The V.I. Dept. of Health on Thursday announced the 52nd and 53rd Covid-related deaths in the U.S. Virgin Islands, bringing to 12 the number of deaths related to the virus in the territory in less than two weeks.
"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 fifty-second and fifty-third deaths related to COVID-19. The deceased are a 74-year-old male and a 68-year-old female. Both deaths were on St. Thomas," stated D.O.H. in a release.
During Tuesday's Covid-19 press briefing, Territorial Epidemiologist Dr. Esther Ellis revealed 9 people had died from complications related to the virus in the past week. Since then, the department has announced three additional Covid-related deaths — including two this morning — bringing to 12 the amount of deaths tied to the virus in the USVI in under two weeks.
Dr. Ellis encouraged Virgin Islanders to get vaccinated against the virus, pointing to the Food and Drug Administration's full approval of the Pfizer shot as another reason to get inoculated. She said of the 50 individuals who have died, none were fully vaccinated against Covid-19. "With each death I am saddened. We can prevent more deaths by using the best tool we have against the virus, the Covid-19 vaccines," Dr. Ellis stated.
In responding to the Consortium, Dr. Ellis also made known that the Pfizer vaccine has been the most used in the USVI, with 64,905 doses administered compared to Moderna's 26,139. Vaccination doses for the Johnson & Johnson drug, which has experienced a number of setbacks, were not provided.
As of Wednesday there were 199 active Covid-19 cases territory-wide: 123 on St. Thomas, 58 on St. Croix and 18 on St. John, according to D.O.H.
Dr. Ellis said 45.7 percent of the eligible population in the USVI has been fully vaccinated, one of the lowest rates in the U.S. She said the percentage is higher among the elderly population.
Relative to hospitalizations, the Juan F. Luis Hospital had 9 patients with 5 ventilated as of Tuesday, while the Schneider Regional Medical Center had 15 patients with two ventilated. "Of the 24 patients hospitalized, none are fully vaccinated," Dr. Ellis said.
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