Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025

Positive COVID violators frustrate Premier into pushing for $20K fines

Positive COVID violators frustrate Premier into pushing for $20K fines

Following the recent breach of quarantine protocols by one tourist who tested positive for COVID-19, Premier Andrew Fahie has said he will be lobbying to have the maximum fine for breaches increased to $20,000 when the Cabinet meets today, Wednesday, December 16.

Premier Fahie made the comment during Tuesday’s session in the House of Assembly where it was revealed by the Health Minister Carvin Malone that the territory had recorded another three positive COVID-19 cases, pushing the total to nine active cases.

The Premier scolded the actions of the tourist who put the territory at risk by venturing out of their quarantine area. He said the visitor’s actions could have easily reversed the many months of progress made by residents who have complied with the COVID-19 measures.

“Everyone has been here working hard, adhering to everything and then in comes somebody and decides that they’re just going to leave the quarantine area, and they’re positive. It’s nothing to hide under the bush.”

“I am going to be pushing for it (the fine) to be $10,000. And if I can get it to twenty, I will push for it to be $20,000. It’s foolishness — vexes my spirit,” the Premier expressed.

16 close contacts negative so far


Premier Fahie said the contact tracing efforts so far have been rewarding, with the majority of the persons who came into close contact with the positive tourist returning negative results.

Some 16 close contacts had been identified at the time.

“We pray God that the few more that have to come in they’ll be negative too. And I want to say this very blunt, ‘that’s totally irresponsible’. It’s disrespectful to the people of the territory,” the Premier said.

No evidence of community spread


The leader of government business also assured residents there is no evidence at this time to suggest that community spread is present in the territory.

He said that all nine active cases are presently being quarantined. Of the nine, five were detected after having their test done at the airport while the remaining four tested positive on Day 4 of their quarantine period.

“We have no evidence of community spread at this time but the contact tracing continues to make sure to double-check and triple-check that it is not so. I urge everyone under the sound of my voice to take COVID-19 very serious,” he urged.

Two to be questioned for breaches


Health Minister Malone informed the House that the two quarantine violators – one from a previous instance – were being investigated by the police.

He said: “The two persons that have violated this so far, they are being questioned by the Royal Virgin Island Police Force and whatever the law dictates at this time would be administered. But, we don’t want your money, we want your safety so we urge everyone to be vigilant, to be resolute in keeping us all safe.”

Close contact residents urged to come forward


Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is appealing to residents who have patronised two popular restaurants over the last few days to contact the Public Health Division to be tested for COVID-19 free of charge.

These businesses include Willy T Restaurant & Bar ( if you visited Friday, December 11 3 pm and 6 pm) and Pusser’s restaurant located in Soper’s Hole, Tortola (if you visited Monday, December 14 between 6:45 pm and 8 pm).

Those persons can contact the Public Health Division at 284-468-2274 or call the government’s medical hotline at 284-852-7650 for a referral.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
UK and Vietnam Sign Landmark Migration Deal to Fast-Track Returns of Irregular Arrivals
UK Drug-Pricing Overhaul Essential for Life-Sciences Ambition, Says GSK Chief
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie Temporarily Leave the UK Amid Their Parents’ Royal Fallout
UK Weighs Early End to Oil and Gas Windfall Tax as Reeves Seeks Investment Commitments
UK Retail Inflation Slows as Shop Prices Fall for First Time Since Spring
Next Raises Full-Year Profit Guidance After Strong Third-Quarter Performance
Reform UK’s Lee Anderson Admits to 'Gaming' Benefits System While Advocating Crackdown
United States and South Korea Conclude Major Trade Accord Worth $350 Billion
Hurricane Melissa Strikes Cuba After Devastating Jamaica With Record Winds
Vice President Vance to Headline Turning Point USA Campus Event at Ole Miss
U.S. Targets Maritime Narco-Routes While Border Pressure to Mexico Remains Limited
Bill Gates at 70: “I Have a Real Fear of Artificial Intelligence – and Also Regret”
Elon Musk Unveils Grokipedia: An AI-Driven Alternative to Wikipedia
Saudi Arabia Unveils Vision for First-Ever "Sky Stadium" Suspended Over Desert Floor
Amazon Announces 14 000 Corporate Job Cuts as AI Investment Accelerates
UK Shop Prices Fall for First Time Since March, Food Leads the Decline
London Stock Exchange Group ADR (LNSTY) Earns Zacks Rank #1 Upgrade on Rising Earnings Outlook
Soap legend Tony Adams, long-time star of Crossroads, dies at 84
Rachel Reeves Signals Tax Increases Ahead of November Budget Amid £20-50 Billion Fiscal Gap
NatWest Past Gains of 314% Spotlight Opportunity — But Some Key Risks Remain
UK Launches ‘Golden Age’ of Nuclear with £38 Billion Sizewell C Approval
UK Announces £1.08 Billion Budget for Offshore Wind Auction to Boost 2030 Capacity
UK Seeks Steel Alliance with EU and US to Counter China’s Over-Capacity
UK Struggles to Balance China as Both Strategic Threat and Valued Trading Partner
Argentina’s Markets Surge as Milei’s Party Secures Major Win
British Journalist Sami Hamdi Detained by U.S. Authorities After Visa Revocation Amid Israel-Gaza Commentary
King Charles Unveils UK’s First LGBT+ Armed Forces Memorial at National Memorial Arboretum
At ninety-two and re-elected: Paul Biya secures eighth term in Cameroon amid unrest
Racist Incidents Against UK Nurses Surge by 55%
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves Cites Shared Concerns With Trump Administration as Foundation for Early US-UK Trade Deal
Essentra plc: A Closer Look at a UK ‘Penny Stock’ Opportunity Amid Market Weakness
U.S. and China Near Deal to Avert Rare-Earth Export Controls Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit
Justin time: Justin Herbert Shields Madison Beer with Impressive Reflex at Lakers Game
Russia’s President Putin Declares Burevestnik Nuclear Cruise Missile Ready for Deployment
Giuffre’s Memoir Alleges Maxwell Claimed Sexual Act with Clooney
House Republicans Move to Strip NYC Mayoral Front-Runner Zohran Mamdani of U.S. Citizenship
Record-High Spoiled Ballots Signal Voter Discontent in Ireland’s 2025 Presidential Election
Philippines’ Taal Volcano Erupts Overnight with 2.4 km Ash Plume
Albania’s Virtual AI 'Minister' Diella Set to 'Birth' Eighty-Three Digital Assistants for MPs
Tesla Unveils Vision for Optimus V3 as ‘Biggest Product of All Time’, Including Surgical Capabilities
Francis Ford Coppola Auctions Luxury Watches After Self-Financed Film Flop
Convicted Sex Offender Mistakenly Freed by UK Prison Service Arrested in London
United States and China Begin Constructive Trade Negotiations Ahead of Trump–Xi Summit
U.S. Treasury Sanctions Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro over Drug-Trafficking Allegations
Miss USA Crowns Nebraska’s Audrey Eckert Amid Leadership Overhaul
‘I Am Not Done’: Kamala Harris Signals Possible 2028 White House Run
NBA Faces Integrity Crisis After Mass Arrests in Gambling Scandal
Swift Heist at the Louvre Sees Eight French Crown Jewels Stolen in Under Seven Minutes
U.S. Halts Trade Talks with Canada After Ontario Ad Using Reagan Voice Triggers Diplomatic Fallout
Microsoft AI CEO: ‘We’re making an AI that you can trust your kids to use’ — but can Microsoft rebuild its own trust before fixing the industry’s?
×