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CDC says BVI is ‘moderately risky’ despite COVID absence

Although the BVI has been enjoying several weeks without any active COVID-19 cases, the United States Centres for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has only downgraded its travel warning against the territory to level 2.

Travel to level 2 countries is deemed ‘moderately risky’, and the CDC says, “older adults, people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions, and others at increased risk for severe illness [should] postpone all nonessential travel” to these destinations.

The CDC says “Some examples of essential travel may include traveling for humanitarian aid work, medical reasons, or family emergencies.”

Using this example, the CDC would consider vacations to be non-essential travel.

“COVID-19 risk in the British Virgin Islands is moderate. Over the last 28 days, new cases of COVID-19 in the British Virgin Islands decreased or stabilized. If you get sick in the British Virgin Islands and need medical care, resources such as hospital beds may be limited. Plan ahead and learn more about getting healthcare abroad,” the CDC website said.

The US regularly issues travel warnings and alerts against countries because of widespread violence and natural disasters. But this doesn’t mean that persons are banned from visiting any country flagged by the US.

Health Minister Carvin Malone has said the government has put measures in place at the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital to handle possible COVID-19 cases after the territory’s December 1 reopening to visitors. 

He said the government is hoping it doesn’t have to use any of it’s eight ventilators to treat severe COVID-19 cases. But, in any case, medical travel insurance which includes COVID-19 coverage is among the list of terms and conditions for all arriving passengers after December 1.

READ: Visitors will not be turned away if they test positive on arrival

Meanwhile the United States continues to lead the world as one of the countries most infested with COVID-19. The numbers continue to trend upward in that country where over 11.2 million cases have been recorded and almost 300 thousand have died.

 Before this level 2 ranking, the CDC had ranked the BVI as a level 3 country and warned all travellers to not to visit as the risk of contracting COVID-19 was ‘very high’.  

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11 Comments

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  1. Well well well says:

    CDC is the same Americans who spreading the corona virus heavy in the Caribbean then turn around and rating the same Caribbean they infested with their travel advisories. Well Well Well.

    Like 32
    Dislike 8
  2. Clears throat says:

    We still listening to Anything the Cdc says? What have we learned in this 2020

    Like 12
    Dislike 4
  3. Lolllllllllll says:

    What does US CDC say about USA?

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    Dislike 3
  4. Warning says:

    The warning exists for 2 reasons. First, the lack of testing in the BVI gives way to lower than actual results. In the US more testing has resulted in more people diagnosed with Covid. In the BVI, no testing equals no Covid. In the BVI people are afraid of the medical system and being treated as a leaper. Thus, they stay home and recover. Second, the lack of healthcare in the BVI is the other reason for the warning. If one gets sick, there are no drugs or competent medical staff to treat a patient. By the way that is what frightens you all the most about opening up and rightfully so. If your past and present governments hadn’t stolen the billions from the government coffers you could have had first rate medical care in the BVI. Now it equals Somalia.

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  5. Fubu says:

    F*k cdc!

    Like 10
    Dislike 2
  6. CDC hmmm says:

    This time last year they were begging everyone to get their Flu shots,,,, Now u not hearing that, everyone with the Flu or flu syntoms now has covid, before covid they were 700 thousands death anually from the Flu, now all the death are Covid…CDC, World health Organization all of them corrupt..

    Like 5
    Dislike 1
  7. Don’t be fooled says:

    You see who is in control
    Learn the chain of command in the country . Don’t be fooled by loose cannon talk “
    The Minister of Health has said ….. Governor has put ….. Go done you will hear

  8. Tourism says:

    90% of The tourist for the BVI come from the USA. That place is messed up with the Virus big time…so you are the company you keep.
    Too bad that the USA does not have it’s self together. Be thankful for these 9 months of no real virus problems.
    We will be back to the old days of tourism and beauty after the vaccine is distributed to everyone (July 2021).
    Until then, stay healthy!

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