2 HOA members came in direct contact with COVID exposed staff

Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) Julian Willock has confirmed that a member of the HOA staff was exposed to COVID-19 on Friday and was in direct contact with two members of the House.

The Speaker, in a statement released to the media on Monday, said the matter is currently being handled by the Ministry of Health. The names of the members who were exposed were not disclosed.

“In keeping with the Ministry of Health’s protocol on contact tracing, the officer advised that he was in direct contact with two Honourable members and a HOA staff. The three persons who are fully vaccinated will be in isolation until their COVID test,” Willock said in a statement.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the HOA will not meet at the Save the Seed Centre, but will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 14 and 15, 2021 virtually, to conduct the budget debate and the remaining business of the 13th Sitting. The public is invited to tune in on radio and television along with your normal social media platforms to listen to the budget debate,” the statement added.

Willock further said the HOA office, located at the Richard C. Stoutt Building in Road Town, will be closed to the public from today Monday, December 13, 2021, to Friday, December 17, 2021.

He added that the office will resume business to the public from Monday, December 20, 2021 at 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

“We ask both staff and the public to observe all COVID-19 protocols. Please wear your masks to cover your nose and mouth, sanitise your hands when entering and leaving the building and stay three feet apart,” the statement said.

The Speaker of the House took the opportunity to advise the public to get vaccinated as he said the science proves that vaccination significantly reduces the risk of getting and spreading the virus and the chances of dying from COVID-19.