14 new cases; 8 recovered

PHILIPSBURG -- As of September 29th, there were fourteen (14) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however there was a recovery of eight (8) persons; bringing the total active cases to eighty (80). The total number of confirmed cases is now six hundred and fifty-nine (659). The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) are monitoring seventy-six (76) people in home isolation. Three patients remain hospitalized (3) at the St. Maarten Medical Center and one patient is isolated (1) and being monitored. 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 remains at five hundred and fifty-seven (557). One hundred and ninety-six (196) 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 1041 travelers arriving at the Princess Juliana International Airport, (PJIA) and 2710 people throughout the community. As the numbers continue to fluctuate, CPS will continue to actively execute its contact tracing measures. Minister Panneflek encourages all to remain positive as we work towards our goal of reducing the spike. Remain vigilant and continue to wear your masks, practice social distancing, sanitize your hands frequently, wash your hands with soap, and refrain from mass gatherings.