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PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor; Discussions were held with key stakeholders involved in Saturdays repatriation flight from Ft. Lauderdale. Saturdays flight provided the opportunity for a dry run of the reopening protocols that are being implemented. For many countries,

including St. Maarten, the COVID-19 pandemic remains a challenge. Handling this pandemic has called for not only a renewed focus on Public Health but also on measures to ensure safe travel.

Todays collaborative knowledge-sharing and solution-finding meeting focused on evaluating Saturdays dry run, in order to strengthen the process and make the necessary improvements.
This fruitful meeting evaluated the operational procedures and facilities for accommodating RT- PCR testing at the airport for incoming passengers, and other important areas related to the arrival of passengers.

St. Maarten continues to ensure that all residents stranded abroad can return home safely. Today 21 persons were
repatriated from the Dominican Republic. As a precautionary measure, all persons were PCR tested at the airport and signed consent forms agreeing to remain in quarantine for 14 days.

The Minister of VSA would like to emphasize that passengers arriving on this flight MUST remain in quarantine for 14 days, given that these persons arrived from a high-risk country and the incubation period ranges from 2-14 days. These persons are advised to stay in a specific room and away from other people living in the same home. If these persons or family members develop symptoms, they are advised to contact their family
physician for further instructions.

The Minister is expecting to receive the test results this evening or at latest tomorrow morning and urges the returning residents to adhere to the quarantine measures in order to protect the general population, and by extension their loved ones.
Once again, Minister Richard Panneflek would like to thank all the assisting staff at PJIA, especially the Immigration Department, all medical personnel, the laboratory institution and everyone else who assisted directly or indirectly today and on Saturday July 18th.

Photo : From the backrow to right: Cabinet of VSA ; Sr. Policy Advisor Ms. Alissa Rios, Chief of staff Mrs. Farrah Busby- Richardson; Staff Bureau: Secretary General Ms. Joy Arnell; PJIA: Mr. Emile Levons, Mr. Michel Hyman , Mr. Clifton Brown, Mr. Connally Connor; TEATT: Mr. Kevin Maingrette, Mr. Jason Lista ; HCLS: Dr, Fey van der Dijs & representative; Minister of VSA: Hon. Richard Panneflek; Medical Team Leader: Dr. Perk Franklin; SMMC: Ms. Candida Williams; Not captured in the picture but present CPS: Dr. Daphne Illis, Ms. Mariah Henry