Growing trend of hostility towards COVID-19 victims- Hon Malone
"I have been informed of the growing trend of persons seeking to be hostile or dismissive against persons who are or rumoured to be associates of known positive cases," Hon Malone said in a live COVID-19 update yesterday morning, Friday, August 28, 2020.
"I kindly ask that you cease and desist from this unwelcome behaviour. It is wrong and it must stop. This will cause persons to fear coming forward and the end result is not favourable to you, your family or your friends," the Health Minister said.
This is not the first time however, that Virgin Islanders have been called upon do desist from discriminatory behaviours towards victims of COVID-19.
Renewed calls for behaviour to end
In April 2020 during a House of Assembly (HoA) sitting, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) had called attacks on the Filipino community unwarranted and for it to end, following a COVID-19 positive case recorded in a Filipino national.
"We cannot bad talk the Filipino them because one of them tested positive, we have to stop this as a nation. They are human beings no matter what happened with it, no matter how it went down, that's not what God wants for this country," Hon Fahie said.
Governor of the VI, H.E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert had also expressed similar sentiments. "I deplore some of the social media circulating about the recently confirmed case, who has since sadly died. This despicable behaviour does not in any way represent the views of the people of the BVI."
Hon Malone's latest call for an end to the discrimination comes as the territory recorded 9 new cases of COVID-19 as of Friday, August 28, 2020, bringing the total to 35 with 26 active cases.
38 Responses to “Growing trend of hostility towards COVID-19 victims- Hon Malone”
I really sick &’d tired of your Sh*t!
Blame the news site and minister talk to much
Whenever I get I don’t bother to share cmon of it was us or our fam would we like our photos shared to face discriminations etc
The virus does not discriminate, so why should some of us? Do your physical distancing with you mouth shut!