A joint media release from the Office of the Governor and the Ministry of Health said the equipment, which arrived on Tuesday, comprise vital laboratory equipment, testing kits, five ventilators, six inflatable isolation wards and hospital beds.

“We have been working closely with colleagues in the UK and BVI to identify and provide the medical supplies and support this territory needs,” Governor Augustus Jaspert said while commenting on the donation.

“I understand that this support has been gratefully received and I would like to say thank you to everyone involved. Please continue to play your part by staying at home as much as you can and complying with the social distancing and hygiene measures in place,” he added.

The release said this donation now allows the territory to introduce “a more rigorous testing strategy to identify infected persons”.

“This latest batch of supplies from the United Kingdom Government will help the territory to introduce a more rigorous testing strategy to identify infected persons; isolation units will increase the capacity to quarantine and limit transmission, while ventilators will provide potentially life-saving support to those persons who need it,” the release further said.

Another plus to the donation would be to improve the long-term capability of the territory to test for mosquito-borne viruses such as Zika and dengue, it stated.

“This delivery is part of a wider package of support the UK government is providing to help ensure the safety and security of in the territory’s residents … The UK has delivered a large quantity of medical supplies to date including the majority of BVI’s test kits,” the release added.

More equipment is slated to arrive from the UK in the coming days.