The V.I. Health Department reported 13 new COVID-19 cases Friday, after reporting eight new cases between Wednesday and Thursday. That brings the territory to 111 confirmed positive test results, although the true number includes people who have not been tested, and so the real number is somewhat higher.
The Health Department numbers suggest a recent block of tests may have come back with a high positive rate. As of Thursday, Health reported 3,164 people had been tested, of whom 98 had tested positive for the virus, with 103 tests pending. Friday, Health reported 3,173 people tested – only nine more. But only two tests were still pending. That appears to indicate 110 tests came back, of which 13 people, or 11.8 percent, were positive for the virus.
In the last seven days, 366 test results have come back, with 17 new positive results. That’s a 4.6 percent positive result rate for the past week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the cumulative rate of USVI positive test results is 3.1 percent of all tests, prior to this particular jump in the numbers. There have been six fatalities within the territory, plus a University of the Virgin Islands employee who left the territory while ill and died in the states.
Department of Health officials urged the public to follow all safety guidelines:
– Wear your face coverings,
– Stay home if you are sick,
– Stay home if you are elderly or immune-compromised,
– If you experience any symptoms like fever, chills, body aches and/or cough call 340-712-6299 or 340-776-1519.
