BVI News

BVI’s youth population driving COVID-19 upsurge — health officials

National Epidemiologist Harmony Brewley-Massiah.

Health officials have pointed out that the majority of positive cases seen in the current COVID-19 upsurge are in the younger demographic of the society.

Over the course of one week from June 28 – July 7, the BVI’s active COVID-19 positive cases moved from 11 persons to 821.

Two of those cases are reportedly in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital and an additional 10 cases are being treated in the NHI’s special care COVID unit.

National Epidemiologist, Harmony Massiah said while health risks or severe symptoms presenting among the youth are generally slim to none, there has been a shift in how sickness is presented in the youth.

“What we’re seeing is persons are very ill, even amongst the younger population, and that for one is very concerning to me,” Massiah said last evening in a joint press briefing with health officials.

Another troubling note Massiah said officials found is that most persons who are found to be ill, have been unwilling to seek medical treatment.

This has been particularly concerning since many of the ill persons have been reaching out through various forums and officials have been trying to get them to seek medical care, but with little success.

Massiah said many ill persons are putting their lives at risk in refusing medical treatment.

The National Epidemiologist urged persons experiencing symptoms such as coughing up blood, persistent tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, weakness in the limbs, lack of appetite, and dehydration to seek immediate medical attention.

Herd immunity likelihood low

Speaking to the issue of herd immunity concerning the outbreak, Massiah said the human body doesn’t really adapt, but the COVID virus and its variants do.

She also cautioned persons that antibodies generated from exposure to the virus will wane over time and noted that some persons may not even produce antibodies after contracting the virus.

This makes those persons even more susceptible over time.

Massiah explained that while some persons may move in different social circles, some circles may offer a greater level of immunity than others. She said this meant that health officials expect to see more outbreaks in certain pockets or levels of individuals because of lower levels of immunity.

The low vaccination rates achieved in the BVI so far suggest that the territory is unlikely to achieve herd immunity with current trends.

She said modelling done by her team has shown that if current trends are not abated, the BVI can see as much as 5,500 positive COVID-19 cases in the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Ronald Georges said the community spread currently being experienced by the BVI is presenting a high risk for transmission.

According to the CMO, the new 7 pm to 5 am daily curfew would present an opportunity to limit movement and reduce the opportunity for contact and spread of the virus.

 

Shares

Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

36 Comments

Disclaimer: BVI News and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the comments below or other interaction among the users.

  1. Cant wait says:

    Cant wait to see the nonsense and dribble this produces in the comments.

    Like 8
    Dislike 5
    • Umpire says:

      Congratulations, you provided the first.

      Like 16
      Dislike 2
    • Driving says:

      What is driving the Civid spike is the drug dealers and whites going back and forth to St Thomas illegally at night. Then being spread at the whore clubs around the island. That’s how it’s being driven. State the real facts

      Like 4
      Dislike 16
    • Rubber Duck says:

      I couldn’t wait to see the government response , and here it is.

      21 days of prayer and fasting. Yes. Really.

      You could not make it up. Not only is it entirely and utterly but fasting weakens every aspect of the body including the ability to resist disease.

      Only in BVI.

      • no says:

        Fasting actually provides the body a chance to rebuild it self from a cellular level… this could be a good thing if done correctly.

  2. Oh, noo… says:

    You mean the ones who think it can’t happen to me? Or, those who think it can’t do anything to them? The foolishness of youth.

    Like 11
  3. sturpss says:

    These people will say anything to not admit that its their fault because they removed testing and quarantine for vaccinated people.

    Like 21
    Dislike 18
    • Anonymous says:

      Bit that whatvthe people wantes when theybwere complaining that goverment need to remove the quarantine days becuse it hurting the economy.

      The poeople force the governement hand whenn the government was only trying to keep the territry safe from a covid 10 surge like we a currently experiencing…. Now yall want to blame the goverment…

      Nah my froend ir dont work like that…. you reap what you so yall soms of yall ask for this becUse yall main focus was on the money and not the health and safety of the BVI…..

      You cant have it both ways this what some of yall azk for so now yall got to accept and live with the results

      Like 13
      Dislike 1
  4. Data says:

    I would like to get some specific information on this instead of broad undefined terms such as;
    of the 821 cases, what is the demographic? How many male/female? What is the age group? how many are vaxed, how many are not. What is the recovery time? Will there be mandatory testing.

    Like 21
  5. Interested says:

    There are young people I know personally who claimed that Covid is a hoax and scoffed at protocols such as mask wearing and so on,I guess they are finding out now

    Like 21
    Dislike 1
  6. Hmm says:

    Anything in the BVI under the age of 28 don’t have a bit of common sense……..

