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5th person tests positive for COVID-19 in VI

- CARPHA also confirms woman who died on Saturday had COVID-19
A fifth person has tested positive for COVID-19 in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
According to Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable A. Fahie (R1), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has confirmed that the woman who died at Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital on April 18, 2020, indeed had COVID-19. Photo: Facebook
According to Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable A. Fahie (R1), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has confirmed that the woman who died at Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital on April 18, 2020, indeed had COVID-19. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- A 5th person has tested positive for COVID-19 in the Virgin Islands, Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable A. Fahie (R1) has announced.

Further, the Premier disclosed that the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago has confirmed that the woman who died at Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital on April 18, 2020, indeed had COVID-19.

Speaking during a live COVID-19 update, still ongoing, today, Sunday, April 19, 2020, Premier Fahie said the 5th person who has tested positive for COVID-19 had been in contact with the deceased woman.

All other tests have returned negative; Premier Fahie said, adding that active contact tracing is ongoing to further contain the virus.

Additionally, Premier Fahie disclosed that a third person has now been declared by CARPHA as having recovered from COVID-19.

More details to follow.

51 Responses to “5th person tests positive for COVID-19 in VI”

  • Oh boyyy (19/04/2020, 19:41) Like (43) Dislike (0) Reply

    This is very serious.....it makes you wonder about the people who fled from her apartment SMH 

    • Spectator (19/04/2020, 20:08) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
      boy yeah these people inconsiderate. if you know you have COVID stay home. why spread it to other people? when this is over they need to face some type of repercussion.
    • hmmmmmm (19/04/2020, 20:11) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
      And were those people who fled part of the 21 tested?
    • Yow (19/04/2020, 23:03) Like (13) Dislike (5) Reply
      I Bet any money those persons who run ain straight with immigration
      • VG (20/04/2020, 10:48) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
        Don’t start this stupidness we in a crisis what u want to like China and South Africa
    • propaganda (20/04/2020, 05:49) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
      @oh boy.. stop spreading false information. Those that were in the apartment with the lady are ALL quarantined and resting NO ONE from her apartment escape anywhere.
      • To propaganda (20/04/2020, 11:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Show me where the authorities said they were caught and held in quarantine
        • To 'To propaganda' (20/04/2020, 14:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          Reading is fundamental.....No one escaped. If no one escaped, who is there to be caught. read buddy read.
  • up date (19/04/2020, 19:49) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    there is no update as to the whereabouts of these people: now if someone can identify them and post that info they subjected to arrest but the lawful authorities mouth shut. It will be good know their whereabouts, this have nothing to with discrimination or who from Here or not from here
    • @update (19/04/2020, 21:59) Like (1) Dislike (8) Reply
      Can't have all that experimental drug going to waste.
      Subjects are required for experiments,right?
  • Police /govm (19/04/2020, 20:10) Like (12) Dislike (25) Reply
    There only want to taser the homeless and unfortunate.....post these people names and pic and go look for them before there mess things up
    • ginger (19/04/2020, 20:16) Like (7) Dislike (10) Reply
      So you think they have authority to just post people picture up like that and if they friends and family covering for them how they supposed to know who the people are you just wanted something to talk about stewps
      • The watchman (19/04/2020, 20:30) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
        By the looks of it you might be harbouring. Nothing new with wanted posters, have been around since man could draw and post pictures on rocks.......so post Bonnie and Clyde, for new age is the internet so we could catch them.
      • Hello Ginger (19/04/2020, 20:57) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply

         there is a thing called public safety and any person that violates public safety should be prosecuted: pictures of fugitives should be posted so any member of the public can identify such persons thereafter pass information unto enforcement: Anyone of you could be standing right beside one of those persons who violated the territory's quarantine regulations and have no clue: the people need an update from the health department or police department

    • Silly (19/04/2020, 20:20) Like (2) Dislike (9) Reply
      Post your name nuh!!!
  • Remember... (19/04/2020, 20:29) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    America had only 1 back in February. 2 months later there are 750,000 plus.
  • Announcement (19/04/2020, 20:35) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why are we seeing many volunteers as well as delivery workers without face masks?

