The V.I. Department of Health reported Tuesday evening that a 51-year-old male from St. Croix became the 69th person in the territory to die from COVID-19, just hours after announcing a 61-year-old St. Thomas woman had become the USVI’s 68th COVID fatality.
The two fatalities announced Tuesday were the 11th and 12th COVID fatalities in the U.S. Virgin Islands since Sept. 1.
The territory has been experiencing a surge in cases since late June that is attributed to the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus. As of Monday, there were 206 active COVID-19 cases, with 144 on St. Croix, 59 on St. Thomas and three on St. John, according to the Health Department.
Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix reported five COVID-19 patients in-house on Tuesday, with two of them ventilated, as that island experiences a rise in cases. JFL also reported that it has seven “boarder patients” – people who have been discharged but whose family has not picked them up.
“These are seven critical hospital beds we need in the event of another surge,” officials posted on the hospital’s Facebook page.
Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas reported having one COVID-19 patient in-house on Tuesday and one COVID-related death in the last 24 hours.
The Health Department continues to urge Virgin Islanders to take precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19 by social distancing, wearing a mask when in the company of others outside of their household, cleaning frequently used areas thoroughly, and washing their hands often with soap and warm water.
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine can prevent severe illness and death. To schedule an appointment, call 340-777-8227 or visit covid19usvi.com/vaccines. Walk-ins are also accepted at the Health Department’s Community Vaccination Centers.
St. Croix’s Community Vaccination Center is located at the Nissan Center in La Grande Princesse, adjacent to the Honda Dealership and The Paint Shop, on the same side of the street as Food Town.
On St. Thomas, the Community Vaccination Center is located at the Community Health Clinic on the second floor at the Schneider Regional Medical Center.
To report a suspected case of COVID-19, call 340-712-6299 or 340-776-1519. If you have a medical emergency, call 911. For more information, visit covid19usvi.com. For COVID 19 updates, text COVID19USVI to 888777.
