Local supermarkets distance from newest reported COVID-19 patient
In this photo inspired by Reuters, our news centre’s photographer juxtaposes a picture showing the well-populated scene at OneMart Superstore in Purcell Estate with how that said location looks today — deserted. In this photo inspired by Reuters, our news centre’s photographer juxtaposes a picture showing the well-populated scene at RiteWay Food Market in Pasea Estate with how that said location looks today — deserted.
Two local food suppliers have sought to publicly distance themselves from the female patient who recently tested positive for the coronavirus in the BVI.
OneMart Superstore and Roadtown Wholesale (RTW), which operates RiteWay Food Market, both issued public statements denying that the patient is employed at their respective establishments.
The supermarkets issued the public disclaimer in separate Facebook posts after rumours about their association with the patient began circulating within the local social media space.
In a statement notarized by RTW’s Managing Director, Guy Strickland, the popular food chain said, “Roadtown Wholesale Group of Companies does not have any employees that have tested positive for COVID-19/Coronavirus. The rumours are simply not true”.
We will follow all protocols
OneMart posted a similar statement specific to its staff.
The supermarket, which is owned by Opposition legislator Mark Vanterpool, added: “We continue to monitor our team and are taking preventative measures. If a case arises in the future, we will follow all required protocols to keep our team and customers safe. We wish a speedy recovery to persons fighting this, or any other illness.”
In the meantime, the female patient in question was reported as a positive case after testing locally. Health Minister Carvin Malone said she is currently hospitalized while the BVI seeks official confirmation from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad.
Seven other persons who were reportedly in close contact with the patient have been tested locally. Their results have returned negative but the BVI is also seeking official confirmation from CARPHA on those results.
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So she self quarantined… this is not as scary now, but waited too long to call the authorities.
See what that self quarantine is STILL bring to us! The very first 2 cases was supposed to have self quarantined!
Government need to stop the self quarantine and get the 150 room swing quick. This self quarantine thing is dangerous long at this now hope she recover and the other are not positive.
It is nice that both Riteway and One Mart have issued statements that none of their staffs tested positive for Covid-19. However, were all the staff tested? And if no, all need to be tested now and tested regularly. Further, all medical professionals should be tested now and tested regularly. Other first responders need to be tested, ie, police officers, fire officers, paramedics, EMTs….etc. By the way, what happened to Bobby’s?
THE LABOR DEPARTMENT HAVE HER RECORD THEY ARE THE ONE KNOW AND GET ALL SHE WERE IN CONTACT WITH SO GET ON IT FAST AND TELL HEALTH DEPARTMENT BEFORE IT GET OUT OF CONTROL. SHE NEED TO GO BACK WHERE SHE COME FROM NOT BECAUSE SHE GET THE VIRUS BUT HER LACK OF REGARDS FOR THE CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS OF THE ISLANDS. THE HEALTH DEPT NEED TO GET OUTTO THE PUBLIC MORE THEY ARE SLEEPING WE NEED TO MORE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON THEY ONLY GIVING BITS AND BITS WHICH MAKES NO SENSE .
I agree, no one needs to be guessing for whom this person works. The records are with labour. However, depending on where she works and where those with whom she was in contact work a whole lot of people could be in danger because she may have no clue as to who she was in contact with. I say this because a cashier at a store cannot tell the officials who she was in contact with because she does not know us because we go to her. A lot of Asians work in customer service and would not know who they are serving.
There are insufficient tests available to test even all the employees of both chains, let alone to continually test first responders.
This is the major breakdown that will prevent us from getting off this curfew cycle….nowhere near enough test kits, and we are so far down the list of territories with our amount of confirmed cases that we will never get enough tests to be thorough enough in the determination of a true number of cases.
Mark my words, there are more cases out there. And after the disgrace that was the witch hunt last night I wouldn’t blame them for not coming forward either.
The virus was going around before Christmas, but they hit the panic button in January. Start thinking, you remember when people thought they had the flu? More than likely you had a mild case of the virus. That is why I believe the BVI is going to have a spike soon. A whole lot of people in the BVI is walking around with the virus. The Government is not going to tell you that. Something is being hidden from the public. I don’t trust the Government.
That was clearly a different virus with different symptoms and not deadly as the one circulating around the world now. Also you can’t really think that the BVI was at the epicentre of this outbreak, ahead of the US and Europe …highly improbable.
Will make three key opinions.
#1 she had to be working somplace
#2 if she has a history of asmha y’all could be mistaking.
#3 maybe she took money to ack so they can extend the 24/7 curfew
Dude, is only now….I am convinced of what a horse’s @ $$ you really are
Another internet gangster, boy sit your 5 dollar azze doen before I make change.
That is why I also don’t trust the Government. They keep us in the dark to push their their agendas, they only let us know what they want us to know. They throw us a little scrap every now and again to make us believe they are doing good for the people.
As I was saying before many of our citizens are selfish and bad mind, the issue of having the Government keep saying to the public that the Bvi is covid-19 free and illegal infringement of our rights as citizens, curfews and not enough testing, asking if you have population of well over 30000 people, this pandemic has been around since December of 2019. The complete overreach and reaction of closing the borders indicates that they knew when it actually came into the territory, when affected cruises ships were coming in the country before the lock down. I am surprised that more taxi drivers and shop owners are possible A systematic. More testing needs to be done.
This woman has a legal right to privacy, as every medical patient does. Those who disrespect that fact are in breach of legal, social and ethical codes. Rumors and innuendo are what drives fear. Fear is not of God. Stand tall, do what is asked of you for the sake of public health and have some respect.
I agree that She has a right to her privacy when others do not stand to be affected. Depending on her circumstance she had no right to be allowed to self quarantine. How does one do such while living in a small apartment where the occupants out number the rooms.
Why you guys never ask the name of the other victims .lock of love, and no respect.dont need to say the rest.
Was she the only one self quarantine, guys don’t get carried away here
Buy now you guys should realise that this virus don’t ask you questions like where u from ,how much money you have ,young r old .the question you should ask yourself if u contract the virus that’s how u want other to deal with u ,like your nobody
O
Once again we see the response of a tololian agianst a none toloian in regards to who have the virous , what if it was a tortolian who had the virous may be u wont hear northing about it, as with somany other that harpens in this country,we need to help eachother if we are going to get over ththe cove ,thats what we were told, so think, today is mine, tomorow its yours
Why you all always do that? As soon as there is an incident involving an expat, regardless on how it is dealt with you all lash out and turn it around on the BV Islander. People have the right to ask questions to figure out how they must deal with the situation. I guess the BV Islander must roll over and play dead and do not ask any question. If this woman was in her home town and this happen to her I am sure they will act worse. Nobody is discriminating against her and her family they just discussing the matter. You expats are too thin skin and always quick to pick a fight but we have the ability just like everybody else. My condolences to her family and the Phillippinoes.