    Please be sanitary to avoid cross-contamination to others especially travelling from house-to-house.
    • Sanitation (19/04/2020, 22:58) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      You can adopt what i am doing here in the sates, whether groceries are delivered or I shop for them in store myself, I sanitize them to the best of my ability before bring them in my house. I created a bleach mixture of 1 part bleach to 2 parts clean warm water in a spray bottle. I leave the bags outside and take the items out one by one and spray the bleach mixture on a clean rag and wipe down the containers and box. If it's plastic and completely sealed I spray it directly with the mixture and them wipe it down then but everything on a clean tray and take it in the house. Fresh fruits and veggies I do a quick wash in luke warm salt vinegar and water then rinse and put them away. Then I was my hands thoroughly. If I went to the store I take off my close and toss them in the washing machine.

      We are never going to be perfect at avoiding all germs, so just do the best you can to minimize transmission from bags to your home. Much love and prayer for you all in the BVI, stay safe and if it gets too difficult mentally dealing with the lockdown, call a friend or family member and talk thru it. My employer has a free employee assistance program where we can call 24 hours a day and find a therapist to talk with confidentially. Would be good if the BVI government
      can find the resources and staff to make such help available for those who might need it during this trying time. Peace!
      • I agree (23/04/2020, 07:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Very sensible advice. After all this passes (eventually), the take home has to be we just need to be more diligent about personal hygiene. We have known for decades now that the diseases like the common cold and flu are mostly transmitted by hands, so just keep washing them. You could also stop shaking hands, but I think that to not do so creates psychological distance that I’m not sure we humans can handle long term without adverse effect. Solitary confinement is the harshest for or punishment precisely for its lack of human contact.
  • @Remember (19/04/2020, 20:58) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Even though, America had virtually no measures to stop the spread to where it is at currently, unlike the VI which has been under a complete lockdown for 4 weeks.
  • ccc (19/04/2020, 21:00) Like (14) Dislike (10) Reply
    Bvi still doing good long live premier Andrew Fahie he is a good man
  • WHAT!!! (19/04/2020, 21:09) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    People who fled the apartment complex are a potential danger to all of us, they need to be found and kept under supervised quarantine . Anyone harboring these individuals need to be charged and quarantined also until all are tested negative.These fools who ran risking all our lives.
  • Tortolian, State Side (19/04/2020, 21:27) Like (8) Dislike (8) Reply
    Honestly, you should seriously start wearing a mask and gloves whenever you go outside. Everyone down to the kids and babies is wearing masks. If you don’t wear a mask, you will not be able to enter the Supermarket or any businesses that is open.
  • Poor millionaire (19/04/2020, 21:37) Like (10) Dislike (14) Reply
    The idiots that always blame island people for everything. I am surprised that you all are not blaming island people for what is going on now. I hope you realized you can't make 2 pass 10. Something to think about. GOD HELP US ALL.
    • Tired (20/04/2020, 06:32) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      Tired of you, as you called yourself, island people. I wish you would all just go back until you stop complaining.

      You messing with our peace. If you don’t like it leave it. And I ain’t fraud, so if you want to check me, check me. Tired of these complaints.
  • Scary (19/04/2020, 21:42) Like (6) Dislike (6) Reply
    If they do not come forward and if they are non-belongers why not threaten them by having them deported.
  • Lony (19/04/2020, 21:45) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    How is it that the public was not told about this additional positive case before it went off to Trinidad to be tested? What we were told originally is that preliminary tests are done locally before being sent off , and the results here mimic the results that Trinidad arrived at.
    If this is usually the case, gov’t should have been able to advise us earlier.

