This hotline number - 284-852-7650 -will be used to support local medical physicians and will be available to receive calls from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Dr Potter said if persons may need assistance outside of the specified times, they can resort to the territory’s standard emergency 911 number.

He further said that his ministry is working to have a public hotline established for residents to call and inquire on anything regarding the extremely contagious coronavirus.

“Always remember, the BVI has a 911 system, if you feel ill and you need help and you have a question call 911. We have prepared them to be able to respond and to have information on who else you can call,” Dr Potter reiterated while speaking at a business townhall meeting which was hosted by the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) on Thursday, March 12.

Ready to test locally

The Chief Medical Officer has also confirmed that the territory now has the requisite tools to do testing for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) locally.

With the technology now available in the territory, Dr Potter said persons who are tested for the virus would be aware of there status in a matter of hours.

“We have tested three persons, they were all negative. The turnaround time ranged from two-and-a-half days to about four days. But when testing is up-and-running in country, it will take about four to six hours [for results],” Dr Potter stated.

He added: “I can report that we now have capacity to do PCR testing for COVID-19 in the BVI. But our protocol still requires that we must send the test and wait to the preference lab for a second test … We are working out the logistics around the testing.”