In a statement by the Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronald Georges on Christmas Eve, he said 24 samples were sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) returned a positive test for the Delta and Delta plus variant of the coronavirus.

“Over the last three weeks, 24 samples sent to CARPHA for genetic typing have returned the Delta variant with one case being identified as Delta plus. The current spike in cases is therefore due to the Delta variant,” Dr Georges said.

“Samples from sick persons positive for COVID-19 and who meet eligibility criteria for testing are sent for genetic typing from both the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital Laboratory and the Medicure Laboratory,” the acting CMO added.

Dr Georges also noted the local laboratory at the hospital has been using special test kits designed to identify the Delta variant and is conducting evaluations on the kits’ effectiveness based on the results from CARPHA.

Meanwhile, the acting CMO said the ministry is vigilant and continues to monitor the territory for any cases of the Omicron variant.

“The Omicron variant continues to replace Delta as the dominant strain in various jurisdictions and is now found in 89 countries worldwide. While it has not yet been identified in the Virgin Islands, it has been identified in the Caribbean region,” Dr Georges said.

“So far, it appears that it is more infectious but causes milder disease. Let us, therefore, increase our vigilance and adherence to mask-wearing, social distancing, and hand hygiene,” he added.

Be careful during the holidays

Dr Georges also warned people to people careful over the holiday period as there have been clusters of cases associated with schools, day-cares, private and government offices, large and small companies, social gatherings, and events.

“The Delta variant at this present time appears to be outcompeting Mu in the Virgin Islands as has occurred in other jurisdictions. The current vaccines offer good protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and death associated with Delta infection and residents should therefore avail themselves of opportunities to be either vaccinated or receive their booster dose. We have to also be cognizant of the appearance of the Omicron variant in many countries around the world and its inevitable entrance into the Virgin Islands,” he stated.

The Acting CMO in his address encouraged people to take a COVID-19 test if they are experiencing any symptoms of the virus. He also added that persons who tested positive will be given a quarantine order and must isolate.

“Persons found to be positive will be given a quarantine order and required to isolate for a period of 10 days minimum and must be symptoms free for at least 24 hours before the end of isolation in keeping with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and United Kingdom National Health Service guidelines. However, persons who are immunocompromised or have severe disease requiring hospitalisation may be isolated for longer periods up to 20 days,” he said.

The last update on Christmas Eve showed there were 143 active cases in the Virgin Islands with 133 on Tortola and the remaining 10 on Virgin Gorda.