The territory’s death toll from COVID-19 now stands at 102 with the V.I. Health Department’s announcement Thursday morning that a 78-year-old St. Croix man has died from complications of the virus.
The news comes as Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. this week loosened the territory’s pandemic restrictions, including no longer requiring tests from air arrivals who have been vaccinated in the USVI, as the recent surge in cases attributed to the highly contagious Omicron variant has receded.
According to the latest Health Department figures, there were 472 active COVID-19 cases territorywide as of Feb. 2, a decline by one from the previous day. Of that total, there were 304 cases on St. Croix, 147 on St. Thomas and 21 on St. John.
On Thursday, Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas reported it has eight COVID-19 patients in-house, including two on ventilators. None of those hospitalized is fully vaccinated, it stated.
Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix reported 13 COVID-19 patients in-house, including one that is vaccinated and one on a ventilator.
As it continues to work to slow the spread of the disease, the Health Department urges residents to continue to practice social distancing, wear a mask when in company of others outside of your household, clean frequently used areas thoroughly, and wash your hands often with soap and warm water.
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine can prevent severe illness and death, the Health Department stated. To schedule an appointment for a vaccine, call (340) 777-8227 or visit the website. Walk-ins are also accepted at the Community Vaccination Centers.
St. Croix’s Community Vaccination Center is located at the Nissan Center in La Grande Princesse, adjacent to the Honda Dealership and The Paint Shop, on the same side of the street as Food Town.
On St. Thomas the Community Vaccination Center is located at the Community Health Clinic on the second floor at the Schneider Regional Medical Center.
To report a suspected case of COVID-19, call (340) 712-6299 or (340) 776-1519. If you have a medical emergency, call 911. For more information, visit covid19usvi.com. For COVID-19 updates, text COVID19USVI to 888777.
