The British Virgin Islands has seen a recent spike in COVID-19 cases. Since the beginning of August, the Territory have recorded 36 additional cases.
BVI COVID-19 BREAKDOWN
March 25th, 2020 – The Territory confirmed its first two cases of COVID-19. Both cases were classified as imported.
March 30th, 2020 – COVID-19 case #3 was detected. The case was classified as imported.
April 18th, 2020 – Minister of Health, Carvin Malone confirmed that he was informed that another case was detected. The patient succumbed to their condition while receiving treatment at the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital. This was recorded as the first and only death due to COVID-19 the Territory has recorded.
April 19th, 2020 – May 24th, 2020 – COVID-19 cases #5- #8 were confirmed in the Territory. The cases were linked as close contacts of persons who were previously infected with the virus.
August 1st, 2020 – After 3 months of being COVID-19 free, the BVI detected case #9. The patient, at the time, had recently returned to the Territory from abroad. At the time of detection, the patient was in a Government Quarantine Facility upon their arrival and was kept in quarantine until recovery.
August 17th, 2020 – COVID-19 cases #10 and #11 were confirmed. Both cases were imported. Both patients were in a Government Quarantine Facility and the Health Minister confirmed that the patients will remain in isolation until recovery. Case #10 & #11 have not yet been confirmed as recovered.
August 19th, 2020 – COVID-19 case #12 was confirmed by the Minister of Health in a COVID-19 Update. It was reported that the patient was legally residing in the Territory and had no recent travel history in or out of the Territory. An investigation was launched into the origin of this case and aggressive contact tracing is currently being conducted by the BVI Health Services Authority.
After the detection of case #12 and considering the ambiguity surrounding its origin, Government officials expressed concerns about the Territory’s border protection.
21st August, 2020 – The Minister of Health confirmed a cluster of nine (9) new COVID-19 cases in the Territory. This quickly escalated the Territory’s total confirmed cases to twenty one (21). Bringing the total active cases to twelve (12).
25th August, 2020 – The Minister of Health in COVID-19 update address confirmed five (5) additional cases. In that press conference, Minister of Health announced that the Territory would be placed under a 12-hour curfew and limited establishments would be permitted to operate.
28th August, 2020 – The Territory confirmed nine (9) additional case. At this time, the Territory confirmed a total of thirty five (35) COVID-19 cases.
30th August, 2020 – In a press release, the Government of the Virgin Islands confirmed 16 cases of COVID-19 between the 28th August – 29th August. Four (4) of the sixteen (16) cases were also counted in the nine (9) COVID-19 cases stated above. Therefore, only twelve (12) cases are new COVID-19 cases. This brings the Territory’s total to forty seven (47). Currently, thirty eight (38) COVID-19 cases are active in the Territory.
To date; the Territory have record forty seven (47) COVID-19 cases; thirty eight (38) active cases, eight (8) recovered and one (1) death due to COVID-19.
CALL THE MEDICAL HOTLINE
Persons who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, headache, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, muscle aches or difficulty breathing are encouraged to contact the Medical Hotline at 852-7650 to schedule an appointment for testing rather than present at the hospital or any other facility.
Persons are encouraged to continue wearing their face masks or shields, practice social distancing and wash their hands for 20 seconds or more.