COVID-19 Outbreak Shutting Down BVI, Virus Variants Suspected

TORTOLA — Health Officials in the British Virgin Islands are racing to enact safety measures as the COVID-19 outbreak claims another life. A second person recently died from thet virus and 150 active cases were identified over a three-day period this week.

In response, the Ministry of Health and Social Development is postponing all summer camps and programs until further notice. The Ministry of Health also shut down Simmonds Preschool for 14 days after confirming positive cases among the students. Several government offices have also shut down, including the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labor and Immigration after confiring that two employees tested positive for COVID and the Magistrate’s Court has closed.

According to the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ronald Georged, there are 273 total active cases in the BVI. "Of these 273 cases, 12 are quarantined on vessels and related to entry screening, 256 are on Tortola, four (4) on Virgin Gorda and one (1) on Jost Van Dyke,"he added.

The Chief Medical Officer broke down teh vaccination statuts of those 273 cases: 55% are unvaccinated, 13% are partially vaccinated, 17% vaccinated, and 15% were not recorded or cannot be determined.

The BVI government is racing to determine if any of the new case are cause by the virus variants. That would confirm that for the first time, the varients, which are known to be more infectious, are circulating in the territory.

Start your day with the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here. And follow Patch USVI on Facebook to get the latest, breaking news.