Low USVI Vaccination Rates Begin to Shut Down In-Person Schooling

The Ulla F. Muller Elementary School on St. Thomas and the Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8 School on St. Croix have both reverted to virtual learning due to confirmed COVID-19 exposure on campus. In both cases, the confirmed positive results came on Wednesday, one day after the schools reopened to in-person learning.

The virus continues to spread unchecked in the territory due to an insufficient proportion of the population taking the free vaccine to create herd immunity and slow spread to the point where it declines rather than increases.

Every single Virgin Islander who has died from COVID-19 has been unvaccinated. While 63 Virgin Islanders have died so far, hundreds more have long-term or permanent damage to their lungs, hearts and other organs. No vaccinated Virgin Islanders have experienced reactions severe enough to require hospitalization.

An announcement will be made on when the two schools will reopen for in-person learning.

Meal distribution in the “No V.I. Child Goes Hungry” feeding initiative is not affected at the Muller campus and will operate as normal.

As part of the Department of Education’s COVID-19 protocols, the affected areas of the campus will be thoroughly sanitized using the appropriate, CDC-approved sanitizing solutions. Department officials pointed out that it is to be expected that there would be COVID-19 exposure on campuses as schools operate during the pandemic; however, all schools have the appropriate safety protocols in place to address cases as they arise.