    I pray that this person will come out of this okay.
    • Onserver (19/04/2020, 22:16) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
      Government has always said that they don’t release results, pos or neg, until confirmation is received from Trinidad
    • @Lony (19/04/2020, 22:25) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      The first test is done locally, and then sent to Trinidad to be analyzed so as to ensure that it was not a false positive. The other 20 patients who tested negative must have tested negative locally, but they probably wanted to ensure that all the tests were accurate before they officially said anything to the public.
  • Dulce (19/04/2020, 21:50) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
    Give it up folks.
    Your safety and security is deliberately being compromised.
    When and if those endangering your lives are "found,", it will no longer matter.
    Consider: The majority of the 40,000 plus lives lost in USA were peoples of color .Caribbean Americans were the majority of Blacks in NYC of thirteen thousand plus deaths...college educated , home and business owners.. Poverty was not a factor....Do the research. Some lives are not a priority not even in their own country.
    • THINK! (20/04/2020, 09:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      For Afrian Americans and Caribbean Americans the pre-existing conditions are the same at all economic levels. High blood pressure, autoimmune diseases like lupus, diabetes and asthma compromise overall health. In the face of a deadly viral respiratory disease the body can not "fight" at maximum capacity.
  • Intel. Analysis (19/04/2020, 22:21) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Please correct me if I am wrong. I believe the persons who allegedly fled from the area did not reside in the same apartment but in the same Complex. Possible some may have come in contact with the deceased or the person who was tested positive CODVID 19. Here is what we have to deal with. I am quite sure that the Government is being honest with us but in order to prevent mass hysteria, there are things they wouldn't tell us immediately but in bits and pieces, unless there is an imminent threat to the community.
    • concern (19/04/2020, 23:19) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
      @Intel analysis
      The persons who fled the complex did Not reside in the same apartment with the positive victims. But live in the same complex. Why they fled? No one knows because they didnt came in contact with the deceased or person tested positive. They were probably paranoid and ran.
      • @ concern (19/04/2020, 23:50) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        Concerned that your logic implies that because they did not live in the apartment with the deceased, there was no contact with others .
        Reminder : Recommended distancingis 6ft.
      • @concern (20/04/2020, 00:05) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
        I am cocerned about your logic and conclusion.
        Consider
        The recommended distancing is 6ft even when wearing a mask.
        The germ remains alive many hours, hence disinfectants,washing hands,showers,etc
        Did. the tenants use the same door and knob entry/ exit, stair case, elevator.
        Passed each other in the hallway etc.
        More than likely,they did.
        So yes,contact.was established..

        • concern (20/04/2020, 21:02) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
          No. I'm a neighbour we know where she lived and where the ones who left lives. They wasnt in contact with her. If u live on the complex then u will be able to judge... I guess you dont know how the complex is situated and they way everyone isolate to there self. However they have return.
    • A NEIGHBOR (20/04/2020, 07:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      YOU HAVE SAID IT SO RIGHT THOSE THAT.MAY HAVE LEAVE THE COMPLEX WAS NOT LIVING IN THE APARTMENT THAT HAVE THE VIRUS. I THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE STARTED THAT
  • Challenger (19/04/2020, 22:26) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    but what it does prove...is that if we all do as our governmeny is advising and adhere to the protocols...tgis will NOT spread within the territory.
    please pleaee please....lets suffer for a few weeks longer and be prepared for a further lockdown next week...it is for all our collective good
  • More Testing Please!!! (19/04/2020, 22:32) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    The BVI needs to order more tests IMMEDIATELY!!! That’s the only way we know how severe this situation is!!! I’m just here thinking about my poor 80 year old grandparents and how vulnerable they are!!! We have no clear idea of how many individuals here have this deadly virus!!! The UK and US can distribute thousands of tests at a time, we should do so here too. 30,000 tests for the 30,000 BVIslanders, and whoever tests positive should be isolated and heavily monitored. If the hospital becomes full, place them in the empty hotels across the BVI and have them heavily quarantined. Then you’d also be able to pick out the asymptotic individuals as well.
  • The TRUTH (19/04/2020, 23:33) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    Well, you idiots still desperate to go back outside?
  • NICK (20/04/2020, 00:24) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    BVI. Please stay positive and take all the necessary precautions. This virus is no joke.
  • We want to know (20/04/2020, 00:38) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    The 5th Person , is it a Woman or Man. ?
  • Concerned (20/04/2020, 00:41) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    How many tests results obtained thru local testing and sent to T'dad for confirmation turned out to be opposite of the results obtained thru the T'dad testing? If local tests obtain the same results as those sent to T'dad or agree with the findings of those sent to T'dad up to say 95 percent then perhaps we should trust our own testing more. The fact that we have to get confirmation from T'dad implies that out testing protocols might not be up to scratch This should not be. We are going to have to do testing on a wide scale anyway if we are going to contain this virus and open up the Territory again for business. We can't continue issuing 24 hour lockdowns for several days every time we suspect that someone has contracted the virus. Remember also that asymptomatic carriers often pass on the virus to healthy
    individuals. So the sooner we can upgrade our testing facilities to be efficient and quick so as to include at least a large segment of our community, we are going to be stuck with the uncertainty and anxiety so often associated with this disease and possibly the disease itself .In large scale testing it would seem impractical .if not impossible, to send all tests abroad for evaluatiom Social distancing, even in its most extreme form -24 hour curfews - and wearing protective gear such as face masks, although effective,by themselves might not be the complete answer.
  • I Plead (20/04/2020, 06:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If anyone who is outside and shouldn't be, please do not feel the need to be a vigilante. 1. You will get charged for breaching curfew; and 2. You will only be exposing yourself to possible virus transmission.

