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10-month-old tests positive for COVID-19 in VI

- As daycare centres remain closed, Premier Fahie said employers failing to cooperate with parents should be 'pointed out'
A 10-month old child has tested positive for COVID-19 in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Internet Source
Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has said the problem faced by parents due to daycare centres and pre-schools being closed was not unique to the Virgin Islands; however, Government could not risk opening them up at this time. Photo: SSB/File
Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has said the problem faced by parents due to daycare centres and pre-schools being closed was not unique to the Virgin Islands; however, Government could not risk opening them up at this time. Photo: SSB/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- “Right now the safest thing to do is what we are doing right now,” said Premier and Minister of Finance, Honorable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), while speaking to the importance of keeping daycare centres and pre-schools closed because of the sudden spike of COVID-19 cases in the Virgin Islands (VI).

The evidence of the decision being the correct one lies in the fact that a 10-month old child is among those recently tested positive for COVID-19 in the Territory.

The Territory has recorded a total 63 positive cases of COVID-19, with 52 of them active, as of September 4, 2020.

Re-opening of daycare centres a risk- Premier

Premier Fahie was a guest on the Big Story with Cathy O. Richards on JTV Channel 55 on Wednesday, September 2, 2020, when he addressed the issue of persons appealing for daycare centers to be on the priority list for reopening. Many persons, especially mothers, have been complaining of the challenges being faced with having to be at work and no one to take care of young children and babies.

He said the problem faced by parents was not unique to the Virgin Islands; however, Government could not risk opening up day care centers at this time.

“Because each one of the children is coming out from a different home and the worst thing to happen, because one of our COVID-19 cases is a 10-month old child, and if we had schools open and that child was in a daycare, could you understand what would happen there?

“So persons, I crave their indulgence with patience because it’s not us. It’s just the situation of COVID-19 that we are trying our best to make sure that we contain what is spreading now. We will make sure that we get us back to the point of where we were, but all of us have to do it,” Premier Fahie said.

In the meantime, according to Honourable Fahie, ideas are being tossed around to arrive at the best decisions but, until they get the right blend, all have to still cope with what is happening.

Cooperation of employers needed

Meanwhile, Premier Fahie said employers who refuse to cooperate with their employees with school-aged children should be pointed out. “It is not good that employers don’t want to help...Those kind of employers should be pointed out because this is a time when we all have to make some serious adjustments.”

He stressed that the safety of the children means more to the Government than anything else, “So you are trying to balance the health while you know you are trying to make the money. But all over the world they are trying to do online schooling.”

Premier Fahie added that the emphasis is on trying to curtail the spread of the virus before an all-clear is given for schools, “So this doesn’t spread beyond where we have done certain projections of it. It’s one of those cases where we have to manage very carefully.”

As it is, all learning institutions must prepare to go the route of online learning for the rest of the year, as announced by Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7).