    Like 33
    Dislike 1
  7. The COVID-19 vaccine works says:

    I live in a blue tri-state area of the usa where we have a very high vaccinated rate. We are returning to a new normalcy. One sign traffic is back. It’s great to see folks/families out at restaurants, concerts, parks, 100 or less church service, barbeques, etc. FREEDOM!

    That is only possible because we are all vaccinated for the most part. We also have very few outbreaks and when we do it’s the unvaccinated and the hospitals are not overwhelmed.

    Please family, friends, my bvi soul brothers and sisters I beg you please listen to the medical professionals, get vaccinated. The long haul COVID neurological damage alone is cause enough for you to get the vaccine. If you don’t some of you as youth and young adult will not have the future you dream of, if you become disabled. I am begging you all please get vaccinated. I was hesitant initially but when I looked at the risks and the alternative..catching COVID, I chose to get vaccinated. Prayers and love to you all!

    Like 42
    Dislike 3
  8. Get vaccinated says:

    If there wasn’t a charge of $70 to get a test maybe more people would seek it and treatment. Also what about getting the people in the vaccination tent/cashier vaccinated?

    Like 6
    Dislike 2
  9. Who? says:

    She is the national epidemiologist but is not a doctor? What exactly is her level of education and what parameters did her “team” set in their computer model?

    Speaking of the team, if the territories leading epidemiologist has not completed a doctorate in her field, what level are the rest of her “team”?

    Like 12
    Dislike 14
    • go sit down says:

      You’ll usually need a postgraduate degree, either a Masters or a PhD, in epidemiology or a related subject, such as public health, statistical science or biological science, to work as an epidemiologist.

      https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/epidemiologist

    • Well says:

      The minimum educational requirement for a doctor of epidemiology is a doctoral degree with specific training in public health and diseases, and usually a master’s degree.

    • No nonsense says:

      @ WHO, A few years Back, she was a science teacher at Elmo Stoutt and very green. Where is her experience… before the minister of Death and government request an expert in the field from the UK, them bring Cummings to push his company vacine. The whole government is lying with every thing them do. Hating laid the perfect example ?

  10. @Who? says:

    a high school science teacher. No medical background

    Like 9
    Dislike 7
  11. Secret Bear says:

    This is because young people are less likely to be vaccinated. Young people are also much less at risk. So overall this is good news. Now stop inflating the case count by testing healthy people and end the panic.

    Like 3
    Dislike 8
  12. Secret Bear says:

    Where did this woman’s “models” come from? The back of a napkin? And why in the world is someone who doesn’t believe in the immune system working as an “epidemiologist?”

    Natural immunity works, and always has worked. That doesn’t mean vaccines are useless, but pretending humans don’t have immune systems is ludicrous and dangerous.

    This is pure fear-mongering propaganda.

    Like 8
    Dislike 15
    • Rubber Duck says:

      Wow we are so lucky in BVI to have highly qualified people like you to inform us. Now get back to your shelf filling job and stfu.

      Like 12
      Dislike 2
    • @ Secret Bear says:

      Indeed, natural immunity works until it doesn’t. That would apply to pretty much everyone who dies of an infectious disease, regardless of whether it’s a virus, bacterium’s or mold, or whether it’s TB, malaria, syphillis, AIDs or COVID.

  13. THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST says:

    THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HAS ALLLLLL POWER TO PROTECT ELOHIM’S CHILDREN. CHILDREN OF ELOHIM IT’S TIME TO PRAY.

    Like 2
    Dislike 8
  14. Hmm says:

    She says some persons may not produce anti bodies or will not produce more over time. Why then would exposure to the vaccine be any different? In that case you will need a vaccine regularly.

    She’s more from a concerned position than an fully educated one in my opinion.

    Like 4
    Dislike 3
    • Joe says:

      The vaccine stimulates a stronger immune response to create longer-lasting antibodies, than that produced by corona virus infection.

  15. rgs says:

    According to http://www.worldometers.info, the total cases since the beginning of the pandemic is 821. Total active cases is 506. If that is the case, saying there are 821 cases is misleading the public with a 65% inflated number. 506 is high none the less.

  16. Norris Turnbull says:

    Be careful the youths change their minds.

  17. hairstylist says:

    hair style looks fancy

  18. down2earth says:

    @who & Co – I know she taught as a teacher also. Guess what? She IS qualified for her position! Stop being so salty. (Jesus’ father was a carpenter … you heard Jesus was qualified (as you know it)for something else? What about Moses? Aaron? …)

Leave a Comment

Shares