    I think those people are very scared, hence the reason they didnt report it sooner because of prejudice, backlash, isolation, etc. What I am afraid about is the thought of what they may have touched whilst moving about, unbeknownst to others, who either shouldn't be outside or otherwise. I think the authorities and the like should check within abandoned structures like homes, boats...the opened and undisturbed land is so vast, that can be a problem.

    And if they do, God forbid develop any respiratory symptoms or have them, it will surely slow he/she/them down. I hope we find them before they expire somewhere undetected for too much time. The problem also is tha we would want any animals to interfere with them or they have contact with them as animals are also susceptible to getting the virus. We do have a lot of wild dogs out there, and they are attacking ppl. But if it is that someone has taken them in, I bet they are fearful for their lives as well, but I hope they do the right thing and come forward.

    Ppl this is much like harboring a fugitive. And in dire circumstances a House-to-House check would be necessary. It would require manpower yes, but if by the end of this quarantine they are not found, something terrible might be from this.

    We all will be walking on eggshells cause surely we wouldnt want persons exposed walking within the midst of our population.


  • legal team (20/04/2020, 07:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I will continue to support Her Majesty's government for its efforts in the fight against covid-19
  • Plain Simple (20/04/2020, 09:45) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    You know who they are. Leave a message for them that if they don't come forward, they will be put on notice as WANTED with descriptions and pictures.
  • E. Leonard (20/04/2020, 09:58) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dr. Etienne from PAHO last week projected increases in both confirmed cases and deaths in the Caribbean region. At the time of this projection, the BVI had 3 confirmed cases. Though the low number of cases is reassuring, it can present a false sense of safety and security. To decrease this false economy, it (BVI) must conduct more testing to get a truer representation(approximation) of how many people are infected, have had the disease, number of people that are asymptomatic ………etc.

    Armed with this data puts the government in a better position to manage the pandemic. The 24-hour lockdown should have been used to develop goals and objectives, strategies and tactics……..etc to chart the way forward in managing this pandemic. There are no reliable treatment protocols or cure or vaccine for the disease so the VI must manage this pandemic within these realities. The territory must emerge out of lockdown (cannot stay lockdown for an extended period), balancing economy vs public health and safety. Testing, testing, testing! The UK should help the VI, along with other OTs, with extensive testing. Fellow Virgin Islanders and residents, be safe and stay safe.

    3
  • vi (20/04/2020, 10:45) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Social distancing we all are grown ups let’s do the right things we don’t want it get out of hands because we cannot afford it
  • Data dude (23/04/2020, 08:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The BVIs has been in isolation now for more than three weeks. Thus, whatever active cases there may be, they will be from here (close contact, as in this case, or community spread). The USVI is in a similar situation, and has engaged in similar tactics, albeit earlier. The reported rate of infection of the population there is 0.05% (compare to UK at 0.17%, whole of US at 0.025% or NY state at 1.2%). One then could expect around 10-20 cases here. We have seen one fatality, and mortality rates are 3-6%, so that would represent around 10-30 cases. About 1/3 of infections are serious enough to get tested, so if we have five positives, that could represent about 15 other cases. Bottom line, based on VIDOH data patterns that there appear to be few active cases in the Territory. If we stay at home for more than about three weeks, those few active cases should go into recovery, though some may be severe enough to require treatment and or testing, as we have seen. We should be able to return to normal (perhaps modified) relatively soon but it’s hard to rule out sporadic cases. We all need to agree that anyone showing signs or symptoms should self isolate, and ideally get tested, definitely so if they get severe. We need to be thankful for their actions and offer to help them for their efforts to keep their (suspect) disease away from the community. Everyone needs to keep washing their hands. BVIs is also small enough that it wouldn’t take that many tests to get a good sample of the population (5,000 tests represent about 15% of the population. You’d need 45 million tests to replicate that in the US) to further understand how widely the virus may or may not have spread. A population sample of that size would indeed be very informative.

    The real challenge, however, is going to be how to keep if off the islands (also in USVI).


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