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The public is advised that in the March 2021 meeting of the Education and Employment Committee a review of the current charges of the Directorate was undertaken and a revised Education and Employment Directorate Charging Policy was approved.
This new Charging Policy will come into effect from tomorrow, 1 April 2021.
A copy of the Charging Policy can be found on the SHG website via: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/public-information/ under sub header ‘Policies’. A summary of the charges will also be published shortly.
For further information, please contact the Committee Secretary, Santana Fowler, on telephone number 22607 or via email: santana.fowler@sainthelena.gov.sh.
SHG
31 March 2021
Executive Council, on 30 March 2021, approved an increase to the Minimum Wage of 7p per hour.
Effective from 1 July 2021, the Minimum Wage will be £3.25 for persons over 18 and £2.30 for persons aged 16 or 17.
In addition, Executive Council approved a new Minimum Wage Policy which sets out the principles for establishing a longer-term path to a more ambitious Minimum Wage, benefitting workers and providing adequate time for businesses to plan and adapt. The Minimum Wage Policy is available on the SHG website via: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/public-information/.
In the coming months, the Employment Rights Committee will engage with employers, employees and other relevant stakeholders, like charities, to gather information that will inform a target Minimum Wage and proposed timetable for achieving that target over the next 3-7 years. These discussions will focus on identifying potential economic impacts including changes to business operations, prices, levels of employment, and consumer spending. A timetable for achieving the target minimum wage will be approved and published by the end of 2021 to commence implementation from 1 April 2022.
Any business owner or other member of the public who is interested in participating in this process should contact Senior Economist, Amanda Curry Brown, via tel: 22470 or email: amanda.brown@sainthelena.gov.sh.
#StHelena #ERC #MinimumWage #MinimumWagePolicy
SHG
31 March 2021
The Health Directorate is starting the rollout of the second dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccine.
All persons who received the first dose of the vaccine have been given an Oxford AstraZeneca appointment card with a written date of approximately four weeks from the date the first dose was administered. This card indicates the date on which you will need to receive the second dose.
You will also have received a yellow vaccination card. It is imperative that you bring this when you go to receive your second dose. If you do not have your card with you, staff will not be able to provide you with the second dose. This is because the yellow vaccination card is required for administrative and record keeping purposes. You will be required to keep these cards thereafter as proof that you have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
The first week of vaccination clinics to administer the second dose will be from Tuesday, 6 April, to Friday, 9 April, from 9am to 4pm at the General Hospital Flu Pod.
If your vaccination card indicates that you should receive your second dose on or about these dates then you should make your way to be vaccinated at the Flu Pod.
The Health Directorate would like to ask all persons to please attend on the day specified on your Oxford AstraZeneca appointment card. Please also attend the same vaccination clinic at which you received your first dose. This will allow the continuation of efficient vaccination and administrative processes as was experienced previously.
If you have not yet received your first dose and have decided you now would like to, please call Peta Henry on tel: 22998 or email: peta.henry@sainthelena.gov.sh
The vaccination clinic locations and times for the following weeks will be communicated accordingly. If you have any further queries, please email:
communitycovid-19@sainthelena.gov.sh
SHG
31 March 2021
Port Control would like to advise the public that the Jamestown Wharf – from the Thompson’s Crane area to the lower landing steps – will be restricted to pedestrian access only from 2pm on Thursday, 1 April 2021 (Maundy Thursday).
Vehicle owners are requested to vacate this area by 2pm on Thursday, 1 April 2021. This will help create a safer environment for all those fishing from the lower wharf and those accessing the landing steps.
Vehicular access will only be permitted to Emergency Services and persons wishing to drop off or pick up fishing equipment or fish.
Port security will be in place.
The public is thanked in advance for their cooperation and understanding and wished a happy Easter.
SHG
30 March 2021
The Health Directorate has been in continuous contact with the vessel Ramses Dous since the Captain and crew quarantined at sea on 26 March. The vessel remains in St Helena waters under quarantine conditions for ease of access to medical treatment, if needed.
Reports were received this morning that a crew member had become ill. Following review by the Health Directorate, his condition was deemed serious and could no longer be managed on-board the vessel. The patient has been transferred from the vessel to Bradley’s Hospital for stabilising and lifesaving treatment, pending a medevac flight to South Africa at the earliest opportunity.
