The U.S. Virgin Islands maintained a low Covid-19 positivity rate last week of 1.4 percent, with 67 active cases territory-wide as of Monday: 24 on St. Croix, 41 on St. Thomas and 2 on St. John. The territory has also performed more than 100,000 Covid-19 tests and over 60,000 people have either received their first dose against the virus or have been fully vaccinated.
This information was shared with the public by V.I. Dept. of Health Territorial Epidemiologist Dr. Esther Ellis during the Bryan administration's Covid-19 response update Monday.
The encouraging numbers follow recent easing of some restrictions by the Bryan administration, including a beach curfew that had been derided by many in the community as protracted.
According to Dr. Ellis, 100,455 Covid-19 tests were performed in the USVI as of Monday. She said 3,090 people had tested positive, 91,656 negative while 2,963 have recovered. Twenty-seven people have died from Covid-19-related causes.
There were three hospitalizations at the Juan F. Luis Hospital and one at the Schneider Regional Medical Center. None of the patients were ventilated.
In the past week there have been 40 new Covid-19 cases from a total 2,820 tests performed, equating to a seven-day positivity rate of 1.4 percent, Dr. Ellis said.
A total of 35,707 first-dose vaccinations were administered as of Monday, along 25,224 full vaccinations for a total of 60,931 vaccinations to date, said Dr. Ellis.
Vaccination centers are relocating from UVI campuses to the Nissan Building on St. Croix and to the Community Health Clinic on the second floor of the Schneider Regional Medical Center in St. Thomas.
Dr. Ellis also encouraged pregnant women to protect themselves from Covid-19, citing increased risk of morbidity and mortality. "We continue to see positives in laboring women presenting for delivery. This population is also at significant risk for increased morbidity and mortality. Pregnant women should wear a mask, avoid mass gatherings or crowds, avoid non-essential travel, wash their hands and get vaccinated," she said.
In other news, the administration announced the last batch of $600 stimulus payments to be released this week, followed by the start of $1,400 payments next week.
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