COVID-19 CASES ON THE DECLINE IN THE USVI DESPITE A MAJORITY OF ANTI-VAXXERS

CHRISTIANSTED — During today’s Government House weekly press briefing, Assistant Health Commissioner Dr. Nicole Craigwell-Syms reported that active COVID-19 cases continued to decline territory-wide.

Residents can get vaccinated at no cost at the Community Vaccination Center (CVC) located in each district; both facilities accept scheduled appointments and walk-up requests for the vaccine.

Anyone 5 and older is eligible to receive the vaccine. Please make sure to have a parent or guardian accompany any minor wishing to get vaccinated and bring an ID for both the minor and the parent or guardian.

The current vaccination schedule for children ages 5-11 is Tuesday and Friday at the Maternal Child Health on St. Thomas from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Monday-Friday at the Community Vaccination Center on St. Croix from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For information about the COVID-19 vaccines or to schedule an appointment to get vaccinated, call the VITEMA hotline Mondays-Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 340-777-VACS (8227). Vaccination appointments also can be scheduled online at covid19usvi.com/vaccines. The Department of Health will bring the COVID-19 vaccine to children and adults who are homebound.

Just 47 percent of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ population is fully vaccinated, according to Our World In Data. Governor Albert Bryan set a goal of 75 to 80 percent of the population vaccinated by this fall — but the territory has not yet responded to his repeated calls to action.

By contrast, Governor Pedro Pierluisi has convinced some 74.2 percent of Puerto Rico’s population to take the COVID-19 vaccine — the highest vaccination rate in the United States.

Anyone who thinks they may have contracted COVID-19 can call the Epidemiology hotline at 340-712-6299 or 340-776-1519. For more information, visit covid19usvi.com

COVID-19 cases as of November 15

• 1.57% seven-day positivity rate

• Currently tracking 56 active cases (44 STX; 8 STT; 4 STJ).

• 215,275 individuals tested to date.

• 7,370 individuals tested positive.

• 7,230 individuals have recovered.

• 84 deaths.

• There are two COVID-19 patients hospitalized, with none on a ventilator, at Juan F. Luis Medical Center on St. Croix.

• There are no COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.