triaging of persons who are experiencing flu-like symptoms and require an initial level of assessment and direction to points of care. The numbers of these physicians have been made available to various media houses and official media platforms, including the social media sites of the Department of Health and Wellness and the Government of St. Lucia. Persons with flu-like symptoms can access care at the closest respiratory clinics. The five existing respiratory clinics are at the Grosy Lea Poly Clinic, La Cleary Wellness Centers, Denry Hospital, New Fort Wellness Center and the Souffre Hospital. The services at Denry and Souffre Hospitals and the La Cleary and View Fort Wellness Centers are available daily Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Services at the Grosy Lea Poly Clinic are available daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. including weekends. The respiratory clinic services are also available at the Victoria Hospital and the St. Jude Hospital and these can be utilized by persons with respiratory issues but requiring care outside of the normal hours of operations at the clinics within the community. All respiratory cases coming into the hospital facilities will be screened and redirected for care and services as required. All of these services to support the management of the COVID-19 is provided to the user at no cost. The Ministry of Health we encourage all persons who deem themselves to be in need of any of these services to access them in a timely manner to minimize any possibility of risks related to COVID-19. The Department of Health and Wellness advises the public to adhere to the standard recommendations to prevent the spread of infection. We now hear from Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health and Wellness Dr. Sharon Belmar George as to what to do if you feel ill. In the management of COVID-19, there are actions that must be taken if you begin to feel unwell. First, you must monitor your symptoms. If you develop respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, call one of the clinical support telephone numbers for advice. If the medical care provider tells you that the symptoms are mild, please follow the recommended steps of care. If your symptoms are moderate to severe, you will be advised to go to the respiratory clinic closest to you. Wear a face mask when leaving the house especially if you are coughing or sneezing. This will prevent others from getting the infection. We recommend regular hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer when away from home. Also avoid direct contact with others and also to reduce touching other surfaces. When going to the medical facility, please go directly to the medical provider. Do not sit among the other patients. Testing and treatment and care to persons with COVID-19 is free of charge. Work with the Ministry of Health and Wellness as we reduce the impact of COVID-19 on you and your families. For further information, please contact the Bureau of Health Education at 468-5347-468-5349 or 468-5350. That was Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health and Wellness, Dr. Sharon Belmar George. This is NTR Nightly. Please stay with us. We'll be right back. Here are some tips on what you need to do to reduce the risk of getting COVID-19 while you're grocery shopping. On your way into the supermarket or shop, remember to wash or sanitize your hands. You may want to think about sanitizing your trolley too. When you're shopping, don't touch the produce unless you're buying it and please do not touch your face. Try your utmost to keep your distance from other shoppers and staff. Six feet is best. Let's go through who should be doing the shopping. If you're not feeling well, you should not be there. If you're elderly or have a compromised immune system, please proceed with caution and if you're healthy enough to shop, maybe think about picking up a few items for those you know who can't. As for when to shop, where possible, avoid peak hours in order to avoid overcrowding. In addition to food, it's a good idea to have enough cleansers and other supplies to last a few weeks. Stock up on over-the- counter or prescription medication you may need and don't forget on your way out of the shop or supermarket, wash or sanitize your hands again. Remember, keep your trips to the supermarket or shop to an absolute minimum and when you do get home, you might want to give your fruit and vegetables an extra good scrum. Explore options for online shopping and consider using delivery, order online and just pick up. Together, we can mitigate against the spread of COVID-19. Welcome back. The Ministry of Infrastructure, Port Energy and Labor said that although employers resolve the right to send staff on leave, having given them seven days notice, it recommends that be done after discussions with employees amidst the growing pandemic. In a statement on April 16, the ministry advised that employers not request staff to proceed on vacation amidst the partial scale-down of activities due to the virus. The ministry said that the situation is unique and a cause of undue stress and hardship to both employers and employees, as such as the circumstances surrounding this pandemic are not conducive for vacation. The Ministry of Labor noted that while there is no legal requirement to pay wages during the partial or complete shutdown, employers may consult with the employees towards utilizing these days as paid vacation days and if both parties agree, then the agreement should be committed to in writing. