Over 100 healthcare diagnosed with COVID amid rising case surge
More than 100 healthcare workers recently tested positive for COVID-19, adding further strain to the territory’s efforts to battle a rising surge in cases.
The news was made public by Health Minister Carvin Malone who also announced last Friday that the BVI’s count of active COVID cases had surpassed the 1000-person mark once again. It now stands at a staggering 1,049 cases.
“We are challenged, we are challenged because 109 of our healthcare professionals have been diagnosed as (COVID-19) positive,” Malone said.
Omicron variant confirmed in BVI
The minister also disclosed that samples sent to the Trinidad & Tobago-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) have returned positive tests for the Omicron variant of the virus.
With the fast-spreading nature of the omicron variant, the Malone said that almost no business has been left unaffected in some way by the spread of the virus.
He explained that this means that there will be effects on business continuity in the territory.
Restrictions added for crowd sizes
The minister also disclosed that Cabinet will meet again tomorrow, Tuesday, January 11, to further examine proposals made to curb the spread of the virus.
“What we’ve done is that we have made measures to lessen the crowd sizes,” Minister Malone stated.
He said crowd sizes have now been restricted to 100 persons but said this is still with the provision that interior spaces can only allow one person for every nine square-feet or for persons to be six feet apart from each other.
Any entity or activity that anticipates crowd sizes above 100 persons should apply to the Ministry of Health for permission to facilitate this, he advised.
Minister Malone also said officials have so far declined to implement any new curfews but will continue to review this as they monitor cases.
He said the government is confident that once persons were to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols in place, then there would be no need for curfews.
“We have to do this without having the law as your only guide, without having death as your only motivation,” Minister Malone said.
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“crowd sizes have now been restricted to 100 persons” – Feels to me like that is not a very serious restriction at all.
How is it that over 100 healthcare personal have testing positive for covid?
This is a significant and troubling finding. Significant because of the large number of infected health workers and troubling because if the obvious strain on the healthcare system when these workers are really needed and the fact that they have come in contact with patients in all probability.
Troubling also considering the fact that reports are personnel who conduct contract tracing are down to 2 persons due to a covid outbreak among those persons.
The obvious questions are: Were those 100 plus healthcare workers vaccinated?, and if not; why not? If not, were they frequently tested?
Were any patients infected due to contact with any of these healthcare workers?
I recall the debate around healthcare workers and their being requested to get vaccinated or have frequent testing.
At the time I thought all healthcare workers needed ti be vaccinated to protect the patients they take care of and come in contact with. Some workers were against taking the vaccine and still remain in their jobs. I thought this was a mistake and a disaster waiting to happen that could place the BVIHSA in legal jeopardy. And here we potentially are in what looks like a foreseen and predictable situation.
The government, specifically the Ministry of Health has failed to mandate healthcare workers be vaccinate and arrived at a compromise that places peoples lives at risk in my view for political reasons.
Unacceptable. There is more to this story, and the public needs answer.
You do realize that vaccinated persons can ALSO get the virus, right? Being vaccinated DOES NOT prevent the virus, it just reduces the possibility of hospitalization as your symptoms may not be as intense as that of a person who is not vaccinated.
A few of my family members are FULLY vaxxed and have recently contracted COVID, albeit with very mild symptoms.
We don’t know the status of the healthcare workers and as such, we shouldn’t be so quick to pass judgement.
Yes. Fully vaccinated persons can become infected with covid resulting in typically milder symptoms; however, it is highly unlikely that over 100 vaccinated reported healthcare would have become infected. This is a pattern seen most likely among those who are unvaccinated.
Given the overall health care staff, this is a significant health care staff infection rate. In fully vaccinated healthcare workers following appropriate standard protocols one dies not see these kinds of numbers.
What these numbers say is that covid is spreading wildly among health care workers which should not occur if fully vaccinated. And by fully vaccinated I mean inclusive of booster. ..ie 3 shots.
One expect some break thru cases despite vaccination which can be due to various factors BUT nit this high level of infection. It dies not happen in other health care facilities to this extent.
This is not a pre-judgement. This is the science.
The vaccine efficiency wains after 1 month and drops significantly after 3, something like from 90% to 70%. It is effectively useless past six.
So yes, it is HIGHLY likely that all vaccinated staff caught the virus. Youve been lied to sir.
Go look at the info for yourself
That is not the epidemiological ir clinical realty.
Your comment indicates that all your information is coming from mainstream media. Nothing you have said pertaining to unvaxxed and case numbers is correct. You need to seriously shut the hell up until your knowledge comes from outside of mainstream…seriously!
Statical trends in Germany, Isreal, Canada, Australia…I could go on! Seriously!…all show the total opposite of what you are saying.
I would bet my last dollar that majority if not all those 100+ Healthcare workers are vaxxed.
of what you speak so Im going ti keep it moving . Nit possible to have a fruitful conversation with an ill informed person. Have a nice day.
Why don’t you check the dates when the vaccines came to the islands followed by increase in covid cases? And verify when the boosters arrived how high the number jumped in two weeks?
