The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is notifying the public that COVID-19 results are immediately sent to the Chief Medical Officers at the Ministries of Health, who are responsible for the dissemination.

An official Press Release issued by the agency states that the agency’s Medical Microbiology Laboratory is the regional reference laboratory which tests suspected COVID-19 cases for 18 of its Member States inclusive of the British Virgin Islands.

According to CARPHA’s official release, “Samples can only be sent to CARPHA from the designated national public health laboratory in a country. Once samples are received, CARPHA will produce the results within 24 to 48 hours. CARPHA cannot and will not disseminate any country’s results directly to patients or individuals. It is an ethical breach and constitutes a violation of the Agency's ethical standards to share confidential patient information with unauthorised persons.”

Physicians and members of the public are asked to refrain from calling the agency for test results. Persons should contact the Ministry of Health and Social Development to ascertain the process for getting COVID-19 test results.

To date, the British Virgin Islands’ epidemiological summary is as follows:

• 52 persons tested in total
• 49 tested negative
• 3 tested positive
• 9 persons under investigation pending results from CAPRHA
• 143 persons under mandatory quarantine at home due to risk factors     

The public is reminded that there is no known vaccine and no specific antiviral treatment against the virus. Persons are asked to practice preventive actions every day to help reduce the risk of respiratory viruses by frequent hand-washing, cough and sneeze etiquette and to avoid contact with visibly sick people and staying home when feeling ill.

Persons who have recently travelled and show any symptoms such as a fever, cough and difficulty breathing should stay home and seek medical advice early by contacting the medical hotline at 852-7650. All other information on COVID-19 contact 468-2274.