The Ministry of National Security wishes to inform the public that it had two reported cases of coronavirus infection. Both cases were sent home, quarantined, and tested following the advice and standard protocols of the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of National Security also followed the standard practices of the Department of Environmental Health Services in maintaining the safety of the work area.

The first case reported sick on Friday, September 11, 2020 and was sent home. The employee was tested on September 14, and confirmed Covid-19 positive by Ministry of Health on September 22, 2020. The employee was then re-tested and received Ministry of Health clearance to report back for duties on Friday, October 1, 2020.

The Ministry of Health, upon consultation on September 22, advised that only the first contacts of the employee should be sent home to quarantine for the remainder of the period. The Department of Environmental Health Services, also consulted that day, informed that due to the length of time that the first case had been absent from duty there was no need to sanitize the work enviroment.

Subsequently, a meeting was held with all employees on that same day, September 22, to inform them of the matter, and five contacts of the first case were sent home to quarantine for the remainder of the period. They were further advised to contact the Ministry of National Security, Human Resources Unit, if they felt any symptoms and to seek medical attention if required.

All five employees did not report experiencing any symptoms during the quarantine period and reported back to work on Monday, September 28, 2020.

The Ministry of National Security wishes to further inform the public that the second case’s last day at work was Friday, September 25, 2020. While on sick leave the employee reported testing positive for Covid-19 on Friday, October 2, 2020. The employee has not yet received clearance from the Ministry of Health to report back for duties.

A meeting was held on the same day (Friday, October 2, 2020) with staff and eight contacts of the second case were sent home to quarantine for a period of fourteen days. Similarly they were advised to contact the Ministry of National Security, Human Resources Unit, if they felt any symptoms and to seek medical attention if required. All eight employees did not report experiencing any symptoms during the period and reported back to work on Friday, October 16, 2020. The work environment was sanitized by the Department of Environmental Health Services on Saturday, October 3, 2020 and cleared for staff not impacted to report to work on Monday, October 5, 2020.

Management has and will continue to show interest in the health, safety and well being of all staff. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic the Ministry has implemented many measures to mitigate against the spread of the virus in the workplace, such as (i) the mandatory wearing of face masks; (ii) facial recognition temperature checks at both entrances; (iii) stand alone hand sanitizers; (iv) daily and hourly cleaning and sanitizing throughout the building; (v) enhanced employee awareness and practice of health protocols and (vi) keeping employees engaged and informed of how Covid-19 is impacting the workplace.