The data is there, just visit it with an open mind and you will be on your way to understand what’s taking place. Either the vaccines and boosters are contributing to the surges, or someone is doctoring the numbers
ignoring the real-world evidence that vaccines work, published by all major health authorities worldwide. Question though – why are we importing the virus via the floating petri-dishes called cruise ships? Almost all the ships calling here are on the CDC watch list for having over their danger level of Covid infections. See https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/cruise-ship-color-status.html#cruise-table.
Vaccinated or not,health workers like everyone else, can contract the COVID virus. The variants have proven to be more contagious than the original COVID 19. However, they are not likely to require hospitalization and/or a final resting place as a result.
This,for some reason,is a most difficult concept for folks in these parts to comprehend even with the overwhelming evidence that we are experiencing.
It appears there is BVI science that trumps world science. It helps explain some of the rising numbers. Between the conspiracy theories and misinformation, the BVI may have a tall task getting this virus under control . Quite unfortunate.
Ohh so the Flu just disappeared? How come no body is getting the common Flu anymore?
Blame the minister and the rest of the cabinet because it was them that allowed all those parties and it was them who allowed cruise ship passengers to come ashore without being tested
Completely failed amongst medical staff. There should be a requirement when employed by government to be vaccinated. BVI continues to not adhere to international standards..
my body my choice
Your choice has consequences. On us too.
So don’t be surprised if your choice to do nothing means restrictions in how you live your life.
And enjoy the higher risk of death…
Hope you remember that when faced with death from covid.
Many of us who did not take the Vaccine have survived Covid, on the other hand we will not be selfish like you and which death by cancer or some other illness triggered by this vaccine on you. Yo wicked self!
Please explain how this is supposed to help, when it’s mostly vaccinated people who are getting and spreading the virus.
Cut down the quarantine time, NOW, and let these workers go to work as long as they have no symptoms. The US and UK are already doing this. Omicron is NOT Delta, and we need to readjust the way we treat it. I know if I were in a car accident, I would rather have a Covid positive but aysmptomatic nurse taking care of me, than die because everyone in the hospital is home quarantining.
having no symptoms does not mean you can not spread the virus. It just means that the infected person immune system is strong enough to keep there signs and symptoms at bay. They will spread that virus to every person or patient who comes in contact with them. so having them work benefits the employer but not the patient!
Do you think these people are horses. Even horses get a rest when they are ill. You want to through them back into the path of the virus while they are recovering to be knock down again. Even the common cold get you lethargic and out of sorts. But you expect the people to come back to work after five day to go for 12 hours being constantly surrounded by covid. You need to check the conditions under which these people are working. The body’s immune system can only take so much especially on these long shifts that these people are being asked to work.
Did you ever think that some of them might PREFER to be at work rather than be forced to sit at home doing nothing for 10 days while experiencing mild or even NO symptoms?
If you have a system where workers have to come to work daily to clock in and out, physically touching the same keypad, and where hand sanitizers are merely non-functioning display items, what else would you expect to happen?
Tell me you don’t know how Covid spreads without telling me.
Infected nurses need to get a financial package for their pain and suffering..They are doing a great and very risky Job willingly…They need to be shown more love… How many have recovered?
So there is a Covid outbreak in the hospital rendering over 100 of our “TRAINED” health care professionals out sick. What do you think will happen when school teachers have to be exposed to testing students? Just asking for a friend.
How can you change STUPID !!
STUPID people say STUPID things
Didn’t all healthcare workers just receive a whopping $275 as a thank you from the government for their hard work, putting themselves at increased risk of contracting the virus while helping to get this pandemic under control here in the BVI? why do they still need to get a whole two weeks off work like the rest of the community?
I say to #ell with their rights … force them to get the vaccine… look how well it worked for the Premiere and Deputy. and all the other vaccinated persons who are now covid positive.
forced vaccination put them in chains and line them up in front of the clinic and give them all the vaccines. they are after all publicSERVANTS (SLAVES).
Vaccinated or not,health workers like everyone else, can contract the COVID virus. The variants have proven to be more contagious than the original COVID 19. However, they are not likely to require hospitalization and/or a final resting place as a result.
This,for some reason,is a most difficult concept for folks in these parts to comprehend even with the overwhelming evidence that we are experiencing.
without having death as your only motivation,” Minister Malone said.This statement right here is a big lie.Covid is not deadly until you go to the hospital. We know how Clive,his brother and sister died.it has real thinking people out here Mr Malone Fauci.
Why would you cause their family more pain by typing this? Your opinion is your opinion, but please give some thought to others!
You are being stupid by not taking any covid vaccine. It is not my wish u contract covid but by the nature of the virus, you stand a very high chance of getting infected, becoming very ill, and dying from covid pneumonia. Its a matter of time.
People with your thinking who are vaccinated die everyday from covid. Quite often on their dying beds gasping for breath the say they wish they had taken the vaccine.
You are gambling with your life which u r free to do but u can always change your mind before its too late.
Talk to your doctor about this before something bad happens to u. If I was truly wicked as u label me incorrectly I would have said nothing and let nature take its course, but I am not. I care even if u dint see it or care to.
My words may appear harsh to get your attention but my intent here is good. All the best from this wicked one.