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Another Virgin Islander has died from causes related to the Covid-19 virus, the V.I. Department of Health announced Wednesday, carrying total Covid-related deaths since the onset of the pandemic to 63.
"After further investigating cause of death and ensuring notification of next of kin, the Virgin Islands Department of Health is saddened to confirm the territory’s sixty-third death related to COVID-19. The deceased is a 63-year-old female on St. Croix," D.O.H. said.
Speaking during the Bryan administration's Covid response update Tuesday, Dr. Hunte-Ceasar said 19 people in the territory died of causes related to the virus in August, "by far our deadliest monthly total that brought us to 56." She said 7 people died from Covid-related causes in July.
As of Monday there were 193 active cases territory-wide, with St. Croix accounting for most cases with 120, followed by St. Thomas with 68 and St. John with 5.
Last week Territorial Epidemiologist Dr. Esther Ellis stated, “The Covid-19 vaccine is effective at preventing hospitalizations and death, and if you have not gotten vaccinated I urge you to get the vaccine to protect not only yourself, but your loved ones, and the community as a whole.”
Also last week, D.O.H. said, "Hospitalizations and deaths related to Covid-19 are preventable because the vaccines are protective against all known variants and are readily accessible across the territory.
"The hesitancy or unwillingness to get vaccinated also harms our efforts to achieve community immunity. The sooner we get to 70 percent of our community being fully vaccinated, the sooner we can end this public health crisis in the territory."
The health department said anyone 12 and older can get the Covid-19 vaccine by walking into a Community Vaccination Center by calling (340) 777-8227 or by scheduling yourself online at covid19usvi.com/vaccines.
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