COVID TESTING TO BE CONDUCTED THURSDAY & FRIDAY FOR ALL PERSONS RECENTLY EXPOSED TO THE PREMIER AND DEPUTY PREMIER

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WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND – MARCH 16: Dawn Canova, clinical manager for outpatient wound care at Carroll Hospital, handles a sample from a person tested for the coronavirus at a drive-thru station in the hospital’s parking garage March 16, 2020 in Westminster, Maryland. Not open to the general public for testing, the station was set up to take samples from people who had spoken with their doctors and received explicit direction to get a test for the novel coronavirus called COVID-19. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

COVID-19 testing to be done tomorrow and Friday for all persons who were in recent contact with the Premier and Deputy Premier after they both tested positive for the coronavirus.

This was announced in a media bulletin from the Government of the Virgin Islands which said the testing will be done on December 30 and 31, at the white tent outside the Dr. D Orlando Smith Hospital Emergency Room.

According to the bulletin, the measure is part of the contact tracing efforts by the Ministry of Health to contain the spread of the virus.

“Premier and Minister of Finance the Honourable Andrew A. Fahie and Deputy Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley continue to make great strides towards recovery after being infected with the COVID-19 virus.  However, out of an abundance of caution, the Ministry of Health is asking all persons who may have been in contact with the Premier and Deputy Premier in the past week without a mask to self-isolate and be tested,” the release stated.

It added, “Persons who think they may have been exposed are asked to submit their names and contact numbers to PHU@gov.vg with the caption “Possible Exposure to Premier or Deputy Premier” or call the office at 468 2274 from Wednesday December 29.”

Premier’s Office to operate remotely

Meanwhile, in a subsequent media release, the Premier’s Office announced that they will be closed to physical operations until Tuesday January 4, 2022.

“The public is advised that the Premier’s Office will be providing remote services only from Wednesday, December 29 to Friday, December 31. Physical operations will resume on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. In the interim, persons can contact our offices at 468-2152, 468-2352 or premieroffice@gov.vg,” the Premier’s Office stated.