ACTIVE POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES RISES TO AN ALL TIME HIGH IN THE BVI – 480 AND CLIMBING

Active positive COVID-19 cases have risen to an all time high in the British Virgin Islands from 13 just last week to now 480 cases to date.

These alarming numbers were revealed by the Minister for Health Carvin Malone during a late-night press conference on Monday July 5.

He said, “Since the onset of this global pandemic an estimated 49,927 persons have been tested at the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital and has resulted in the discovery of 793 positive COVID-19 cases, with 312 recoveries and one reported death.”

“As of today July 5th, I am sadly reporting that there exist 480 reported active cases of COVID-19 in the British Virgin Islands. This total includes the number of persons at some of our resident and treatment facilities. At best this situation is troubling and all measures must and will be taken to arrest and stop this upsurge,” Malone added.

Millions in investments for moments like these

The health minister said that his government had invested millions of dollars in money to prepare the territory for worst case scenarios such as this present situation.

“We are in this together but you must do your part. Your government has constructed physical facilities, purchased ventilators, purchased land equipment, trained medical staff, recruited specialists from Cuba, upgraded our laws, established safety protocols, engaged social distancing personnel and provided free vaccines compliment of the United Kingdom government. The investments made in this territory are for a time such as this,” he stated.

Comprehensive report to come today

Malone also revealed that the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronald Georges will be updating the territory today, with a comprehensive report on the latest developments and measures going forward.

He said, “In his report tomorrow the Chief Medical Officer will issue a community testing schedule. This will be for screenings to be conducted on Tortola, on Virgin Gorda and on Jost Van Dyke. This schedule is comprehensive and will include exposure locations, testing dates, testing sites and testing times. Persons of interest will be ably advised of the exposure locations, the testing dates, the testing sites and testing times.”

Nearly 14,000 receives first doses

The health minister also updated the public on the latest vaccination statistics, stating that nearly 14,000 persons have already received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“To date 13,761 persons have received their first doses while 9,570 have received their second dosage. An analysis of these totals shows that on Tortola, 11,413 first doses and 8146 second doses have been administered. On Virgin Gorda, 2094 first doses and 1210 second doses were administered. On Jost Van Dyke, 107 first doses and 66 second doses were administered and on Anegada, 146 first doses and 95 second doses were administered to date,” he explained.

The present stock of COVID-19 vaccines in the territory is set to expire on July 31. However, Malone said that in light of the rising cases, Governor John Ranking has made an appeal to the United Kingdom government for the supply of additional vaccines.