As of July 15, 2021, there were 1602 active COVID-19 cases reported in the Virgin Islands and eight deaths, including 4 in a 48 hour period.

‘We are doing everything we can’ to help- Gov Bryan

“I have been on the phone with the State Department, the delegate has been reaching out trying to get assistance from [Washington] DC..they are a foreign port and it makes it extremely difficult for us to send over any resources that we have but we are constantly talking to FEMA, the CDC, the Health and Human Services to see what assistance we can give our brothers and sisters over in the British Virgin Islands. We will continue to do everything we can, to give as much support as we can to the British Virgin Islands,” Governor Bryan said in a live broadcast on July 15, 2021.

According to the governor, he has been in communication with Premier and Minister of Finance of the [British] Virgin Islands, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), who he said remains concerned about the current COVID situation but also optimistic that the VI will rally through.

Governor of the US Virgin Islands Mr Albert A. Bryan Jr said the USVI is doing all it can to assist the VI during its COVID-19 challenges.

‘We are blessed with resources’

He also said there are currently 12 hospitalisations in the USVI due to COVID-19 and just over 120 active cases and reminded that the USVI is not exempt from what is going on in the [British] Virgin Islands.

“The big difference is that we are blessed with resources that they don’t have, resources like the ability to hire contracted EMTs and respiratory therapists and have them here now for over a year and a half to support any kind of surge that they have.

“We have the resources of a 50-bed highly infectious diseases unit at Schneider Regional [Hospital] to take our patients if they have any. We also have a year and a half experience of dealing with COVID and the deadly effects of it. Remember we have learned to manage this thing through a lot of hard, hard lessons.”

As of July 15, 2021, there were 1602 active COVID-19 cases reported in the Virgin Islands and eight deaths, including 4 in a 48 hour period.

Monoclonal antibody treatment

While urging travelers from the Virgin Islands to the USVI to follow the travel protocols, including submitting a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of travel, Governor Bryan said anybody that makes it to the USVI shores are eligible for a free vaccine and any health care available.

He said this includes the monoclonal antibody treatment, which is not available in the [British] Virgin Islands but which his government is trying to equip the VI with.

“We are fortuntate to have the monoclonal antibody treatment which the British Virgin Islands doesn’t have, one of the things we are working on [is] trying to get them that resource.

A monoclonal antibody ( mAb or moAb) is an antibody made in a lab by cloning a unique white blood cell.

“That’s the treatment you get if you go to the hospital and you have not been vaccinated we are able to give you that. And it helps your body to immediately produce antibodies and fight against COVID. It is not a hundred percent and you still have to get the vaccine after you have that monoclonal antibody because it only lasts about 2 or 3 weeks.”

The Governor also urged the USVI people to get vaccinated since it has been proven to save lives.