Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

Health Officials confirm that COVID Delta variant was in BVI!

Health Officials confirm that COVID Delta variant was in BVI!

Less than two weeks after Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Ronald Georges said residents could not blame the territory’s deadly COVID-19 outbreak on the delta variant, health officials have now announced that the variant was in the BVI.

At the peak of the BVI’s outbreak, the territory saw a little more than 1,600 cases and some 36 COVID-related deaths; all within an approximate six weeks.

In a release issued Sunday, August 15, the Ministry of Health & Social Development confirmed that one COVID-19 sample tested positive for the delta variant.

The CMO reported that out of eight COVID-19 samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for genetic assessment on August 4, one sample tested positive for the delta variant (B.1.617.2).

All other samples, the release stated, identified no variants of concern or interest.

Importantly, Dr Georges said the identified case had no travel history and the household in which that case resided included two other positive contacts.

He said one of these contacts met the criteria for sequencing and tested negative for the delta variant.

“These cases and contacts were all quarantined and cleared in accordance with established protocols,” Dr Georges said.

No variants of concern found in previous samples sent to CARPHA


In a COVID-19 update to the territory a few weeks ago, Dr Georges said samples sent to CARPHA at that time did not show any variants of concern.

The CMO later said if the BVI had the delta variant during the recent outbreak, the territory could have expected to see three times as many cases, and three times as many deaths.

In an effort to help curb the spread of the virus during the outbreak, the BVI government instituted a curfew order and instructed several business establishments to remain closed during that period.

Most businesses have since been allowed to reopen as health officials continue to monitor cases.

In the meantime, the CMO has again advised the community to continue to take personal responsibility and adhere to public health measures and quarantine guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19.

He said all positive cases should ensure they follow the isolation guidelines and continue to take every opportunity to get vaccinated.

According to the latest reports from health officials, active cases have since fallen to 46 persons with some seven persons currently hospitalized with the virus.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×