The Minister of Health and Social Development, Honorable Carvin Malone, just confirmed that of the residents tested in Jost Van Dyke, (316) have returned negative.
This was revealed via a live government press conference tonight where the Minister said “as of Thursday, the 23rd of July, our national laboratory had tested a total of 1,253 persons for COVID-19 with 1,245 persons testing negative and eight (8) positive results. These results include 316 samples collected on Jost Van Dyke; 20 on Tortola and 3 on Virgin Gorda between Tuesday the 21st and Thursday the 23rd of July, all of which have tested negative.”
Honorable Malone further stated some of the results are pending.
He said “today Friday 24th July, an additional 19 samples were collected by Health personnel on Jost van Dyke as they continue to carry out testing with the goal of covering the remaining population. The results of the 19 samples would be reported when received.”
Premier of the Virgin Islands, Honorable Andrew Fahie also announced that he and his family were tested, following his recent visit to the Island
This follows local government being told that a Jost Van Dyke resident landed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines recently with the Coronavirus.
As a result, the island of Jost Van Dyke was placed on a 24-hour lockdown from July 21st to July 28th, 2020. Additionally, all residents are now subjected to a mandatory COVID-19 test.
While most residents took the test, some have expressed their disapproval with Government’s swift decision to “infringe” on their rights.
During an exclusive 284 Media interview with reporter Jovan Wilson, Jos Van Dyke resident Justine Callwood said she will not do the test. “I do not plan to unless there’s a substantive discussion about our rights, as they’ve been previously violated up until this point.”
She also recounted the experience of a fellow Jost Van Dyke resident who upon refusing the test was told by a medical professional “I won’t have to treat you medically if you are sick in a few days”. The concerned resident said this type of reaction induces fear.
Another resident, Sendric Chinnery said the island feels “victimized” by Government.
He said “this curfew order came into force without no evidence of a positive test on the island of Jost Van Dyke. Definitely a rush to judgment.”
During the interview, Dwayne Donovan also called out Government on their response to JVD, saying it is inconsistent with previous Coronavirus scares in the territory.
He said “when they had the incident with the Filipino lady, she died, and they put the building on a lockdown. But they didn’t lockdown the whole area and make testing mandatory and that was a death in the territory from a positive COVID-19.”
“We didn’t have nearly that type of situation in Jost Van Dyke but they still put us under such stringent conditions,” .
In fear that this will hurt the island’s tourism, Mr. Chinnery said “let’s say somebody from Tortola wanted to go JVD on a staycation, the economy is already so bad over here, but it’s going to make it even ten times worst. It’s going to make people say we don’t want to go over there.”
“JVD has a stigma attached to it at the moment. Other persons from the other islands are looking at us like we have the plague. It appears the only way to clear our name is to go do this test, to prove we are negative,” he further added.
In closing Mr. Chinnery said “I would like the people of Jost Van Dyke to be treated with a bit more respect.
The full interview can be viewed by clicking on the link below;