VI CONSORTIUM
The V.I. Dept. of Health on Monday night announced the 36th Virgin Islander to die from Covid-related causes. The latest death brings to four the number of individuals who have died as a result of the virus in the USVI in six days, and the Delta variant — the extremely contagious strain of Covid-19 — is suspected to be responsible for the surge.
The latest victim was identified by the V.I. Dept. of Health as a 50-year-old man from St. Croix.
Governor Albert Bryan during his press briefing Monday stressed the importance of getting vaccinated and following guidelines. He said twenty-one people were hospitalized as of Monday, five of whom were on ventilators, and according to Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion, many more in the intensive care unit.
Among the hospitalized is a 9-year-old child, Mr. Bryan revealed.
“None of the individuals currently fighting for their lives, none of the individuals currently fighting for their lives against this virus or the 35 people who have unfortunately lost their lives were vaccinated,” he said as the territory’s leader continued pleading with Virgin Islanders to take the vaccine.
The governor also said new restrictions would be imminent if the numbers don’t subside. “There is no question that we are experiencing another surge,” he said, adding that the administration has requested addition resources from Pafford Medical Services to supplement the territory’s first-responder personnel.
The governor addressed the belief that infections were being imported via cruise ships and air travel. “No, it’s not the cruise ships; it’s not the planes. While it would be convenient for me to point the finger at those as the culprit, unfortunately, it’s us,” he said. “It is those of us who don’t want to wear our masks, those of us who insist on hosting and attending mass gatherings, and those of us who have not yet gone out to get the vaccine.”
On Saturday, the V.I. Dept. of Health reported 208 active Covid-19 cases in the territory – up from 189 a day earlier — with 141 on St. Thomas, 61 on St. Croix and 6 on St. John. According to D.O.H., St. Croix had nineteen new cases between July 22-23, while St. Thomas had twenty during the same period. However, the Dept. of Health listed twenty individuals as recovered, leading to the adjusted number of 208 infections.
New numbers were not posted at time of writing.