The Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) says it continues to safely manage COVID-19 cases, even as the virus remains present in Antigua and Barbuda.
Public Relations Officer Salma Crump confirmed to Antigua.news that from time to time both patients and staff test positive, something she described as expected given the virus’s ongoing circulation.
However, Crump stressed that strict infection-control protocols remain in place at the hospital to ensure these cases are quickly isolated and managed. “At the end of the day, patient care and safety continue to be our top priority,” she said.
The reminder comes as health officials across the region continue to emphasize that COVID-19 has not disappeared, even though it no longer dominates headlines as it did during the height of the pandemic.
Sporadic spikes in cases have been reported in several Caribbean territories, often linked to new variants or seasonal surges.
At SLBMC, administrators say their approach has been shaped by lessons learned during the pandemic: heightened sanitation practices, regular staff training, and strict monitoring of patients showing flu-like symptoms. These measures, they say, have proven effective in preventing wider outbreaks within the hospital.
Health professionals are also urging the public to remain vigilant—particularly individuals with underlying conditions that put them at higher risk of complications.
Officials note that while Antigua and Barbuda has largely reopened and life has returned to normal, the virus continues to circulate quietly.
For that reason, medical staff are encouraging residents to practice common-sense precautions, such as staying home when ill and seeking medical attention if symptoms worsen.
The hospital emphasized that its teams remain prepared to respond to new cases and that patients can continue to seek care without fear of exposure.
Covid is very much active. I hope people understand its not something that will go away in this lifetime
We just need to be extremely careful we don’t a repeat of the outbreak
It seems my comment was unfavorable so it was deleted. Quite often the truth will be treated this way . Florida has passed law to do away with AL vaccines including mandatory childhood vacs! I wonder why! Hmmmm 😒
There will soon be another virus to sell vaccines.
Too many people act like COVID is gone. This is a timely reminder that the virus is still here and still dangerous, especially for the elderly and vulnerable.
Good to know the hospital is being upfront. Transparency is key to keeping the public’s confidence, especially when it comes to something like COVID-19.
How can it go away when soooo many took the jab! The virus was in the jab! DUH!!!! Medical staff know exactly what’s happening. Remember they were exempt from the jab! FAKE IT TILL YOU GET IT! No one’s talking about the people especially young ones in 30s snd 40s dropping like flies! Hmmmmm!
I get your frustration, but just to clarify the COVID-19 vaccines didn’t contain the live virus, so they couldn’t give people COVID. Pfizer and Moderna were mRNA vaccines, which only taught the body to recognize the spike protein. AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson used a harmless carrier virus, and some others (like Sinopharm) used an inactivated virus, meaning it was killed and couldn’t cause infection. As for medical staff, most around the world were among the first to take the vaccine since they were at highest risk. The situation is definitely complex, and I agree we need transparency, but it helps when we separate facts from fears.
This brings back memories of the lockdown days. Hope it doesn’t reach that point again.