BVI News

BVI monitoring new COVID strain, no UK travel ban so far

Health Minister, Carvin Malone

As more countries impose a travel ban on the UK because of a new strain of COVID-19 found there, the BVI has not decided to do the same but is closely monitoring the issue in Britain.

Since the UK announced a lockdown Saturday, more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia, South America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East have restricted travel from the UK.

In an exclusive interview with BVI News, Health Minister Carvin Malone said Cabinet will discuss the issue when it meets today and will decide on the best course of action to take as the situation develops in the UK.

But Minister Malone said the government has not decided to implement a travel ban against the UK at this time.

“Cabinet, after meetings this week, will give further updates as to what precautions we may need to take. We note, with interest, all of the countries that have taken precautions and even precautions taken by the United Kingdom itself. So we’re monitoring very closely the developments,” Minister Malone explained.

“From the very onset — when COVID-19 was deemed a global pandemic — decisions were made as to what measures were to be taken with high, medium and low-risk countries. We will continue to do this in the best interest of the people of the Virgin Islands. ” the Minister added.

According to the BBC, the new strain is spreading faster than the original, but it is not believed to be more deadly.

The BBC also reported the World Health Organisation saying: “Along with the UK, the same mutation of the COVID-19 virus has also been detected in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Australia.”

Jamaica, Grenada, the Dominican Republic, and Trinidad & Tobago are among the first Caribbean countries that have implemented travel bans or restrictions.

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8 Comments

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  1. Strange says:

    Can we ban the British from entering their OT? What about parents from entering their own home, or business owners from entering their own business place?

    Would not be surprise if someone makes a call for the Governor to be banned from returning. BVI love!

    Like 7
    Dislike 3
    • Incorrect says:

      Just to be clear, the Uk didn’t announce a lockdown on Saturday as the article claims. There is no lockdown currently in the UK. There are restrictions in different tiers and none of them are locked down.

      • ex-pat says:

        I spoke to family boxing day in the UK.
        One family member knows close to 20 people who have died and just before Christmas their neighbours caught the new strand of covid… the father was dead within 4 days.

        From what I was told, things are really bad in the UK.

  2. Fools says:

    Shut ayo blasted mouth
    Life has to go on
    Every countries was up and running only the bvi on lockdown since March
    When ayo do open it makes no sense
    Ayo don’t want tourist to come here
    Ayo using this virus as a money making
    Wicked set of ppl in the bvi government

    Like 4
    Dislike 4
    • @fools says:

      You idiot have nothing else to do but bash the BVI. Every other country was not up and running. You are a bigot. Every other Government in the world is tryng to deal woth this pandemic but sone of you just want to say whatever the VI Government and its people doe is wrong. You are the miserable, bad minded person who wish bad for others and thats why you will stay miserable for the rest of your life.

  3. vip inner circle says:

    ban both governors

    Like 2
    Dislike 8
  4. just asking says:

    can someone tell us how many cases now in BVI?
    we cooperate with government for lockdown and such,
    they should be transparent in their claims about case numbers.

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