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose several challenges to various sectors, including the education sector. Officials from the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development recently appeared on the National Television Network, indicated that despite the many challenges, the Ministry of Education is forging ahead with the commencement of the third term of school. Anisea Antwan tells us more. The impact of COVID-19 has resulted in the second school term of the academic year 2019-2020, ending abruptly. Due to the change in the landscape of the education system, the third school term will commence on the 20th of April 2020. Local and regional examinations have also been affected, as the minimum standards tests have been cancelled. The Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Michelle Charles, noted that the seating of the common entrance examinations is dependent on pronouncements from the Ministry of Health. The exam, at the time when it's been administered, it would have allowed sufficient time for students and teachers to become academically and psychologically ready to write the exam. The exam, of course, it's been restructured, being reviewed as we speak, and so it will comprise solely of the multiple-choice components, and this has been worked on by our examination units alongside our curriculum and assessment officers. I know many persons are concerned about what happens with CSEC and CAPE, and I just want to indicate that the governments of the region are still in dialogue with the Caribbean Examination Council, and as soon as a decision is made relating to that, a pronouncement will be made locally, and persons will be given the information at that point. Majority of the secondary school students have been accessing Google classrooms, as well as other methods of e-learning. The Permanent Secretary explained that prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, e-learning measures were already being strengthened via the e-book pilot project. We would have started that pilot in February of this year, where the first set of students would have gotten the devices, and we would have looked to do a second pilot, well, the second part of that pilot in September, exposing more students to the use of the e-books. Given the challenge that we're currently facing, we're contemplating using those devices for the teachers and some of the students who have indicated that they are having challenges getting devices, but we will continue to monitor the use of that device. It allows students, it's not just a reading tablet, just a reading device, it allows the students to do so much more, it allows them to access the various Microsoft suites, plus allow them to do their virtual labs, and the books also contain text that's aligned with the CSEC syllabus, so students are well placed, students who have the learn book are well placed to be able to continue their own learning. Students are also encouraged to activate the e-mail addresses set via their individual schools. Chief Education Officer Fiona Meyer commanded the teachers who have been reaching out to their students with the distribution of instructional material and telly tutorials despite the challenges being faced. Meyer encouraged parents to find creative ways to engage their child or children during this time. Early childhood and all of our centres, the majority of which are privately owned had to be closed down based on the threat and the risk associated with COVID-19. We note that without a foundation, nothing else will work in terms of educational support thereafter. So we want to applaud our early childhood sector practitioners and say to them, we recognise your efforts, but we continue to encourage parents to look at, they're really little young ones, and to say, engage in play-based learning. Sometimes we think children are just playing, but within that time prior to schooling, formal schooling, that is, it is really about doing various activities that are fun for the children, that are engaging for them, that are based on their interests. And you would note that all of those skills, numeracy, literacy, social skills are developed through play. So let us be patient with ourselves as our little ones and really engage them moving forward so that the foundation continues to be built upon. Based on feedback from the school principals island-wide, nutritional plans are also being put in place for vulnerable families. The chief education officer made an appeal to entities who are able to contribute towards the cause to contact the Ministry of Education. From the government's information service, I am Anisia Antoine reporting. We now join Prime Minister Hutchinson for today's Nouvelle, Accueil. Ladies and gentlemen, Madam, the Department of University of Causability for Information, a government set this G.I.S. national television, N.T.N. Accueil, Nouvelle, Accueil, Primes Hutchinson. Company Desafers Business Fig, Winfresh, are now in their position to honor the University of Causability for the diversity of figs set this G.I.S. This is because the government of the country does not accept the Ministry of Agriculture to make a decision to help Winfresh and then a million dollars to pay for the figs that have been set for more than six weeks in prison. The Minister of Agriculture, Honorable Ezekiel Joseph, makes a point that the government makes a decision to consider the corona virus that has been set in place in the country. The situation is that it will not even be able to continue 20 figs without a young payment. Honorable Ezekiel Joseph, I think that this is because there is a situation that the government is still concerned about. The million dollars that we have is a great achievement because we serve that Winfresh to pay more than