Ladies and gentlemen, Good Evening. COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in mid-March 2020 and resultantly, the Government of the Virgin Islands took immediate and decisive measures to protect lives and livelihoods.

People of the Virgin Islands, good morning, and God’s blessings.

You would have seen the 11:00 a.m. update from the Department of Disaster Management, which stated that although showers and gusty winds continue around the Territory, the Tropical Storm Warning for the BVI has been lifted as Tropical Storm Laura moves away.

A pleasant good morning to all.

The centre of Tropical Storm Laura passed the Territory early this morning, and we can be grateful for the news that there are no reports of major damage.

Damas y Caballeros, buenas noches. Como se le informó el miércoles por la noche, un miembro de nuestra comunidad dio positivo por COVID-19 luego de ser admitido en el Hospital Dr. D. Orlando Smith el 17 de agosto de 2020, y permanece hospitalizado. 

Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. As reported to you on Wednesday evening, a member of our community tested positive for COVID-19 following admission to the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital on 17^th August 2020, and remains hospitalised.

No doubt, many of you would have seen that earlier today, forecasters placed the Territory under Tropical Storm Warning as we await the imminent approach of Tropical Storm Laura.

By now, most of you have seen or heard reports of the latest system, Tropical Storm Laura, approaching the British Virgin Islands. 

Good morning, fellow Virgin Islanders, residents and friends. As the Minister of Health and Social Development it is an honor for me to be here today to celebrate the successful collaboration between BVI and the Pan American Health Organization (or PAHO), with financing support from the Caribbean Development Bank.

For the last several days, many on these islands have followed the progress of tropical disturbances taking shape in the Atlantic. Government has remained vigilant, working with our partners at the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service to track what we are now calling Tropical Depression 13, located less than 1,000 miles east-southeast of the Virgin Islands. 

Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. Forty-eight (48) hours ago I made announcements of two additional COVID-19 cases that were detected while in government sponsored quarantined facilities.