In a joint press conference between the Premier of the Virgin Islands and the Leader of the Opposition, the Premier announced that the territory has “sufficient” testing kits in the face of the novel Coronavirus crisis. “In terms of ratio for the population, I would say that the BVI does not have enough, but we do have a sufficient amount”, said Premier Andrew Fahie.
Addressing the nation last night, the Premier confirmed that to date we have an estimated 300 test kits in the territory with more to come. He did not clarify how much of that amount was already used in preliminary testing. The Premier further reassured the public that more kits are on the way. “We have ordered 5,500 more… and we were told that we are only assured of 1000 of those due to the heavy demand.”
The BVI as an overseas territory also stands to benefit from 500 additional kits which will be inherited from the United Kingdom. This brings the total to an estimated 1,500 kits on the way to the BVI, according to the Premier.
While the Premier remains confident in the current amount of testing equipment due to the absence a confirmed case of the virus, he has maintained that not everyone will be tested. “There is a protocol established for who will be tested. Not everyone that feels sick will be tested” It was reiterated that clear, extreme symptoms must be exhibited before you are called in for testing.
Several advisories from the Government have emphasized that persons with probable symptoms should not visit the hospital or a private doctor. Those persons are strictly advised to call the COVID-19 hotline at 852-7650 for further direction. This is to minimize the risk of spreading the virus, resulting in a possible outbreak in the Virgin Islands.
Via a social media post yesterday, the Premier showcased the newly developed Isolation Unit to treat any carrier of the virus. The Minister of Health, Honorable Carvin Malone had previously announced that the territory currently has 6 ventilators to support same.
In closing the territory’s leader said that countries across the world are challenged with testing and treatment resources. “There’s no country in the world that has enough kits to deal with the entire population that wants to be tested” the Premier said.
To date, the virulent pathogen causing the novel Coronavirus has not been confirmed in the British Virgin Islands, even as numbers continue to skyrocket regionally and internationally.