Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has called on Saint Lucians with respiratory symptoms, asthma and allergy issues to be mindful of the higher concentration of dust in the atmosphere as a result of the Saharan dust situation.
“You may have noticed a difference in the sky as the much talked about Saharan dust plume makes its 5,000-mile trek across the Atlantic,” Chastanet wrote on his official Facebook page on Monday.
He quoted the Met Office here as indicating that the Saharan Air Layer (SAL), will continue to affect this region for the next couple of days, causing low visibility and poor air quality.
“Let’s keep practicing keeping our spaces and surfaces clean, your car, household appliances as leaving the dust to gather only increases the risk of health related challenges,” Chastanet observed.
“Although this Saharan air layer generally hampers tropical cyclone development, we are still in the hurricane season and must continue to be prepared,” he said.
The Facebook message was accompanied by a post of the air quality index across the Eastern Caribbean.
Health officials say that Saharan dust can cause skin and eye irritation.
They also say it can bring increased risk of water borne illnesses.
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