“It’s an infection, the virus is real, the virus causes real illness, hundreds of thousands of people have died,” Mrs Samuels said while speaking as a guest of a March 24, 2021, social media engagement show entitled ‘Chat with the Community” produced by the Government Information Service.

“In the BVI, I think because we are have been so well protected, we don’t remember that side of the illness,” Dr Samuel told the viewing and listening audience.

According to the resident Psychiatrist, the seriousness of the pandemic hit home when she recalled an infectious disease specialist in another country was almost moved to tears at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“I was like boy, we just don’t understand how blessed we are,” she went on the say.

Dr June M. Samuel was at the time speaking as a guest of a March 24, 2021, social media engagement show entitled ‘Chat with the Community' produced by the Government Information Service.

As of March 23, 2021, the Virgin Islands has vaccinated 6929 persons, according to stats released by the Government Information Service.

Vaccination key to fighting the pandemic - Dr Samuel

According to the local Psychiatrist, the Virgin Islands and its people must learn to recognise that the COVID-19 vaccine is the key to bringing the pandemic under control.

“If we don’t participate in the process, what will happen is we leave ourselves open to the other mutations,” she said.

As of March 23, 2021, the Virgin Islands has vaccinated 6929 persons, according to stats released by the Government Information Service.

Dr Samuel related that the concern for the territory now is getting as many people vaccinated as possible, since not doing so will increase the chances of having mutations in the territory, which will bring greater concerns and issues.