10 new confirmed COVID-19 cases; 12 recoveries

PHILIPSBURG -- As of October 14th, there were ten (10) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however, there was a recovery of twelve (12) persons; bringing the total active cases to fifty (50). The total number of confirmed cases is now seven hundred and twenty-nine (729). The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) are monitoring forty-seven (47) people in home isolation. Three (3) patients remain hospitalized at the St. Maarten Medical Center, and the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at twenty-two (22). The number of people recovered since the first case surfaced on St. Maarten has increased to six hundred and fifty-seven (657). Seventy-five (75) people are in quarantine based on contact tracing investigations carried out by CPS of persons who may have been in contact with any of the active cases. CPS has tested 1124 travelers arriving at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) and 4726 people throughout the community. As the numbers continue to fluctuate, CPS will continue to execute its contact tracing measures actively. Minister Panneflek expressed his gratitude to all for playing their part by following the implemented guidelines. We will overcome this pandemic, but we must continue to wear our masks in public places, practice the 2-meters social distancing, sanitize and wash our hands frequently, and refrain from mass gatherings.