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The Dept. of Human Services announced Monday during the Bryan administration's Covid-19 press briefing the launch of a new program with the potential of birthing new businesses in the territory, while helping already established small businesses grow.
According to DHS Commissioner Kimberley Causey-Gomez, the department's Personal Care Attendant In-home Service Program, or PCAs, assist DHS clients with activities of daily living such as personal grooming, light housekeeping, walking, positioning, meal prep, shopping, feeding and other necessities.
The program is available to 501(c)3 churches, nonprofits, medical organizations and entrepreneurs, and any able-bodied persons with a clean background check and at least a high school diploma can become a PCA, according to the commissioner.
“This program will benefit one of our underserved populations: our senior citizens, as well as the USVI business community, the disabled and the entire Virgin Islands community,” Ms. Causey-Gomez said.
According to Gov't House, DHS will host virtual information forums on Friday, May 7, from 10:30 a.m. to noon and on Tuesday, May 11, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. To register for one of the information sessions, contact the DHS Medicaid Division at 340-772-7100 ext. 7186 or send an email to [email protected].
In Covid-related news, the Dept. of Health announced testing pop-up sites at the following locations:
- Home Depot on St. Thomas on Tuesday, May 4, from 1 to 3 p.m.
- Canegata Rec Center on St. Croix on Tuesday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- The V.I. Port Authority Gravel Yard on St. John on Wednesday, May 5, from 1 to 4 p.m.
- Buddhoe Park on St. Croix on Thursday, May 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- The National Park in Red Hook on St. Thomas on Thursday, May 6, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Residents can pre-register for pop-up testing online at [email protected]/testing.
Anyone who thinks they may have contracted COVID-19 can call the Epidemiology hotline at 340-712-6299 or 340-776-1519. For more information, visit covid19usvi.com.
Covid-19 as of May 1
- Currently tracking 62 active cases (18 on St. Croix; 42 on St. Thomas; 2 on St. John).
- 103,134 individuals tested.
- 99,996 tested negative.
- 3,138 tested positive.
- 3,049 people have recovered.
- 27 fatalities.
- One non-vented COVID-19 patient is currently hospitalized at Juan F. Luis Medical Center on St. Croix.
- One non-vented COVID-19 patient is currently hospitalized at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.
