Virus cases down to 160 while new deaths take fatalities to 104; new Pfizer shipment expected to spur vaccinations again

With three new lab-confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus being recorded, active infections have dropped below 200, while the death count has increased to 104.

The Ministry of Health’s dashboard for Monday, November 1, shows 160 active cases and a confirmed overall case count of 4,072.

Officials say the new infections were realized from 55 samples processed at the hospital.

There are 44 recovered cases, increasing that total to 3,808, and 16 people are hospitalized: three with severe symptoms, four with moderate disease, and nine with mild symptoms of the virus.

Health officials say there have been two recent COVID-related deaths, although details of fatalities are no longer being shared. 

Antigua and Barbuda has fully vaccinated close to 51,000 people, while just over 6,000 have received their first shot. 

In the meantime, the country received a shipment of 23,400 doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine from the United States on Wednesday, November 3.

A surge in vaccination numbers is expected, since the Pfizer drug appears to be the preferred drug among residents, and the Government may reach herd immunity by the end of December. With the minimal number of new infections and drastic reduction in active cases, some persons are asking whether the Browne Administration will now recall those public-sector workers whom it sent home for not being vaccinated.