BVI News

COVID results delayed because BVI Health Services is short-staffed

Health Minister Carvin Malone said a staffing shortage within the BVI Health Services is affecting the government’s ability to return test results to travellers in a timelier manner.

In an address to the territory on Monday, December 7, Minister Malone said health authorities are feverishly training and deploying current workers within the health sector to assist with the COVID-19 testing process as more visitors trickle into the territory.

While noting that the testing laboratory has responded well overall: “We have some challenges in terms of gathering all the data because the automation part of it will come. But we are growing and we are adding the facilities necessary to be able to get the automatic responses, number one, from the entry protocol, the automatic advisory as to whether or not you have tested negative/positive so that would know exactly what to do. So we would lessen that time that people are now experiencing.”

“It is an open secret that we must go to where you take the test at 11 o’clock on the fourth day and get it by 11 the next day. But we have some areas that we are sorting out as we speak. Premier spoke of being able to increase the staff. We trained about six persons today (December 7) to assist with different areas. We were able to transition a number of people from different departments who were enthusiastic about this and making sure that for the love of country, they would be able to lend their support where it is needed,” Malone explained.

He added that having more staff members will help to reduce the time travellers have to wait when they take the first COVID-19 test after landing in the BVI.

Lab expert needed

Minister Malone also said health authorities are trying to source a laboratory specialist to work at the state-of-the-art laboratory at the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital where samples are tested for COVID-19.

“That’s a specialised area and folks at the Health Services guard that sacredly because we want to make sure that the lab gives out the accurate response in line with the accreditation we have obtained. We need trained personnel to do that so if we have persons with such specialised laboratory skills in the territory, they can identify themselves so they can be interviewed,” Malone explained.

Persons who travel to the BVI must return two COVID-19 test results before they are allowed to mingle with others within the community.

Hundreds of residents and non-residents have already travelled to the BVI since the territory reopened its borders to international travel on December 1.

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56 Comments

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  1. Doh says:

    What the ever loving $#*!

    Short staffed? Are you kidding me? Just like everything this government does, half a**ed, we’re caught with our pants down. Ineptitude and outright buffoonery is our gameplay and response. Omfg

    Season over. Close airport

    Carry on.

    Like 60
    Dislike 4
    • Anc says:

      And the government Belongers are proud of their accomplishments without the assist of the UK? That’s another lie and misinformation by zFoy and Malone. Who sent the tests and supplies for free? Who is securing the borders? Who is stopping the drug running? Who is trying to halt the corruption in the government? The answer to all is the Brits. Become independent. You will fail and you will beg at the UN to be saved.

      Like 51
      Dislike 2
    • TALK DA TRUTH says:

      ITS NOT BVIHSA THEY ARE NOT SHORT STAFFED THEY ARE UNDERPAID THE LAB TECHS ARE NOT BEING PAID OVERTIME THAT IS WHY THIS DELAY IS HAPPENING TELL ME IF YOU ARE WORIKING 8HRS A DAY KNOWING FULLY WELL YOUR BOSS WILL NOT SIGN OFF ON YOUR OVERTIME WILL YOU STAY LONGER THAN YOUR TIME??? OF COURSE NOT YOU WILL LEAVE YOUR UNFINISHED TESTS FOR THE NIGHT STAFF WHICH CONSISTS OF MAYBE 2 OR 3 PERSONS TO CONTINUE ALONG WITH THE TRUCK LOAD OF COVID TESTS TO BE PROCESSED AND TO DEAL WITH EMERGERNCIES SMH SO MR MINISTER DO NOT SAY BVIHSA IS UNDERSTAFFED PLEASE REPHRASE AND SAY THEY ARE UNDERPAID!!!!!

      Like 17
      • erm says:

        As much as your passion is appreciated, the lab, nursing staff, doctors etc as healthcare professionals know that we do not abandon our work until it is completed. hence the hours are being put in on all fronts with most professionals working far pass their 8 hour shifts. the people are being swabbed and their tests are being processed THE SAME DAY the samples are received. the results are available. the ministry has obviously dropped the catch and is looking for someone to blame. this is rubbish!!

