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by pltm
(PLTM) - A woman was hospitalised today, April 16 at the isolation ward of the Dr. D Orlando Smith Hospital after testing positive locally for the coronavirus COVID-19.
This was disclosed by Minister of Health and Social Development, Hon. Carvin Malone during the House of Assembly sitting this evening, April 16.
"We have a resident who has finally reported themselves. She is hospitalized now. She has been locally tested and the result has been positive," Hon. Malone stated.
He revealed that the woman's seven primary contacts have also been tested locally and those results are all negative.
All of the eight tests will be sent to The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday for confirmation.
This is the fourth person to have tested positive in the Virgin Islands for COVID-19; however, two have since been deemed to be fully recovered. The three previous cases were imported with travel history to countries heavily impacted by COVID-19. They also experienced 'mild symptoms' and did not require hospitalisation.
There was no mention if this new case has any travel history that would explain the positive test result. The Minister explained that traditionally they would not have announced the results until confirmation from CARPHA, but 'it's a small place and with the activities taken around because the contact tracing team is fully at work.'
This is an indication that information was being circulated publicly and residents were growing increasingly nervous. He stated that the announcement was being made in the interest of full disclosure and so the nation would be comforted.
"Our tests have proven quite reliable," Hon. Malone stated.
The Minister explained that the seven persons will be quarantined and additional tracing would be done.
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