Antigua and Barbuda continues to mourn the loss of senior nurse Cynthia Byers, who became the twin-island nation’s first frontline healthcare worker to died from coronavirus-related (COVID-19) complications.

Byers, Matron of the Clarvue Psychiatric Hospital in Piggotts, Antigua died over on Monday (February 15), after contracting COVID-19. According to the local reports, Byers presented with flu-like symptoms, however, her condition worsened and needed help breathing via a ventilator.

Health Minister Molwyn Joseph, in his tribute, hailed Nurse Byers as a remarkable daughter of the soil.

“At the very beginning of the fight against COVID-19, Matron Byers was a key person on the frontline at the V C Bird International Airport, ensuring that our borders were protected from the importation of the virus. She was a team player and was able to provide leadership during that period of time.”

Nurse Byers, affectionately called ‘Love’, was among the country’s more learned healthcare providers with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Postgraduate degree in Midwifery, Postgraduate Diploma in Critical Care Nursing, and a Certificate in Epidemiology.

Antigua, once perceived to be handling the pandemic relatively well, now faces its worst outbreak in recent weeks as new infections climb.

In the last 24 hours, health officials in Anitgua have confirmed 16 new COVID-19 cases, leaving the national caseload at 443. The twin-island Caribbean nation is managing 229 active cases, with 41 patients being treated at hospital.

A total of nine persons have died due to COVID-19 in Antigua and Barbuda, while 205 have made a full recovery.