The Ministry of Health and Social Development has confirmed another COVID-19 related death, which brings the death toll to three in a one-week period and four since the pandemic began.

The deceased is said to be a 45-year-old female with pre-existing medical conditions and who at the time of death was a patient at the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital. 

Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Carvin Malone has expressed condolences to the family and friends of the deceased on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Honourable Malone reminded residents to take personal responsibility for their lives and livelihoods and by extension their family as the Government has done all it can to prepare for this disease and the impact that it has now brought on the Territory. 

Meanwhile, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ronald Georges stated that as the positive cases continue to increase, there is always a possibility of an increase in deaths. “Every death is difficult as we are a small close community, but we all must continue to play our part to stop transmission, increases in cases and deaths,” he stressed.

The Hospital Admissions Summary statistics as of July 13 are as follows:

-           10 persons admitted to ER with 2 deaths

-           13 persons admitted to the COVID-19 ward

-           1 person admitted to Behavioural Health Unit

-           5 persons admitted to ICU 1 death

-       29 hospital admitted patients (28 patients were unvaccinated, 1 patient vaccinated)

According to Dr. Georges, as of July 10, there were 1,286 active confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Territory. He reiterated previous calls for the limiting of person to person contact and explained that one of the main problems that the Public Health Unit is facing is that of persons not respecting the stay-at-home order and not curtailing activities to only essential activities.

The Acting Chief Medical Officer further stated that limiting person to person contact in the current situation of advanced community transmission is the only way to reduce worsening of the outbreak. 

“All persons should be strictly adhering to public health and social distancing measures. Non-essential businesses should have already initiated their shut-down plans and have moved to remote working where possible and persons should also be strictly adhering to the curfew orders,” Dr. Georges cautioned.

If you or your loved one is experiencing any of the following symptoms including a headache, runny nose, nasal congestion, fever, dry cough, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of taste, smell or appetite, weakness in the hands and feet, vomiting and diarrhea, please complete the National Symptom Reporting Form by copying the following link: https://redcap.link/BVICOVIDSMR into your browser or scanning the QR Code with your camera. 

If you are a positive case or a close contact, please follow the directives of the Public Health Officers and adhere to terms and conditions of your quarantine order. If you have been in contact with a positive case and/or symptomatic, you should immediately isolate, minimise contact with your household and contact the Public Health Unit at 468-4936, 468-2274 or 468-2285 or 468-2278.              

Please stay healthy and safe! We will get through this together.

The Government of the Virgin Islands is committed to improving the health of the people of the Virgin Islands.