In an effort to guard, prevent, and reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, all residents and visitors on Jost Van Dyke are to remain at home under quarantine for a period of seven (7) days starting today.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Carvin Malone issued the Public Health (COVID-19 Control and Suppression Measures- Jost Van Dyke) Order after the reports of an airline passenger who travelled from the Territory on July 15 and tested positive on arrival in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The order will end on July 28 at 5:01 a.m. which is subject to change based on conditions provided by the Health Emergency Operations Centre.

Under the Order, the Jost Van Dyke public is to remain at home for 24 hours daily at their place of residence including their yard space and are not to come out on the street for the full seven day period.

No person or vessel are permitted to travel to or from Jost Van Dyke except with the permission of the Minister for Health and Social Development in consultation with the Joint Task Force comprising of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, HM Customs and the Immigration Department.

Any persons residing or have visited the island of Jost Van Dyke will be subject to robust contact tracing and COVID-19 community testing by the Ministry of Health and Social Development and the British Virgin Islands Health Services Authority within the period.

All British Virgin Islands’ residents are reminded that in order to avoid COVID-19 community spread and the return to a lock-down protocol, that they are advised to strictly adhere to all public health measures such as frequent hand washing, sanitisation, physical distancing of 6 feet, cough and sneeze etiquette and wearing face masks in public spaces for the protection of everyone.

Persons who feel ill and would like to test for COVID-19 are encouraged to call the Medical Hotline at 852-7650 and not to physically visit any health care facility before calling their physician.