Meetings continue across Government agencies in the British Virgin Islands to strengthen the response to COVID-19 also known as Novel Coronavirus.

Officials at the Ministry of Health and Social Development have raised the travel advisory alert to level two in response to the increase in cases of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus).

Officials from the Ministry of Health and Social Development have met with local freight and cargo shipping companies to discuss precautionary measures in response to COVID-19.

In September 2007, CARICOM Heads of Government convened a summit on Non-communicable disease (NCDs) to address the social, economic and health burden of NCDs in member states. The key outcome of the Summit was the Port of Spain Declaration which provides a 14 point road map for CARICOM Countries to address several challenging issues collaboratively.  While the BVI Government did not participate in the summit, the Territory embraced the recommendations coming out of the CARICOM meeting.  

Mister Speaker, I thank the Honourable Minister for Health and Social Development and his team for keeping the public informed about the status of the virus and how the Territory is mitigating the risks associated with its outbreak.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development is strongly advising that BVIslanders and residents avoid all “non-essential” travel to China and to other countries affected by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019 n-CoV).

Chief Nursing Officer, Ms. Jascinth Hannibal is pictured holding a tree decorated with condoms to encourage safe sex during the holiday season.

Officials at the Ministry of Health and Social Development are urging parents of small children to pay attention for signs of Gastroenteritis (gastro).

Faculty, staff, parents and guardians from the Cedar International, Montessori and St. Georges Primary School are invited to a Hand-Foot and Mouth Information meeting on Tuesday, November 12 at 4:00 p.m.

Mr. Speaker, 2019 is proving to be challenging as there has been an upsurge in the number of reported cases of Measles worldwide, notably in South America, the Philippines, the european Union and the United States of America. As of May 14^th 2019, the Centre of Disease Control has reported 839 confirmed cases of measles across 23 states and this number is growing exponentially.