The Ministry of Health, Wellness and New Health Investment advises the public that the Commonwealth of Dominica has confirmed five (5) additional cases of COVID -19 and four (4) probably cases as of today ,March 24, 2020.

These four (4) probably cases are currently being retested. This brings our total number of confirmed cases to seven (7). These five (5) new confirmed cases, as well as the four probably cases , are all contacts of our first case .These individuals are all being isolated and cared for at the St. James Facility in Portsmouth.

As per established Public Health Practices, the Ministry of Health is continuing aggressive contact tracing to identify every individual who may have come into close contact with these patients. All individuals identified during contact tracing will be tested and placed under quarantine. Our main focus as a Ministry is to ensure containment.

We are reassuring the public that all necessary actions are being under taken.

The Ministry urges the general public to continue to practice proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. We strongly encourage persons to maintain social distancing and quarantine as advised. The public is further advised

to inform health officials in their districts of anyone not adhering to quarantine measures.

Health officials can be contacted at 448-2151, 448-2156,448-2153, 611-4325 and toll free at 1-800-219.

The Ministry of Health is committed to continuing to provide all necessary information as the situation unfolds,

to the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica, on measures to be taken to ensure the health and safety of all

Dominicans