29 Responses to “10-month-old tests positive for COVID-19 in VI”

  • Come on (07/09/2020, 18:01) Like (29) Dislike (15) Reply
    How can for eg. A single mom who is a cashier at a supermarket be a home watching her child and continue to be getting paid from the employer and there's no definite time by government when daycares gonna be open a cashier can't work remotely for sure. Find a way from being scared government
    • Local (07/09/2020, 21:13) Like (26) Dislike (5) Reply
      @come on there's no way to please you people you seem to choose the money over your child or children's health and if things go bad it's the government you all quick to blame , just imagine your child go to daycare and come home with covid give it to you and whoever's else in the house and you take it to the work place what a mess , then which job would you have to go to after it's closed and all the staff sick because of you. Think think
      • wise up (08/09/2020, 04:38) Like (6) Dislike (7) Reply
        I understand but there is bills still have bills to pay,food to eat etc so should I sit back? COVID not going anywhere soon.
    • Covid = Flu (07/09/2020, 22:14) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
      Anybody can get the flu, try this agenda somewhere else or you can keep fooling the People who don’t know
    • Anti Vaxxer (08/09/2020, 01:14) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      Hooray they soon release the vaccines! Can’t wait for my guinea pig neighbor to try it out
    • reality (08/09/2020, 07:53) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
      Baby got a daddy...Daddys are financially responsible for their babies a d Mommis are responsible for their procreation and the finances as a result. . The welfare mentality of too many Black women is a priblem along with the encouragement of society.
      • Yes come on (08/09/2020, 19:25) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        I agree with you, this is why I don't have children, because economy, I think government need to start charging people for there kids education and concentrate more of the budget towards, roads and public medical facilities. Stop reward bad behaviour of people who just want to lay down and have a tone of kids with little income
    • Yes come on (08/09/2020, 19:19) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Cashier are working, so probably pay some to watch your kid at your home, someone who you can trust
  • Cooperation of employers ? (07/09/2020, 18:04) Like (39) Dislike (10) Reply
    Even government want people back in office! How do we homeschool and go to work? Things desperate now we have to go work . I’d rather my children in school than begging friends and family all over the place to keep them. Let them be in one place . this is not practical and they still being exposed so what’s the difference? Parents going work and coming home - exposure again . This don’t make sense. Or let a parent stay home and let government pay us to do so if they want to keep day care closed .
    • @ Cooperation of employers ? (07/09/2020, 18:29) Like (12) Dislike (5) Reply
      You summed it up - "I’d rather my children in school than begging friends and family all over the place to keep them. Let them be in one place . this is not practical and they still being exposed so what’s the difference?"
  • Liat 521 (07/09/2020, 18:10) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow this is getting serious
    • lol (07/09/2020, 18:42) Like (2) Dislike (12) Reply
      All of you need to shut up the vaccine is just there wait
    • concern (07/09/2020, 19:23) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      List 521 Yes in deed. Very sad
    • SB (07/09/2020, 21:03) Like (2) Dislike (13) Reply
      No it is not. Children face virtually no risk from Covid.
      • wow (08/09/2020, 07:31) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
        How can you say this? Did you not hear about the neurological problems children are getting? Or how about the 9000 children who tested positive within first 2 weeks of school being open in Florida who then contaminated their families and they got sick? Even if children are asymptomatic, they still SPREAD it to Adults many of whom ARE getting sick and dying. Does loosing a parent or loved one not affect children? Think again. I have many grandchildren and I would rather see them safe than to loose someone because they got sick due to exposure ti one of them being positive.
      • Umm (10/09/2020, 07:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Really? Children face no risk? Get your facts straight.
        Another observation. Please keep your mask less asymptomatic children out of the stores and supermarkets. Some of people are still so irresponsible with their behavior. That should be added to the recommended guidelines.
  • rethink (07/09/2020, 18:38) Like (28) Dislike (4) Reply
    Children are getting knock-about..here there and everywhere in different environments with negative impacts.

    Virtual learning does not work for everyone and Government must address some persons in the home do not have the patience, knowledge, or mindset for virtual learning. There are children who look forward to going to school to get away from a frightful home, to see friends to feel cared for, to have something to eat.

    Prolonging online schooling is like leaving an open wound with a temporary ointment and not the antibiotic or surgery needed to treat it.

    Many of the Caribbean Islands, some schools in the US and the UK have returned to school.

