Hon Turnbull asked the question of Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Carvin Malone (AL) during the question and answer segment of the Eleventh Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands held at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom on August 16, 2021.

According to Hon Malone, quarantined persons are monitored through the assigned monitoring devices to ensure that they do not breach quarantine.

He said transportation is also provided to limit opportunities for the breaching of quarantine.

“In addition, Mr Speaker, the Orders have been amended to give incentives to stay home by the imposition of fines.”

Asked by Speaker Hon Julian Willock if he had any follow-up to the answer give, Hon Turnbull said: “Mr Speaker, I will rest here because I am sure the follow-ups will come from the public.”

Additionally, fines under the Covid-19 Control and Suppression (Entry of Persons) Regulations, 2020 have increased.

According to Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Carvin Malone (AL), quarantined persons are monitored through the assigned monitoring devices to ensure that they do not breach quarantine. There are also fines for breaching quarantine and other COVID-19 protocols.

Heavy fines for quarantine breaches

In the Virgin Islands, those who tamper with and damage the geofencing device worn by people in quarantine face a fine of $2,000 while those who have unauthorised visits with people in quarantine face a fine of $5,000.

Anyone breaching mandatory quarantine faces a fine of $10,000.

Anyone failing to comply with a quarantine order faces a fine not to exceed $10,000.

The fines represented a drastic increase in December 2020 after reports of persons breaching quarantine.