        Like 11
      • for love of country says:

        smh for love of country the Ministers need to cut dem salary in half to handle this pandemic at least

  2. Ridiculous says:

    This is completely unacceptable Hon. Malone. We knew we were facing a pandemic since February. It’s now December when we have re-opened the borders and you are now saying that you’re short staffed so it’s delaying covid results? What were you doing all this time? Didn’t you know that you would have needed more help? We haven’t started to get visitors in huge numbers yet and this is the result already. What is going to happen when the numbers increase? No plan for nothing! This continues to be a disgrace.

    Like 79
    Dislike 2
  3. PT9 says:

    Do you guys ever get anything right with the opening of the BVI? Everything is at the last minute, You have to do better than this.

    Like 54
    Dislike 1
  4. Bob says:

    We were not ready!

    Like 32
  5. SMH says:

    NO F**KING PLAN!!!!! Over 8 months to plan and picking fights with the Governor, but cannot get simple tbings sorted out. What a shame, just a complete f**king waste all of them.

    Like 63
    Dislike 1
  6. smh says:

    Still not prepared when you had months and months to do it. But keep announcing false opening dates and or protocols.

    Like 51
    Dislike 1
  7. WTF says:

    What happened to the containerized lab that you promised the tourism industry? The arrivals are significantly less than was projected by the industry, thanks to your actions to date, so why aren’t you ready?

    Like 39
  8. MP says:

    I recently appied for a job and as to date not a reply of acknowledgement. BVIHS requested individuals to send their application, etc by email. The common thing to do is reply to the sender! Carvin you need to check with your BVIHS HR dept.
    Short staff…poor planning. Smfh

    Like 44
    • @MP says:

      Likewise as well, I also submitted my APPLICATION VIA E MAIL TO THE BVIHS HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND TO DATE, NOT SO MUCH AS A REPLY FROM SAID AGENCY INFORMING ME ON ANYTHING. I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE HEALTH FIELD. I HAVE SINCE SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION TO A HEALTH AGENCY IN THE US AND WAS ACCEPTED FOR A POSITION IN A HEALTH LABORATORY.

      Like 20
    • What? says:

      What HR department?

      Like 2
      Dislike 1
    • rofl says:

      They recently removed the HR Manager and installed a cronie.

  9. The Nation says:

    At all these people who bashing the Government saying they had so much time to plan….COME ON …you people are a trip…do you realise that COVID-19 is NOT the ONLY thing that the Premier Fahie and his administration has been responsible for…do you realise that he delegates and sometimes people don’t do their jobs…look at the rest of the world when you start judging the Premier and his administration…we have contained covid-19 outbreak twice… balance a budget and saved public servants jobs..while handling a dwindling economy.. and dealing with the EU/UK attack on our FINANCIAL SERVICES…if you know anything about the Premier is that he is working tirelessly…is he perfect? NO. if you can do a better job just shut up and volunteer at the Premier’s office…better yet…run for the Premiership next election. All yall can do is find fault…when they do good…no praise…set of toxic people…and no I not a VIP party person…I just call it like it is.

    Like 5
    Dislike 53
    • @Nation says:

      Of course COVID is not the only thing on the Premier’s mind. How can we forget changing the BVITB logo, changing the BVIPA logo, changing the BVIAA logo, fighting with the Governor on a weekly basis, taking pictures of cleaning up the roadside and saying “your government at work for you!”, busy taking responsibilities from his Ministers and putting under his portfolio when he cannot even manage what he already has, micromanaging every single thing and fumbling them all. SO yes, I agree with you! How can people expect the Premier to do things like, you know, keep us safe, put money where it’s needed, beef up our approach to COVID, I mean we only had almost 9 months to plan. How can we expect the Premier to do these things when he has been busy? HAHA!!!

      Like 28
    • You says:

      You need some glasses.

      If the premier had not piled up his portfolio with things that he should have left to his cabinet Ministers, he would a) not have to work so that he is tired! and his works tireless because he doesn’t want to allow anyone else to shine but him! b) had the time to plan the things which did require his direct input c) been in a better position to make better decisions d) had the time to make those decisions e) allowed his TEAM to do their jobs and f) actually make a decision.

      The issue here is that he is so busy with his fingers in every blessed pot, busy ensuring that all of the ministries HAVE to come to him to make a decision that NOBODY can move forward with a plan without him.

