Health Department urged COVID-19 precautions ahead of St. Thomas Carnival week

At a Government House briefing on April 19, 2022, Territorial Epidemiologist Dr. Esther Ellis said active COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Virgin Islands remained higher than health officials had hoped and urged residents to take precautions as St. Thomas Carnival began.

The Health Department said it would operate a van and tent at the Carnival Village from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night during Carnival to provide COVID-19 vaccinations and COVID-19, HIV and STD testing.

The department also said anyone who became fully vaccinated by April 30, 2022, whether at clinics, the Carnival Village or the Food Fair, would receive a $250 incentive gift card.

As of April 18, 2022, the territory's seven-day positivity rate was 5.67%, with 135 active cases being tracked: 70 on St. Croix, 61 on St. Thomas and four on St. John. The department said 356,416 tests had been administered, 15,928 people had tested positive, 68,679 first vaccine doses had been given and 56,578 second doses had been administered.

The department said there were no COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix or Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/health-department-urges-residents-to-follow-covid-19-safety-protocols-heading-into-carnival-week-on-st-thomas/