COVID Numbers Rise Again

The Deputy Health commissioner, Reuben Molloy, said the number of people in the Virgin Islands with COVID-19 has increased over the last week. As of Monday, there are 66 active cases in the territory – up from 58 the previous week.

The active cases include 45 on St. Croix, 20 on STT, and St. John has one infection, resulting in a positivity rate of 1.24 – up from .74 the week before. Molloy said there are two patients with COVID in the Juan F. Luis Hospital, and the 88th fatality, reported Monday, was a 56-year-old woman on St. Croix.

So far, the new coronavirus strain – Omicron – has not been identified in the territory. Molloy said there might be cases in Puerto Rico, however.

Samples are still being sent to Yale University for sequencing to detect Omicron. Extra caution should be taken since the holidays are coming up, and Omicron spreads quickly, Molloy said.

“We must act as if this highly contagious Omicron is here in the territory,” he said, reminding people to get vaccinated, wear masks and wash their hands frequently.

Molloy also asked people to take the “easy and free” vaccine and get tested if they have COVID symptoms. Vaccinations can be scheduled at covid19usvi.com/testing, and people can call the Health Department hotlines, 340-712-6299 on St. Croix and 340-776-1519 on St. Thomas.