With the constant rise in the number of positive cases in the Virgin Islands, the Government has launched an online reporting and monitoring tool for persons experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Photo: VINO

Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronald E. Georges has encouraged persons experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to utilise the online reporting tool. Photo: Facebook/File

Persons can gain access to the National Public Health Symptom Reporting Form (SRF) by scanning the barcode with a cellphone camera. Photo: VINO

The troubling active, positive COVID-19 cases as of July 7 2021, is 659.

Through a press release, the Ministry of Health and Social Development said with the launching of the National Public Health Symptom Reporting Form (SRF), the ministry will be better positioned to reach and manage persons in the community who are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19.

COVID-19 symptoms

These symptoms include but may not be limited to: fever >100.4F (38C), subjective fever (felt feverish), chills, muscle aches (myalgia) (e.g. low back pain), joint pain, runny nose (rhinorrhea), sore throat, cough (new onset or worsening of chronic cough), shortness of breath (dyspnea), nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea (loose/looser than normal stools/24hr period), confusion/ irritability, swollen toes, coughing up blood or bloody mucous, weakness and tingling or numbness in feet and hands.

Procedure

Commenting on this latest initiative, Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronald E. Georges said the process begins when persons complete an initial intake form online (link is below).

Then, the form will be reviewed by Public Health Officers who would then liaise with the relevant medical centres to make arrangements for treatment and or testing for the virus.

“The applicant will then be sent a follow-up monitoring form at the same time daily to update until they have recovered. All submitted forms will be reviewed by a health team,” the release stated.

Public urged to utilise reporting tool

Dr Georges added: “We want to encourage all persons in the community to utilise this reporting tool if they are experiencing any COVID symptoms.” 

Another way to seek advice and medical attention can be done by copying the following link https://redcap.link/BVICOVIDSMR or scanning the code with a cellphone camera.

The symptom reporting form online is asking persons to provide their personal information, their vaccination status, ethnicity, race, gender, what the current symptoms are, if there are any pre-existing health conditions, whether they are willing to be treated by a health care provider, and which health care facility that they are willing to be treated at, among others.

The form also reminded persons with symptoms to self-isolate until they are cleared by a negative laboratory test result.