French embassy employees in quarantine

Employees and several people who came in contact with the French ambassador went in home quarantine on Tuesday night after the ambassador became the eight person to test positive for the novel coronavirus, COVID19. The French embassy on Tuesday night announced on its website that it would be closed until further notice and that people could call 8928203 in urgent cases. Meanwhile all of the employees have been tested and were put in home quarantine with their family and that the people that they had come into contact with. Several members of the National COVID-19 Management

Team including the director of National Security, Danielle Veira, opted for self quarantine because of this. The director had reportedly also come into contact with the French ambassador. As a precaution Veira and the team which she works with on a daily basis will remain home until further notice. The offices of the director and the press room where the COVID-19 press conferences take place were thoroughly disinfected. “None of my people have any symptoms but we are sticking to the guidelines of the health authorities,” said Veira in a video message before adding that team would keep adjusting its measures as a result of the developments. Official reports on Wednesday indicated that there were 8 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Suriname. Two patients who were at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will be moved to another ward at the hospital because their condition is improving. Nurses will keep a close eye on them. These two patients will also be tested again to check if they still have COVID-19. “When they test negative for COVID-19 twice, they will gradually be moved to home quarantine until the health officials indicate that they are cured,” said Health director Cleopatra Jessurun.