This was just one of the concerns he raised during his live COVID-19 situation update on Sunday, July 11, 2021.

'Inappropriate behaviours'

“We are concerned with a number of inappropriate behaviours being exhibited by members of the public which are not helpful and potentially dangerous to all of us,” he said.

“For example, it has been brought to our attention that employers are demanding their employees to be tested before coming to work. There are persons not adhering to public health orders, there are persons who are being abusive to the health staff, there are persons not adhering to the general stay at home order, there are persons who have tested positive who are not disclosing to their loved ones at home of their status and not taking precautions among other issues.”

The CMO added that other areas include persons not following the testing schedule and are testing at inappropriate times.

Acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ronald E. Georges said some residents who have tested positive with the virus are not informing those closest to them.

'Act responsibly'- Acting CMO

He then called on all residents to “change all of these and act responsibly to stop community spread and stop endangering each other.”

Dr Georges also said that with 1296 active cases now reported, the Virgin Islands is now in an advanced stage of community transmission and everyone is at risk.

Hence, “Geographical distribution and contract tracing are irrelevant at this point because we are in a situation of very high transmission and community spread throughout the territory. This means that all persons must simply take urgent and immediate steps to limit the exposure of the spread of the virus. Testing is less important at this time, and strict adherence of the public health measures and getting vaccinated these are the two most important measures for the public to take immediately.”

A number of employers are also now forcing employees to take the vaccines or be jobless.