The field hospital was set up in July as a proactive measure to deal with the surge in COVID-19 cases in the territory.

Responding to members of the media on Tuesday following a function, Minister Malone said, “I have asked the CEO [of the BVI Health Services Authority] to vacate, to leave the space because the youngsters want the space for recreational uses. So while we may have needed it before, thank God we don’t.”

He informed that the government is reviewing proposals for other venues to facilitate field hospitals so that Virgin Gorda and Tortola could have these facilities if needs be.

“So we are planning ahead, and hopefully none of the equipment that we have, we have to use, but we must have it just in case,” he remarked.

He urged residents to continue to follow the protocols “in order to resist, avoid the instances of hospitalizations and of course using any of the other facilities beyond that.”

Meanwhile, Ag. Chief Executive Officer of BVIHSA Mrs. Cedorene Malone-Smith, said, “we are working on gathering our troupes together to start taking the tents down and returning some of the equipment to the organization. So let’s look forward to the end of August.”

Background

Setting up the field hospital was to ensure that the BVIHSA was equipped and ready to effectively respond should a significant number of persons begin to exhibit COVID 19 symptoms and require hospitalization.

Malone-Smith previously explained, “the field hospital is to serve as an overflow to the current COVID wing at the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital.”

She further added that “this will be available for persons who require medical intervention but do not necessarily have a need for acute medical care.”

It was equipped to house 25 persons.