COVID-19 reaches VI shores; 2 cases confirmed
Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) announced via a press conference minutes ago, today, March 25, 2020, that the Territory has 2 confirmed cases.
The Virgin Islands had been one of the last few Caribbean countries to not record a confirmed case of the virus.
Cases unrelated & imported
According to Premier Fahie, one of the patients, referred to as Patient A, is a 56 year old male who travelled from Europe and arrived at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island on March 15, 2020.
He said the patient was tested and has since been in quarantine at his home.
The other patient is a 32-year-old male resident who travelled from New York, USA and came into contact with someone who had tested positive for the virus on March 8, 2020. The patient referred to as Patient B, arrived in the VI on March 10, 2020.
Patient B, according to Hon Fahie, has been in quarantine at his home since then.
Premier Fahie stated that both cases are unrelated and the two patients and their close contacts have been informed and in mandatory quarantine.
The tests were confirmed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
All necessary steps against spread to be taken
The Premier also said necessary steps will be taken by the Territory to prevent community spread.
He also said it is natural to feel a sense of fear but all that could possibly done to prevent a community spread will be done.
The Premier urged everyone to follow all existing measures put in place by Cabinet and those that will be put in place in the future.
He added that the Territory was far from requiring a State of Emergency.
The press conference is continuing and this news site will provide more information shortly.
VI was always in preparation mode
It was only yesterday, Tuesday, March 24, 2020, while speaking in the boardroom of the Office of the House of Assembly (HoA) at the latest in a series of weekly COVID-19 press conferences, that Premier Fahie said that even though the Territory hadn’t a confirmed case of COVID-19 it was going to ensure measures are in place in the event the virus reaches these shores.
“But the truth be told, there exists no country no territory, that will have all the resources to handle a full territory or countrywide outbreak. So the key here is prevention and the key here is, if a case is confirmed, to ensure that is contained so it doesn't spread,” he said.
Proactive measures previously taken by Government included setting up quarantine spaces at Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital, purchasing and ordering of test kits, banning of cruise ship calls to the Territory for a month, closing of the borders to inbound passengers, closing of public and private schools for two weeks, restricting operating hours for businesses to 6:00am to 8:00pm and limiting gatherings to no more than 20 persons.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in its latest published count today, March 25, 2020, there have been 375,498 confirmed cases across 195 countries and 16, 362 deaths.
The Dominican Republic has the largest confirmed cases in the Caribbean- 245.
The neighbouring US Virgin Islands (USVI) has 17 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
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43 Responses to “COVID-19 reaches VI shores; 2 cases confirmed”
locking the gates when
The horses run out the stables ..
Early evidence suggests closing bars, restaurants and other businesses to keep people apart in places including New York City, has slowed the incidence of fevers that are an early indicator of coronavirus, according to a new analysis of fevers and symptoms across the U.S.
Data from health technology company Kinsa, which did the analysis using its digital thermometers, show the number of people with flulike illness — atypical fever and symptoms — began dropping almost immediately after mandatory social distancing measures were implemented in some areas.
I have had colds periodical all my life and have lost taste and smell temporary so this is no different. All you witch doctors need to stop stroking fear in the masses, just to be heard. Stop it!
Shady,inept and far from transparent is this Gov.
Weeks before result from a test comes and in the meantime no clue that there are suspected cases. How many more are there and were there.
People lulled into a sense of security due to silence of reality and truth.
No updates is disrespectful and condescending.