BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – The St Kitts-Nevis government has declared a state of emergency as the twin island federation grapples with an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in recent days.

A government statement said that Governor General, Sir SW Tapley Seaton, had issued the proclamation declaring a State of Emergency.

“The state of emergency comes about in the wake of a new wave of rising COVID-19 infections brought about by community spread that has seen to date 244 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 180 active cases, 64 recovered cases, and zero deaths,” the statement said, adding that the SOE will remain in place until July 6.

The government says it is “engaged in a war against the COVID-19 pandemic that if not contained threatens the lives and livelihoods of its citizens” and as a result “it has had to act swiftly to save lives in this time of the global and deadly pandemic”.

The government said it is asking all citizens and residents to comply with the non-pharmaceutical measures of mask-wearing, social distancing, and proper hand hygiene in order to curb the spread of the virus.

It said additionally, all eligible persons for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine are urged to avail themselves of the vaccine at the earliest possible time.