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BVI News accused of misrepresenting statements by Health Minister

- Hon Malone has refuted the news site's headline that COVID-19 test results are being delayed because of staff shortage
Local online news, BVI News, has been accused of misrepresenting recent statements made by Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL). Photo: VINO
According to Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL), as of December 10, 2020, the staff at the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital laboratory has conducted tests in excess of 9,283 samples and continue to produce PCR results in less than 24 hours. Photo; Facebook/File
According to Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL), as of December 10, 2020, the staff at the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital laboratory has conducted tests in excess of 9,283 samples and continue to produce PCR results in less than 24 hours. Photo; Facebook/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Local online news, BVI News, has been accused of misrepresenting recent statements made by Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL).

Hon Malone has taken issue with the news story with the headline ‘COVID 19 results delayed because BVI Health Services is short staffed’ published on December 10, 2020.

No issue of short staffing

In his statement to the territory on Monday, December 7, 2020, Hon Malone had said there were some challenges at the laboratory but noted they had to do with lack of certain equipment that would speed up data processing but never said tests were being delayed because the testing laboratory at Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital was short-staffed.

“We have some challenges in terms of gathering all the data because the automation part of it will come. But we are growing and we are adding the facilities necessary to be able to get the automatic responses, number one, from the entry protocol, the automatic advisory as to whether or not you have tested negative/positive so that would know exactly what to do. So we would lessen that time that people are now experiencing.”

Further, Hon Malone said more persons were being trained to further make the process more efficient.

“We trained about six persons today to assist with different areas. We were able to transition a number of people from different departments who were enthusiastic about this and making sure that for the love of country, they would be able to lend their support where it is needed,” Malone had stated.

Fake news

Hon Malone labelled the headline by BVI News as ‘Fake news’.

“FAKE NEWS ALERT: The headline by BVI News stating "COVID 19 results delayed because BVI Health Services is short staffed" is a misinterpretation of the statement made in my remarks,” Hon Malone stated on his Facebook page on December 11, 2020.

PCR results being produced in less than 24 hours

He clarified that as of December 10, 2020, the staff at the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital laboratory has conducted tests in excess of 9,283 samples and continue to produce PCR results in less than 24 hours.

“Excellent when matched anywhere in the world,” Hon Malone remarked.

The Health Minister added that additional staff, as indicated, have been reassigned or engaged to assist the Ministry to inform and disseminate the test results in a more timely manner, albeit impressive on the comparison.

“In anticipation of surge volumes when all air and sea borders are opened, additional staff will be recruited to further continue the excellent work of the laboratory staff.

“We are in this together and I'll continue to sound the praises of our entire and elite Health and Social Development teams in the fight against this global pandemic. I stand with you in #BVILOVE,” Hon Malone stated.

BVI News has not yet made a retraction of its misleading headline.

13 Responses to “BVI News accused of misrepresenting statements by Health Minister”

  • usa (11/12/2020, 13:25) Like (10) Dislike (37) Reply
    Thank god for vino the only site I trust
    • From the US ALSO (11/12/2020, 15:42) Like (12) Dislike (23) Reply
      I LIKE VINO BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS UPDATING THE NEWS. THEY DON’T RUN A STORY ON FRIDAY AND BE STUCK ON THE SAME STORY UNTILL MONDAY LIKE THE OTHER NEWS SITE.VINO IS THE LEADING ONLINE NEWS SITE IN THE BVI.
  • west (11/12/2020, 13:36) Like (14) Dislike (17) Reply
    The government official are also fake like WHO &UN!!
  • blah (11/12/2020, 13:47) Like (20) Dislike (36) Reply
    Bvi news only does post negative comments when it comes to the government that’s why we sticking with Vino.
  • mah (11/12/2020, 14:09) Like (17) Dislike (70) Reply
    You guys tell so many lies you don't know the truth.
  • live (11/12/2020, 14:35) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lol
  • Minister (11/12/2020, 15:11) Like (11) Dislike (12) Reply
    We are training more staff because we need more staff, not because we are short staffed. Go figure !
  • Liston (11/12/2020, 20:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    24h. Even he knows that is not rue
  • Sundays (12/12/2020, 00:06) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    Did the Health Minister not also say that the testing lab was closed on Sundays (24 hrs) because everybody needs to rest? Was he not encouraging certificated health experts to consider helping in thus regard? So if a visitor came into the territory on Saturday evening /Sunday morning and the lab is closed on Sunday when will the "on arrival test" be processed? ; Sometime on Monday?
  • Really (12/12/2020, 06:51) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    You want them to say it word for word. In a nutshell that's what was said. They summarized and came to conclusion based on what was said. It's a news site you headlines has to grab attention. Once read they said basically the same thing you said. Please at trying to clear yourself. Bloggers in neither site are impartial. They support whether wrong or right based on political affiliation. Just by reading the blogs one can see no neutrality. This site gets first dibs on government news because of who they are affiliated with.
  • Bob (12/12/2020, 06:58) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Short of staff. It's not fake news it is another example of we are not ready yet. Only people like Trump say fake news.
  • Old worker (12/12/2020, 08:46) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Buh fake news....They always been short staffed


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