Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie has said that the purpose of the 24-hour Lockdown was to protect the people of the Virgin Islands from COVID-19 and to detect any pockets of community spread in the Territory.

The Premier stated that the decision for a 24-hour curfew was made when the Territory had its first three confirmed cases of the disease.  

He said, “Around the world and even within the region, the numbers of cases were skyrocketing, and still are as the World Health Organization and CARPHA continues to release the daunting figures.  Thousands of people across the world were, and are still dying. People are dying daily. Countries were, and are competing for ventilators, and I could go on.”

The Premier assured the community that the decision made was rational and based on scientific projections for COVID-19.

Premier Fahie said, “We are guided by the health professionals who continue to use the scientific data and the behavioral patterns of the disease to ensure that any pockets or presence of the COVID-19 could be picked up and intercepted to avoid community spreading.

The Territory’s leader added that the 14-day, 24 hour curfew was also to ensure that any areas that may have missed in term of detection would be forced to show during that time.

Premier Fahie said, “The quarantine helps to break the cycle, and it helps to keep the people safe. This was the rationale behind implementing a curfew, and a further curfew—to keep us all safe.”

Scientific data indicated that over 3,700 persons in the British Virgin Islands would have been infected with COVID-19, if precautionary measures were not taken.

Premier Fahie further added, “Had your Government not put the preventative measures in place, including curfews, through the different institutions like Cabinet, House of Assembly, Health Emergency Operating Centre, we would have been behind the eight ball.”

To date, the British Virgin Islands has 1 active confirmed case of COVID-19. On Monday, April 20 at 6:00 a.m. the Virgin Islands will transition into a curfew from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily for a period of 14 days.

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• Photo Cpation: Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie.