BREAKING NEWS: STUDENT TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 FORCING SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST SCHOOL TO RETURN TO VIRTUAL SCHOOLING EFFECTIVE SEPT 10TH!

Students of the Seventh Day Adventist School will return to virtual school on Friday September 10th following a confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) case at the institution earlier yesterday.

Our newsroom has confirmed that a student tested positive for the virus based on a circular sent out by the school.

“It is therefore unfortunate that I must inform you that one of our high school students have tested positive for Covid-19. As a result, the school’s protocol measures have been activated in consultation with the Public Health Authorities.”

“You are hereby advised that effective Friday 10th September 2021, the institution will conduct classes virtually until further notice,” the statement further added.

When contacted by our newsroom tonight, Minister of Education Dr. the Honorable Natalio Wheatley said he was made aware of the situation.

“I learned of the confirmation of a positive case at 7th day Adventist school today. I wish the student a full recovery from this virus. I also applaud decisive action by the school in collaboration with public health to ensure the virus is not allowed to spread.”

“In the COVID-19 era, this is to be expected. This is why strict adherence to the mask wearing, social distancing, and sanitization protocols is vital to the safety of our children and society,” Honorable Wheatley added.

The overseeing Minister reiterated the need for persons to get inoculated against the virus to prevent further loss of life.

Honorable Wheatley said “unvaccinated parents and teachers must also strongly consider vaccination. Parents must also seriously contemplate whether children who qualify should make good use of the arrangement with USVI for vaccinating those 12 years to 17 years. We do not want to lose another life to Covid-19,” he said.

Just yesterday two schools in the US Virgin Islands were forced to close doors due to coronavirus exposure at the institutions.

As a result both the Pearl B Larsen PreK-8 School on St Croix and Ulla F Muller Elementary School on St Thomas will return to virtual school until otherwise advised by the Department of Education.

The schools will subsequently be sanitized and the department is now urging sick staff to stay home until they are given the green light to return.