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‘High suspicion’ of Delta variant in VI- Dr Georges

- VI's low immunity population projected to heighten spread of virus
Acting Chief Medical officer, Dr Ronald E. Georges said the aggressive delta COVID-19 variant of the virus may be present in the Virgin Islands (VI) and contributing to the rapid spread. Photo: GIS/Facebook
The super-contagious Delta variant, previously called B.1.617.2, has now spread to 92 countries worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation. Photo: Internet Source
The super-contagious Delta variant, previously called B.1.617.2, has now spread to 92 countries worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronald E. Georges said the aggressive and contagious Delta COVID-19 variant of the virus may be present in the Virgin Islands (VI) and contributing to the rapid new infections.

“There's a very high suspicion that we have the Delta variants circulating in the Virgin Islands and what the situation is here is that we have the Delta variant in a naive population,” he said during a COVID-19 briefing last evening July 4, 2021.

The super-contagious Delta variant, previously called B.1.617.2, has now spread to 92 countries worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

A naive population, he said, means that the VI has a population with very low immunity to the virus, such as natural immunity or vaccine-induced immunity.

Heightened public health measures 

“The model is suggested that we require second dose vaccination completion to be as high as 80% to blunt the impact of this present outbreak,” he said.

Dr Georges continued, “Therefore, there's a suggestion that all non-pharmaceutical measures; that is the public health measures that have been in place, we strictly implement immediately.” 

With more than 800 active cases of the virus present in the territory, Dr Georges said there's the expectation that cases will continue to rise and the VI could see as many as 1000 more infections within a week and as many as 100 people requiring hospitalisation.

“We have to be mindful that the infections that have been detected now would have occurred about a week ago, therefore, as we implement strict public health measures to blunt the outbreak, the outbreak will continue to have momentum,” he warned.

Expect more increase in cases - Dr Georges 

As such, the VI public can expect to see a continued increase of cases over the next few days before all measures have an opportunity to have an effect on the spread of the virus, Dr Georges assured.

“So we can expect that surge of cases can happen for over a period of as much as four to six weeks, and the measures that we will be implementing will simply slow the progress of that outbreak and allow the healthcare system and the economy and the society and other aspects to cope with the impact over a longer time.”

21 Responses to “‘High suspicion’ of Delta variant in VI- Dr Georges”

  • NICK (09/07/2021, 07:59) Like (22) Dislike (5) Reply
    health department should check on taxi drivers. I saw one taxi this morning, the driver had no mask, passenger in the front no mask even. These taxi are carrying hundreds of people a day and are contributing to the sread of the virus.
  • facts (09/07/2021, 09:34) Like (9) Dislike (24) Reply
    I just happy the vip in power to handle this or else we would be dead under funny man or smurf
  • Concerned (09/07/2021, 09:41) Like (7) Dislike (11) Reply
    TO All DOCTORS AND NURSES ADMINISTERING VACCINES - Please wear your disposible/clinical gloves when administering these vaccines to the public. It is not healthy injecting the vaccine to someone with your bare hands. Please this is unacceptable and pure nonsense. Practice to protect others and help keep our communities safe from spreading this virus.
  • A prayer to God our righteous Father and Creator for help. (09/07/2021, 09:43) Like (30) Dislike (6) Reply
    Father of love, mercy, and unmeritted grace, I hunle ask of you to forgive us all for the many times we have refused to obey your righteous instructions, but rather those of the adversary, that is the author of hate, disorder, selfpride, and all other evil behaviors, that constradicts you way of purity of mind. We do not deserved forgiveness, nor do we your grace, but because you are our one only Father, whose love is far bigger than our sins, and graceful mercy far exceeds ours, and your promise to forgive is sure, wben we adk in faith believing, you responds faithfully, and truthful to our honest request.
    Pleasd loving Father, ease of the hardship of this covid-19 outbreak for your honor, glory, praise and worship. You are the true King of kings, and the true Lord of lords, and forever is. I submitted this prayer to You in the authority of your own name, Your Son and Your Holy Spirit name, in Jesus' name, with thanks giving. Amen





  • rasta (09/07/2021, 09:51) Like (15) Dislike (7) Reply
    “So we can expect that surge of cases can happen for over a period of as much as four to six weeks,... "I rebuke that statement. It shall be well with the BVI.
    • Real Simple (09/07/2021, 17:26) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Wow. Thank the heavens you swooped in to save the day. No need to do anything else I guess.... Ignorance is d@mn expensive.
  • musa (09/07/2021, 10:15) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
    our gov need to help with the bills
    • #@@ (09/07/2021, 10:47) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
      @ musa...
      Why should the government continue to help pay your bills. They cannot do everything for you. Everyone needs do their part and we will come out of this together. Some persons still today, doing what they want and not what is necessary. Please people, do your best to save yourself as well as your love ones. This will pass! Do your part.
      • hm (10/07/2021, 13:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        But they can hand out stimulus money to gardeners and in a blue moon fishers tho.
  • 2030 (09/07/2021, 10:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    You people LISTENING LISTENING
  • Joy & Wide (09/07/2021, 11:03) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ nick truth and they need to sanitize the bus after ever load.
  • Patriotic (09/07/2021, 11:06) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    I must say giving our limited resources the Andrew Fahie administration is handling this covid situation well.However the COI must carry on - Fair transparency and accountability , this is how modern , civilize society operates
  • We Believe in Cuba.. (09/07/2021, 12:33) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
    We import Cuban Nurses and Doctors.. We need to import cuban Vaccine, thats the best...Cuba will Save and Free the world again. They did it already...No your History.
    • 007 (09/07/2021, 20:02) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
      Cuba is a repressive non democratic regime that has kept its people in abject poverty for the last 50 years. When the government tells you you can’t leave you know you are in a dictatorship. Take a walk through downtown Havana, a crumbling hell hole that stinks of sewage worse than anything you smelled in Road Town. You like it so much, piss off and live there. Do the rest of us a favour.
      • You are a liar (10/07/2021, 07:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Why do you have to lie?! You can disagree without lying, Liar! Cuba gave the pink world the middle finger, and you been pissing off ever since. You can continue to piss off Liar!
  • please (09/07/2021, 13:38) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Give us Hydroxycloroquine and Ivermectin over the counter, as it is sold in many other countries. Stop holding back the cures.
  • Lillian (09/07/2021, 15:45) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    it could be delta or alpha from england or india for sure ! and these are very strong variants doesnt respect vaccine it will kill you any way if you get infected time will tell you all!
    • 007 (09/07/2021, 17:47) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Total crap. Stop spotting your ignorance vaccine denier. Educate yourself …

      https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-9722125/Nearly-COVID-deaths-US-unvaccinated.html
  • FAITH ALONE (10/07/2021, 06:45) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I FEAR GOD NOTHING ELSE ON THIS PLANET YOU HEAR WA I TELLING YOU
  • musa (10/07/2021, 08:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ##aa when i say help pay the bills i mean peoples who out of jobs and singles parents.


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