The V.I. Dept. of Education said Tuesday that it has been made aware of messages circulating via text and on some social media platforms alleging that one of its employees has tested positive for Covid-19 and continues to work among other employees and the public. D.O.E. said it was investigating the matter.
"The Department takes these allegations seriously and has launched an internal investigation to confirm whether these claims are factual. The Department of Education wishes to remind and reassure the public that it follows all mandates set forth by the V.I. Department of Health to contain the spread of COVID19 in our community. The Department maintains the highest levels of efficiency and transparency in publicly reporting any confirmed cases of COVID19 among its employees," D.O.E. said in its statement.
The department further stated, "Employees are aware of the protocols to follow, should they develop symptoms related to COVID19 or have been in contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID19. To date, the Department has been made aware of and publicly reported three (3) confirmed cases of COVID19 among its staff--one on St. Thomas in July 2020 and two cases in December 2020, one on St. Croix and one on St. Thomas.
"In each of these confirmed cases, the proper protocols were followed to ensure the health and safety of the infected employees and that of employees they may have come in contact with. The Department of Education will provide an update on the alleged case outlined above when the investigation is complete. We remind the community to be responsible and report suspected cases of COVID19 to the local health authorities and refrain from spreading this information on social media or other avenues."
Covid-19 cases have been surging in the USVI following the Thanksgiving holiday, with D.O.H. reporting 141 active infections as of Tuesday night.
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