As COVID-19 deaths and infections rise in the [British] Virgin Islands, Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) has said the current situation in the territory is one that he dreaded the most.
The Minister made the comments in a social media post on July 17, 2021, when he also called for prayers for the territory.
The Health Minister also extended condolences to the grieving families and friends of those who died as a result of the virus.
The VI currently has 18 deaths as a result of COVID-19, the majority of which occurred in the past week.
Meanwhile, on day one of the weekend vaccination drive at Festival Grounds last Saturday, July 17, 2021, Hon Malone also reminded that the territory does not have enough ventilators and pleaded with the unvaccinated to get inoculated.
According to the Hon Carvin Malone, there
are currently 12 working ventilators at the Dr. D. Orlando Smith
Hospital with other breathing equipment should the need arise, however,
more equipment would be needed to get everything up and running.
Not enough ventilators - Hon Malone
“We don't have enough, and I've always said that we could only have enough if we need none of what we have,” he said in an online interview.
According to the minister, there are currently 12 working ventilators at the Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital with other breathing equipment should the need arise; however, more equipment would be needed to get everything up and running.
“We have breathing apparatus, we have high oxygen operators, but in terms of ventilators we hope that no one else will have to be added to this and we're going to try our very best to make sure that we do what we could.”
Hon Malone assured that the VI Government will do all that it can to prevent deaths, hospitalisations, and the use of ventilators at the hospitals.