In an interview on JTV this week, Malone said the government has relaxed the COVID-19 protocols since the beginning of the pandemic, but they do not plan to completely remove them.

He noted July of last year when the territory had a COVID-19 surge of more than 1,600 cases. Malone said the government implemented partial curfews to deal with that issue. However, over the Christmas period and into January 2022, the territory saw another surge in cases with approximately 1,300 confirmed active positive cases but no curfews or lockdowns were implemented.

“One would have to admit we have learned to progress and live with it. Is it time to do away with all of it as if it doesn’t exist? Well, you can’t tell that to the person who I know who are in the hospital right now; the persons who are still waiting to be interred (buried),” the Health Minister said.

“So, the whole fact is that we have to be careful in what we are doing. We have cut the days for persons in quarantine. It was 14 days, then it was down to 10 and now seven with a rapid test. If you stay 10 days, we are looking to have you released without a test. However, at the workplaces, people are saying if my employee or I contract it, I want to know if I am still in that infectious zone after the 10 days to protect my business and protect others around,” Malone added.

People no linger required to wear masks in the UK

Last week, Johnson said most restrictions employed to fight the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in England would be lifted this week. People are no longer required to wear masks in closed spaces, work from home, and prove vaccination status to enter public spaces such as nightclubs. Secondary school pupils will no longer be required to wear face masks from Thursday, Johnson said, calling for the March 24 date for a review of self-isolation rules to be brought forward.

In addressing the House of Commons, the prime minister attributed the changes to the success of the UK’s mass booster jab programme.

“Because of the extraordinary booster campaign… we can return to Plan A in England and allow Plan B regulations to expire,” Johnson said.

Last month, England switched to “Plan B” in order to cope with what Johnson called a “tidal wave” of expected infections from the Omicron variant.

Meanwhile, the Virgin Islands currently has 397 active cases, which is down by 18 from the previously reported statistics. Malone said once the new positive cases drop to single digits, then the territory would be in the correct zone. Also, the total number of fully vaccinated persons stand at 17,236 while 1,550 are partially vaccinated. The current goal is to reach at least 22,500 fully vaccinated persons.