National epidemiologist, Dr.Shaluddin Ahmed confirmed that the number of confirmed confirmed that community transmission is very unlikely in Dominica. The Ministry of Health began doing random community testing to determine whether there are asymptomatic cases present in the communities.
However, at the press briefing of the Ministry of Health on Friday, Ahmed said, “So far, we have completed 72% of the households, and about 800 participants have been tested using the rapid-test method Island-wide. Only, two were reactive to the Rapid test, subsequently they were negative using confirmatory PCR testing. Hence, it is likely that these two individuals developed antibodies to COVID-19. Additionally, we identified a case with fever but they were negative for COVID. 99% of the participants were non-reactive to the rapid test. Based on the information that are available, it is very likely that there is no community transmission”.
Further, there have been no other positive reported cases of COVID-19. 534 samples have been tested and 518 returned negative using the PCR method. Presently, the Ministry continues to test health care workers, cruise ship workers and students who have recently returned from overseas and a few suspected individuals.
Ahmed said that the general population were very receptive to the community testing, especially in the La Plaine, St. Joseph and Grand Bay Health Districts.
The Ministry of Health continues to be engaged in active surveillance to guide the population accordingly.
