Many Returning Residents Failed To Comply With Quarantine Protocols – Malone
Several residents who returned to the British Virgin Islands failed to comply with quarantine protocols for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Carvin Malone revealed on Thursday, March 26.
He said the matter would form part of Friday’s emergency sitting of the House of Assembly (HOA) scheduled to commence at 10 am.
“Too many of us on returning home did not follow these protocols,” he said, adding that the HOA will look at the provision for being legally able to have mandatory quarantine on the law books.
He said because of their non-compliance, others were exposed to the deadly virus.
“We continue to monitor, and we continue to track, for instance, all those persons that have come into contact with the two cases that have been proven as positive. The number is ranging from 12 to 15; I believe that it is so far. We will continue to track primary contacts, secondary contacts because we do not know who may have been affected,” Malone said.
The Minister said when persons fail to adhere to the rules, the end result would be putting a strain on the territory’s health care system if additional persons test positive for the virus.
“We have to provide all the services that I have outlined plus more. In doing this, it would be a strain on the resources as it is in every country in the world. Those persons who continue to violate the quarantine and social distancing have caused us in order to help you to implement this [curfew] so that we can break the cycle.”
Minister Malone added, “The cycle has to be broken because we do not have the resources, America doesn’t have the resources, the United Kingdom doesn’t have the resources.”
He then urged all to comply with the curfew, which is “intended to reduce our need for any more equipment; we would continue to purchase whatever would be required if it is required we would rather take it to the landfill than to have it used. We have to make sure that the curfew is in place so that we can keep you safe.”
“Too many of us on returning home did not follow these protocols,” he said, adding that the HOA will look at the provision for being legally able to have mandatory quarantine on the law books.
He said because of their non-compliance, others were exposed to the deadly virus.
“We continue to monitor, and we continue to track, for instance, all those persons that have come into contact with the two cases that have been proven as positive. The number is ranging from 12 to 15; I believe that it is so far. We will continue to track primary contacts, secondary contacts because we do not know who may have been affected,” Malone said.
The Minister said when persons fail to adhere to the rules, the end result would be putting a strain on the territory’s health care system if additional persons test positive for the virus.
“We have to provide all the services that I have outlined plus more. In doing this, it would be a strain on the resources as it is in every country in the world. Those persons who continue to violate the quarantine and social distancing have caused us in order to help you to implement this [curfew] so that we can break the cycle.”
Minister Malone added, “The cycle has to be broken because we do not have the resources, America doesn’t have the resources, the United Kingdom doesn’t have the resources.”
He then urged all to comply with the curfew, which is “intended to reduce our need for any more equipment; we would continue to purchase whatever would be required if it is required we would rather take it to the landfill than to have it used. We have to make sure that the curfew is in place so that we can keep you safe.”