      So when you say we should be grateful, take notice that the reason we have such a breakdown in the effectiveness of this opening procedure can be laid directly at his door for his micromanagement of every facet of everything, that the end result is stagnation.

      yeah i said that.

      Like 15
  10. wow says:

    My heart goes out for those cuban doctors who are being constantly overworked.

    Like 30
    Dislike 2
  11. hmm says:

    This place is a JOKE! Article some week ago says gov not hiring but now health dept. short staffed knowing the country was about to be open?????Everything in this place that have anything to do with a governmental dept. always takes unnecessarily longer than it should because either ppl jus dnt give AF about their job, no one is held accountable, or is always some excuse for their incompetence and ineffectiveness! DO BETTERRRRRRRR!

    Like 39
  12. VI Gyal says:

    you cannot use the regular staff to conduct these test and do not expect a backlog. Common Sense. You have to get more manpower and also various locations.
    We have the Cuban doctors, retired nurses and so on. We need to have a testing center for those departing and a testing center for those arriving. Persons coming in have to provide test results and go straight into quarantine, therefore I think the day 4 testing would be more sufficient. By the time you get your on arrival test result it is time to test again, not feasible. That way it would not have such a back log.

    it does not matter which way we go because someone will come in with it. we just need to ensure they quarantine. I also think that we still need to have security at the facilities.

    Like 14
    Dislike 2
    • @VI Gyal says:

      These people had months and months to plan and also had MANY EXAMPLES to learn from where other islands/countries had opened long before us. Why were we not paying attention to what worked and didn’t work for other places and acted accordingly? Nobody is expecting perfection but with all the grandstanding the lease we would expect is proper funding and development of facilities to handle these things. If they know we were not ready then leave the place closed until you are. This government is all over the place and focused on too much foolishness. Everyday you see 20 flyers confusing the shit out of you and put them all together you don’t get half a coherent message. BVILOVE, Government working for you, your government at work. A bunch of nice words laced together but zero substance.

      Like 20
  13. lol says:

    Brother in law and cousin can’t get it together?

    Like 19
  14. Big shame says:

    Short of staff? So just saying, forbid, if the staff that you have come down with the virus, who is going to step in and continue the work.

    Like 15
  15. Umm says:

    I dont understand when u said “we have to go where u took the test” as far as i am aware everyone in quarantine do their second test at sea cows bay clinic. And people really need their test after day 4 remember we need to enjoy our vacation not waiting a whole 5th day for the results.

    Like 13
  16. Another thing says:

    You have too much unnecessary staff working at the airport doing the same work. You have to go to about 5 different staff at tge airport all asking you the same questions. Lol.

    Like 18
  17. ooohhh booiii says:

    @ The Nation At this time I agree with you where everyone needs to multitask and NOT micro manage as we all blamed Walwyn for in the last administration . Malone definitely DOES NOT have a good support staff or he is guilty . This does not look good on his record

    Like 13
  18. question says:

    Who is the medical chief of staff in the BVI and why don’t we hear from him/her?

    And…. If there is none one should be appointed. It’s not good that a minister of health without a medical background is constantly addressing issues that a Dr. should.

    Like 25
  19. Dman says:

    What a surprise !

  20. Hi says:

    I am still waiting on day 4 results..this is no vacation at all 5days in quarantine and if u counting day 0 totalling 6 days already. Vacation soon over in quarantine.?‍♀️

    Like 14
  21. Hmmm says:

    BLAMING GAME BEGINS. POLITICIANS LIKE TO BLAME OTHERS AND THOSE UNDER THEM EXCEPT
    “THEMSELVES”.

    MINISTRY OF HEALTH COULD NOT EVEN DO THE RIGHT THING TO EMAIL THE RESULTS TO THE TOURISTS AND OTHERS WITH ALL THEIR EMPLOYEES JUST SITTING ALL DAY LONG AND WATCHING THE CLOCK.

    Like 18
  22. Training says:

    How about training the 300 students that graduated to do this?

    Like 12
    Dislike 2
  23. Local says:

    My reservation ends today and i am yet to get my result. I had to get a place to stay government did not provide a place for me and i had to get myself a reservation before i could get approval now its day 5 my reservation end date and no results.

