VI concerned with growing COVID-19 infection rates in nearby countries
This is according to Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Carvin Malone (AL) during a live COVID-19 update to the Territory on Monday, April 6, 2020.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of 10:34am on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, there are 43 confirmed cases in neighbouring US Virgin Islands (USVI) and 1 death. That territory’s borders remain open and there have been reports of persons not adhering to the stay at home policy in place.
The USVI Government recently closed all beaches until April 20, 2020.
“For the most part, we have done good as a community in following the Department of Health and CDC guidance to help contain the spread of the virus, but we still have some in our community who are not taking this seriously enough,” Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr said on Monday, April 6, 2020.
Puerto Rico so far has 573 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 23 deaths, with 60 new cases.
The Dominican Republic has 1, 960 confirmed cases and 98 deaths. 128 of the confirmed cases are new.
The United States of America has 363, 321 confirmed cases with 10, 845 deaths.
St Martin has 31 confirmed cases and 2 deaths while Antigua has 15 confirmed cases, according to WHO.
Globally, as of 10:34am on April 8, 2020, there have been 1,353,361 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 79,235 deaths, reported to WHO.
Gov’t putting systems in place for when borders re-open
Hon Malone said Government continues to push ahead with strengthening the capacity of the ports, public health, law enforcement and healthcare delivery systems in order to rapidly detect, contain and manage any cases that may be brought to the Territory’s shores when the borders eventually re-open.
“In the meantime, we must continue to carefully manage the closure of our ports while facilitating the movement of freight and cargo vessels; secure our borders to curtail illegal entry; update our risk classifications of countries, territories and areas of Special Interest and High Risk, based on WHO Situation Reports and other Public Health data. Entry to the BVI would continue to be prohibited based on travel history to or from high-risk areas within a 14-day period, and maintain physical distance between people and avoid gathering in large groups.”
The Health Minister said to some, these measures may seem like an extreme response when the Territory still has only three (3) confirmed cases of the virus.
“Those of us tasked with steering the Territory through this unprecedented storm have agreed that it is vitally important to take all possible precautions when it comes to protecting our people. We only have one chance to get this right.”
He emphasised that all the measures taken so far are in line with one main objective: “to prevent and limit the spread of COVID-19 in the British Virgin Islands.”
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24 Responses to “VI concerned with growing COVID-19 infection rates in nearby countries”
Dollars for the connected few from the quick illicit human trafficking of the DR,via the airport was more important than the health of the people.
Shouldn't all current deaths be tested for the virus?
The Law is in place. Open up the borders to nationals, permanent residents and work permit holders. Visitors not coming here to face 14 day quarantine anyways.
What people don't realize is that it is not only that you are preventing persons from coming in but also it is preventing persons who want to go out who cannot because all the commercial airlines ( except expensive charter flights) are no longer operating here. So you have people who are here longer than they intended to be here. Just imagine if there is transmission of the disease then we have more persons to manage.
Common sense needs to prevail. Open the borders.
What I Am afraid of, that is going to happen, is, that, when the BVIs will have this situation under some sort of control and becomes relax especially to the U.S.V.Is, then there will be the main issue. Food for thought.
It is true a person that is infected can come from any where in the world but the possibility is higher from our neighbour( USVI) where the traffic between the islands both legal and illegal is so much higher. .
I pray that they be more vigorous on the preventative measures against this Coronavirus which has no respect for Race, color or class.
Please ask them to be more pro active in the fight against this monster so we can return to our normal life sooner than later.
So far,they are having a high recovery rate and also no community spreading of the virus.
I think they are doing the best they can and with what they have.