At least one local health professional has warned that if the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is found to be associated with the present COVID spike in the British Virgin Islands, cases could surge to unprecedented numbers, surpassing the 1600 mark as reported last July.
This is according to the Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronald Georges who made the comment during a recent published statement.
Dr. Georges said that while the Omicron version of the COVID-19 virus has not yet been detected in the territory, authorities are still continuing to send positive samples to be tested to determine the variants associated with the present outbreak in the BVI.
He said, “As previously mentioned, all samples previously sent to CARPHA for typing were positive for the Delta variant and over the last two weeks more than 90 samples were sent for genetic typing to determine if the Omicron variant has been introduced into the territory. At this time, the Omicron variant has not yet been identified in the territory.”
He added, “If this outbreak is found to be related to Omicron, we can expect a sharper and quicker increase in cases than in previous outbreaks. Evidence suggests that Omicron results in milder disease, fewer hospitalisation, less severe disease, and less death than Delta, but leads to many more infections.”
Hospitalisations being monitored
The acting CMO also said the Ministry of Health will be monitoring hospitalisations very closely.
He said this will include the reasons for hospitalisations and the severity of illness to gauge the progress of the present spike in the BVI.
“We must be cognisant of the fact that the Virgin Islands has very high rates of obesity and chronic diseases and persons in this category have a much higher rate of severe disease, hospitalisation, and death and so any outbreak is cause for concern,” he stated.
Booster shots being encouraged
In the meantime, Dr. Georges encouraged residents to get vaccinated and for those who already are vaccinated to get their booster shot.
He said the booster doses offer very good protection against the severe impacts of COVID-19 including variants.
“We are urging all of you to therefore avail yourselves of opportunities to be vaccinated with either the AstraZeneca or Pfizer or receive your Booster dose,” he stated.
“If you have completed your primary two or one dose regime at least three months ago you should seek to have your Pfizer Booster dose. If you are severely immunocompromised from chemotherapy, high dose steroids or other reason you should have a third dose of Pfizer and three months later your Booster dose of Pfizer,” Dr. Georges further said.
The Acting CMO also said the AstraZeneca version of the vaccine is available for those with demonstrated allergy to the Pfizer version.