    Explore alternate options.
  • Must be real (07/09/2020, 19:50) Like (7) Dislike (6) Reply
    Covid is not a killer lack of health habits is we Caribbean we got the cure . Don't be fool we still are what we eat but we wete taught to eat wrong and go to doctor reciept for disaster . Our leader are very unhealthy no offense to any one but it clear to see so I get y they are afaid . But fear help no one change 9f habits do we are what we eat . Covid is a virus that they say they got no treatment for but yet they are testing and creating fear . Testing for what . I want to know there is no cure it is already said if u sick say home so do that . Not really hearing dead toll on covid right know could it be covid get week or we are getting immune to it . What di u all think ? Here what I thing we need to live as normal get up say our prays and move if u feel sick stay home use a hime remedy till u better . Take magium and live . Sickness is not that bad u just got to eat different ti get a differents I think it that simple but most of us were train to eat to taste no matter what it does to us . Cause we special and it our life right . Not.
  • HODGE (07/09/2020, 20:02) Like (27) Dislike (3) Reply
    I might be wrong but from my point of view they are just hyping up the numbers to get to introduce the vaccine.We need to know more about this vaccine but everyone seems to be so tight lip on that subject.
    • @Hodge (07/09/2020, 22:29) Like (2) Dislike (10) Reply
      I like you, the vaccine gonna cause the real pandemic I ain’t got time to be scared of this flu... If this flu was so bad half of them people in quarantine that tested positive would of died, btw which one of them died who tested positive in quarantine ? Lol can’t fool me just give me that black seed oil and I’m good
      • This shouldn't be on the news.. (08/09/2020, 07:37) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        This headline is sad, very sad.. This should.be kept.as
        a secret, why scar an innocent baby, we all know people will go length and breath to find out who the baby for bla bla bla, it's become a street Story blown out of context, parents become a public.target. . This is their perfect reason to.shut down 30 to 40 Day Care centers, Put 3 to 4 hundred people out of work, inconvenience struggling parents...It's like Covid is all they focus on... The sadder Part is that, they still get their full pay...Hope the.baby recover soon...
  • @rethink (07/09/2020, 20:05) Like (23) Dislike (3) Reply
    Please tell me what schools in the US and UK that have returned to in class school! I have two children attending school in the US which is fully online and nieces and nephews in the UK and their schooling is also fully online!

    You all must stop it!

    I do agree that some students may not be verse with online schooling, but there are those who go to school year in and year out and still don’t perform academically!

    School is online for a very important reason! While some of you are willing to risk the lives of your children, there are those of us who do not share that sentiment!

    School is and has been used for centuries as a daycare by some parents and not because there is a genuine interest in their child’s development. I am very sure these are the same parents who are on here crying fowl now!

    You made your babies, and you have spent so much time away from them. Now you have an opportunity to reconnect with your child or children, get involved with their learning! And if you are not well versed with technology, here is a golden opportunity for you to strengthen yourself!

    Stop looking at your glass half empty and look at it half full! Today we are here, tomorrow is not promised! And the money you’re killing yourself for, well let me say this, it’s no use when you’re dead and trust me it’s value will more than lose its luster if your baby is dead!

    Repent, Reflect and use this opportunity for self development!
    • No one will die. (08/09/2020, 07:06) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      Sad to hear about the baby, it will soon recover, all those positive cases will soon become negative, Lets not be too fearful, lets be cautious do the necessary to stay safe.. The Premier didnt tell us if any of those positive cases have recovered....Our Journey can no longer be haulted,,..Time to march the country Forward..
    • @rethink (08/09/2020, 08:57) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      You are clearly very privileged - with your children and nieces and nephews at private schools. Public schools have returned to classroom learning across the UK because the government there recognize the trauma being caused by keeping children at home (especially those less blessed).
    • Shorty (08/09/2020, 11:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      All schools in the UK reopened on September 2, 2020 face to face. So you clearly have no relative living in the Uk. And there are some stated where children are going to school face to face. Sxm reopened schools yesterday face to face.
  • Feel hurt (07/09/2020, 22:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Poor baby
  • Heep of excuses we getting. (08/09/2020, 06:57) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is so sad, These people are looking for every excuse to enforce upon us their will and power without much consideration of the adverse effects, I wish they will put more time and energy into the adverse effects their decisions caused, and start seeing reasons to do differently.. "A fool thinketh in his heart that his way is always the right way"....(Life weren't meant to be perfect or without risk.). We have to put things in place to mitigate and minimize while we push forward, to stop moving and surrender in fear...Cant be that way.
  • baby (08/09/2020, 15:18) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I Pray the baby get well really soon.
  • o (09/09/2020, 17:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who this person this baby come in contact with u don't say hope that baby pull out of this ( get well soon) baby girl or boy


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