The active positive COVID-19 cases in the British Virgin Islands continues to see a decline with the tally now at 42 active cases.
However there has been a marginal increase in hospitalisations from the 7 announced at the previous COVID-19 update issued on August 12, to now 9.
This is according to the Minister for Health Carvin Malone who made the announcement while delivering a statement in the House of Assembly on Monday August 16.
He said, “I am pleased to report that as at Sunday August 15 we have 42 active cases. This is down from the height of over 1604, 32 cases on Tortola, 9 on Virgin Gorda and 1 on a marine vessel. There were two additional admissions to the Dr. D Orlando Smith Hospital just yesterday, bringing our total number of persons in the hospital to 9.”
“Great strides have been and continue to be made by all of us as a collective team to arrest the outbreak and reduce transmission of this virus. For this I want to say thank you to all persons involved,” he added.
The health minister also for the first time addressed the discovery of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus on the island its announcement on Sunday August 15.
“To better understand the significance of the Delta variant reaching our shores, we must first understand what makes Delta so much of a concern. Delta variant is highly contagious and has increased transmissibility. According to the WHO and the CDC, Delta has accounted for more than 80 percent of new cases in the United States and recent research has found that the Delta variant grows more rapidly and to a much greater level in the respiratory tract, making it potentially more fatal than the initial virus,” Malone stated.
“This has the ability to translate into a catastrophe for a small community like ours, especially because the vaccination levels are not where they need to be in order for us to be more protected as a territory. We are still mourning the loss of loved ones and picking up the pieces from the first wave of COVID, we cannot afford for a second wave and especially a Delta wave. The Delta wave could reap havoc over a community,” he further explained.
Minister Malone said it is for this reason that the territory should not let down its guard despite the recent decline in active positive cases.
He urged more persons to come forward to get vaccinated as the government aims to reach herd immunity, with the vaccination of 75-80 percent of the territory’s population.