The British Virgin Islands has confirmed that the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is present in the territory, as cases surpass 1000, with more than 100 healthcare workers affected and two additional deaths.
This was confirmed by the Minister of Health Carvin Malone during a late evening media conference on Friday December 7.
He said, “We have sent samples down to CARPHA, the samples have returned. We now have confirmed that 12 of the 25 samples that were tested by CARPHA have been returned with the Omicron virus…So we now have the presence of Delta, we have the presence of Omicron, we are sending additional samples down.”
Minister Malone said the active positive cases in the BVI now stands at 1049.
This is an increase from the previously announced 958 as revealed yesterday January 6.
“Cabinet met as I said today and we were informed that as of tonight there are 1049 active cases. This mark an increase during the period December 1st to where we are today 1009 active cases, we were 40 going into December 1st,” Minister Malone stated.
The health minister also revealed that the healthcare sector has now been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 virus, with more than 100 persons now positive for the virus.
He said, “We are challenged because 109 of our healthcare professionals have been diagnosed as positive. This is of interest to us because the very people that we depend on to take care of us, they themselves, their families, they are stricken with this COVID-19 Virus.”
Meanwhile the minister said that crowd sizes will now be restricted to a maximum of 100.
He said to host an event with more than the 100 person limit, a request will need to be made to the ministry.
Minister Malone said that Cabinet will meet on Tuesday to determine if any additional measures are needed to further combat the present spike in the territory.
He said if the spike continue to get out of hand, his government will have no other choice but to implement stricter measures.