With the territory recording some 357 new active positive COVID-19 cases within a three-day period, some health officials are now suspecting that the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus may be in the British Virgin Islands.
This is according to the Minister for Health Carvin Malone who made the disclosure during an interview with 284News.
Minister Malone at the time said that his ministry was awaiting confirmation from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) after samples were sent to be returned by today January 7.
He said, “When you look at the drastic spike one can only highly speculate.”
“Well it’s throughout the region now. There are a number of regional countries that have it and we haven’t cut off entrance from any directions to it. The USVI is one but there are others coming from east and west,” Minister Malone added.
Rise in numbers expected after holidays
The health minister said that the recent rise in cases was expected following the festive season which is known to be associated with gatherings and many other activities that ignore the COVID-19 protocols.
He said, “You would have to been living somewhere else not to know that with the Christmas gatherings, there were a number of gatherings for Christmas, a number of gatherings that occurred for New Year’s and these were suspected that they would have an effect and they are showing at this particular time. So we are mindful that in the next days ahead they may well be additional, but we have to look in terms of how do we break the cycle. It is critical that we break the cycle of this.”
What more can the government do?
When asked on whether his government will be taking any stringent measures to suppress the present COVID spike, the minister said while the Cabinet will be assessing all possible measures, the government is in sync with Premier Andrew Fahie’s stance of not closing down the BVI’s economy.
He said his government has done all they could possibly do to ensure that the BVI is prepared for most COVID-related situations by investing millions into the healthcare sector.
Malone added that the onus is now on the people of the territory to abide by the protocols and do what is necessary to ensure the territory successfully wins the battle against this present COVID spike.
“The fact remains we have purchased what ventilators we need, we have built what testing centres we need, we have looked in terms of having COVID wards, we have built out the laboratory system, we have made vaccines available…we have passed legislations which basically look in terms of the fines for not keeping with the protocols. We have instituted curfews, we have instituted lockdowns, we had feeding programmes, what more is it that the government is required?” Malone stated.
He added, “The population have a duty to look at the global situation, to look at the regional situation and act accordingly. The government has spent millions of dollars towards fighting this COVID-19 virus. So the fact remains that you close down tomorrow, you break the cycle, you open back tomorrow and everyone goes back into their old ways. We are confident that we have to live with it because it’s not going away anytime soon. So what is it that we have to do?”
Sick persons urged to come forward
In the meantime, Minister Malone also encouraged those residents who may have been in close contact with COVID-19 positive persons or exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19 to come forward and report their symptoms to the healthcare professionals.
He said failing to do so could result in situations seen in territory last July-August, where it may be too late for those individuals who wait until the last minute to seek help from the healthcare professionals.
“We very strongly encourage that folks come forward. Number one, it would confirm the status. Number two, they would have to be guided and folks may wish to avoid quarantine but the fact is it is helpful to the economy, it is helpful to the country, it is helpful to their own health that they know their status so that they could take preventative measures and whatever treatment affords,” he stated.
“Then we would be able to look at this and be actually considered because it is not wise to wait until you feel you have to show at the hospital emergency room in order to be actually considered. If you have any suspicion of this then you can either report it to the Public Health, they would give you a time frame in which to be tested because it is not on the very first day that you determine that you may have come in contact with a positive person. There is a standard incubation period that the public health team has advised that needs to afford itself, and then you get tested properly. So there are measures taken, there are measures enforced that need to be adhered to in order to have the proper testing as it relates to time and the type of testing required,” Minister Malone explained.