    Like 10
  24. Hmmmm says:

    But but but guys, we did it ALL ON OUR OWN WITHOUT THE UK!!! LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

    If these i***ts simply humbled themselves, the UK would’ve dropped an entire lab with support staff here to assist the BVI and we could’ve saved our money for schools and other things. Instead we empty our Treasury and bragging about doing it on our own. This self aggrandizement will be to the detriment of us. I’m sorry but at the rate we are going, it will not matter who gets elected in 2023 because the place will be sufficiently F**KED by then!!!

    Like 22
  25. Irony says:

    The testing/frontline areas of health are short-staffed but the social distancing task force set up to frustrate businesses and people by giving fines and playing super cop is overstaffed with puffed up chest fools who never had authority and are now running around like loose cannons harassing the people and businesses they do not like. It’s great to see we have our priorities in order.

  26. Wow says:

    Canada waiting time is 9 days. STOP COMPLAINING. BVI doing great.

    Dislike 16
    • @Wow says:

      Its not about the waiting time, its about FALSELY ADVERTISING one thing and then they get here and its a different story…. its about gettin ahead of themselves and pushin out information without having put the systems to test, and now talkin F*…..brag about 200 persons came in in 2 days but comin today to say “we weren’t expecting this many persons”…. are you KIDDINGGG

    • Liston says:

      Canada guarantees results in 24h and you get them. So stop spreading lies.

      Like 12
      Dislike 1
    • VeeBVI says:

      I am currently in Toronto, Canada, returning to the BVI Dec 13….had my test Tuesday morning and results back at 6:20 am today….do the math…..NOT 9 days!

  27. Say it aint so says:

    Every area can do with a little help. But blaming the BVIHSA who have been working tireslely from the beginning. Didnt they give a quick turnover of results for JVD and Anegada? Who gives out results? As a traveler, I got my result as promised from the hospital…. a wait yes… But in 24hrs (although they say 48hrs). So the question is whose job is to give the results… fix that part of the system and not blame. Remember these are the same persons to save the country when the real crises hits

  28. not know? says:

    Every single person coming in has to get approval. How can you not know how many are coming? Bogus statements.

  29. STANDARDS says:

    THE RESULTS FROM THE LAB ARE DELIVERED WITHIN 24 HOURS. HOWEVER, THE LAB TECHS DO NOT HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADVISING THOSE WHO ARE UNDER QUARANTINE WHAT THEIR RESULTS ARE. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTACTING ALL PERSONS UNDER QUARANTINE AND SHOULD HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE WHICH PROVIDES THIS.

    Like 11
  30. Ha,ha says:

    We arrived and on dsy 1 they send us a appointment for the 2d covid test?
    Then on day 3 sameting
    Now I,m supposed to have my real test tomorrow and no news.
    I think they are a little confuse
    😉

  31. Hodgie says:

    The same Foy boating about how well they dealt with the pandemic so far.

  32. ... says:

    The Health Minister and Premier need to stop blaming BVIHSA and start blaming their lazy staff for their incompetence! Getting patients swabbed, tested and issued their results was not an issue until the ministry was put into the mix. If public reporting responsibility was given to BVIHSA in the first place people would not have experienced this level of delays. The Ministry FAILED, not BVIHSA.

  33. Anonymous says:

    The Health Minister and Premier need to stop blaming BVIHSA and start blaming their lazy staff for their incompetence! Getting patients swabbed, tested and issued their results was not an issue until the ministry was put into the mix. If public reporting responsibility was given to BVIHSA in the first place people would not have experienced this level of delays. The Ministry FAILED, not BVIHSA.

  34. On looker says:

    I wonder how the Cuban Government, nurses and doctors feel hearing this.

  35. Smh says:

    Y’all should be embarrassed to say this. Hire people or shut the borders down to tourists until y’all have the capacity to provide for the needs that will arise.

  36. Wow says:

    Had a charter canceled last June when all this started. Pushed until this June. After reading all these posts I am wondering if everything will be worked out by then. We have been to your beautiful islands over 12 times in the past 15 years and have made many friends and have seen a lot of changes. I hope that we all are patient and help one another get through this together. Tourists remember your on island time!

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