All those who are providing care to this patient at Bradley’s Hospital have been fully vaccinated. The staff at Bradley’s Hospital will quarantine for 14 days and will only be released from quarantine following a negative COVID-19 test result on Day 14.
The Health Directorate will continue to closely monitor the health condition of the crew members on the vessel and will provide a further update in due course.
The Health Directorate would like to reassure the public that the risk to our community remains unchanged and is considered very low.
SHG
30 March 2021
The passenger who tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival at St Helena on 24 March 2021, underwent a further test after 48 hours. This subsequent test shows that the passenger is negative for COVID-19.
The passenger’s first test result indicated very low levels of the virus, to the point of it being non-infectious. The repeat test done 48 hours later did not detect any remaining levels of the virus.
Due to these results, the Health Directorate has advised that the risk to the community is near zero. Therefore, no additional testing is required for those identified as contacts until the end of their quarantine period and there is no need for further contact tracing.
These tests were confirmed by health professionals on island and signed off by experts from Public Health England.
The passenger remains in home quarantine where they will complete the standard 14 day quarantine period. The passenger will only be released from quarantine after a second negative COVID-19 test result on Day 14.
Any queries can be directed to email: communitycovid-19@sainthelena.gov.sh.
SHG
29 March 2021
The following is a public announcement from Port Control:
The fuel tanker MT Stolt Virtue is expected to arrive at St Helena tomorrow, Tuesday 30 March 2021.
Port Control would like to advise the public and boat owners that the whole of Lower Rupert’s, including the beach area, will be closed to the public from tomorrow, Tuesday 30 March 2021, and will remain closed until the vessel’s departure.
Port Control would like to thank the public in advance for their understanding and cooperation.
SHG
29 March 2021
The fishing vessel Ramses Dous remains in St Helena waters just outside of James Bay.
The Health Directorate can confirm from tests taken from the crew on Friday, 26 March that there are positive cases of COVID-19 on-board. The entire crew remains on board the vessel in quarantine conditions.
The crew members who presented with symptoms have since been recovering well and have continued their duties on board.
The Health Directorate continues to provide advice to the Captain of the Ramses Dous. The vessel will remain in St Helena waters for a further 10 days for ease of access to health services, should these be required.
All crew members will continue to quarantine on-board.
SHG
27 March 2021
On the evening of 25 March, St Helena received a safety of life at sea (SOLAS) call from fishing vessel Neuvo Rumbo. The vessel has requested approval to approach St Helena, being the closest port, to seek urgent medical attention for a crew member.
St Helena has an international obligation to uphold with regards to any SOLAS request.
The Health Directorate is in regular contact with the Neuvo Rumbo and it has been ascertained that the patient is in a critical condition.
The vessel is expected in St Helena waters this evening. Staff from the Health Directorate will board the vessel to provide immediate medical attention and assessment. The patient will be brought ashore at the earliest opportunity for further medical assistance at Bradley’s Hospital, pending a medevac flight.
There are no indications that the patient’s condition is COVID-19 related. However, the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures for arriving passengers have been activated to ensure the Health Directorate, Sea Rescue Service and Port Authorities are prepared for the arrival of this vessel; these will be applied and adhered to through-out the operations.
The Health Directorate and Port Authorities will continue to monitor the vessels situation and will provide an update in due course.
SHG
27 March 2021
On Friday, 26 March, senior medical staff from the Health Directorate boarded the vessel Ramses Dous in order to assess and advise on medical treatment of crew members reported to have been displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
The medical staff took swabs from all crew for COVID-19 testing at the Health Directorate lab facilities; testing is currently in progress.
Crew members who were previously experiencing mild flu-like symptoms have improved during the past few days and are back to their daily duties on-board. The SHG medical staff have provided the necessary advice to the vessel’s Captain and crew, on medical treatment. Advice has been offered on the precautionary measures to be adhered to whilst they quarantine on-board.
All crew will quarantine on-board the vessel. The vessel is no longer berthed alongside Ruperts Jetty, but remains in St Helena waters at this time and is ongoing discussion with the Health Directorate.
The Health Directorate and Port Authorities continue to monitor the vessel’s situation and will provide a further update in due course.
SHG
26 March 2021