Health

Dept. of Health Goes Weekly With Covid Reports as Virus Footprint Diminishes; Six Schools Piloting 'Influenza-Like Illness' Testing Program

The V.I. Department of Health will be dropping its epidemiological report on Covid-19 from daily down to weekly, said VIDOH Territorial Epidemiologist Dr. Esther Ellis, as she appeared at Government House’s weekly press briefing on Monday.  The move comes amid continuing low positivity in the Covid-19 rate territory-wide, currently at 2.5 percent, which has remained low since the winter surge abated last month. There are 16 active cases territory-wide (8 on St. Thomas, 7 on St. Croix, 1 on St. John), and only three of these require hospitalization — all at the Schneider Regional Medical Centre on St. Thomas.  Because “our data continues to indicate that the territory’s Covid numbers are trending downward with minimal fluctuation,” according to Dr. Ellis, VIDOH officials have decided to switch to a weekly reporting frequency. The reports will continue to be made available on the VIDOH website.  Meanwhile, Dr. Ellis reported that six elementary schools will serve as test schools for t...