the million dollars. Based on the information that we have it is 2.2 million dollars. I think it is more than that. So it is important that we pay more than that but it is also important that we restructure Winfresh so Winfresh has to do what it has to do. What it has to do. I would like to say that in the last 10 minutes we will be able to pay more than this which has been called that we will be able to sacrifice Winfresh and then we will be able to restructure Winfresh and then we will be able to complete the meeting. We will be able to restructure Winfresh because we have that we will continue to do what we have to do and we will do what Winfresh to market the money that we have to pay. We have the system that we have to do what we have to do but we have to do what we have to do and we have to pay more than the million dollars that we have to pay. So we will restructure Winfresh so we will be able to accomplish objectives. So ladies and gentlemen we have a million dollars co-advanced payment for the Winfresh card to NFT and then we will be able to get a loan from Invest-City because we have we have been planning to support farmers not farmers but farmers in general as we have COVID-19 but we will be able to come to Invest-City with a million dollars. Chairman for NFT Yostes Monrose declared that it would be a pleasure for this situation because the cultivators and the farmers have already suffered enough and particularly as we present the COVID-19 it is a bad bad situation. Monrose has so many congratulations for the government. And I think the government has delivered this. And then the minister called on our bicycle Joseph he said before that he said that he would push this and that he really has already delivered and the farmers are very happy for this tomorrow. And then today if we have a union and we have a bank we have to go back there to join this union because it is a credit union not a financial institution next to the EPI and we have to join the people because it is a supermarket to buy this and that for many of them COVID virus 19 seller difficult to solve the problem seller no car no car face at all. So I would like to thank all these farmers who have given us a lot of respect but by the grace of God yes the government has already delivered. Once again this year I have found advice not to do anything in the meantime pay a lower price and well I trust you. This is the chief policy Milton Desi who called on this to give a public face to the NTN television. Chief policy Desi explain who? The government considered to leave the open store to sell material and various tools that are available to work especially when we experience a brutal situation. It is also available to eat and various necessities to give a salary but usually that you will always operate except for the people who obey the rules. That's why you have to go to court to pay a lower price. And this is the first time I have eaten because you have to go to the world to sell by plumbing, electrical, because we have to go to a small place where you can eat a bowl of boiled water where you can go to pay a lower price. And also I have to go to the place where you can go to pay a lower price. So if you have to go to the store to sell you can go to the store. So I have to go to the West and then you can go to the West and then you can go to the West and then you can go to the West and you can go to the West and then you can go to the West and you can We came to the bar to buy the pieces. Because you have to have the size of the pieces, because they are suspended. So we don't have the size for the van. So we don't have to buy the van. The shop that is here, the machine is on the left side, and the other side is on the right side. So we don't have to buy the pieces. We have to have the size of the van and the other side of the van. We don't have the size for the van. We don't have the size for the van. So we don't have to buy the pieces. We also have to have the side that is not on the right side. In effect, we have to keep controlling the virus. to support the Ministry of Health to encourage the public to support those who are in hospital at the Wyn King and its wellness center. Those who are in hospital at Wyn King and in hospital at the Wyn King and in hospital to visit the patients, it's only one of the two editors. That's six and a half, six and a half, and a half to a half. That's the first visitation to the hospital. Ladies and gentlemen, the Wyn King Hospital is open for all services for patients who are visiting for treatment. But to obey social distance that continues, it's not the appointment of the salesman who wants to visit. The official hospital who makes contact with the appointment of the nephew. The Ministry of Health has advised to ensure that those patients who are in the appointment of the nephew come to the hospital. All the operations that I have found so far, there are only the operations of those who have found attention. We have started the VTA today. We have to address all the services that are available for those who want to visit. I would like to thank you for your patience and the effort you made to make the Wyn King Hospital a place to visit. I would like to say to everyone who is living in the company of the Wyn King and the Wyn King Hospital to obey the Wyn King Hospital as well as the corona virus. The ministry has advised everyone to take enough care of their patients before visiting. Thank you, Bill Primus. That brings us to the end of NTN Nightly. Join us next time at 7pm, before we repeat at 7pm. You can also catch up with us anytime on the Saint Lucia Government Facebook page or YouTube channel. I am General Norvel.