VITEMA announced COVID-19 vaccination hotline as Health Department scheduled pop-up testing sites

VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen said at the Government House briefing on February 1, 2021, that the territory would open a vaccination hotline on February 2 for eligible residents and healthcare providers seeking to partner in administering COVID-19 shots.

Jaschen said the territory was still serving Phase 1A and Phase 1B groups. He said Phase 1B included residents 65 and older, college-age students, restaurant workers, grocery store workers, hotel and casino workers, and 28 local and federal agencies.

Beginning February 2, eligible individuals and providers could call the VITEMA vaccination hotline at 340-777-8227. The hotline was scheduled to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday with English- and Spanish-speaking staff. Veterans age 55 or older also were eligible and could call the hotline or the Veterans Administration at 787-641-4591. Appointments also could be scheduled through VITEMA's website.

Jaschen said insured and uninsured residents could receive the vaccine and that providers were not permitted to request out-of-pocket payment or reimbursement.

Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion said the Health Department would operate more frequent pop-up COVID-19 testing sites on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John, with no appointment required and results typically returned within 24 hours.

The department scheduled testing for February 2 at Home Depot on St. Thomas from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and at Canegata Rec Center on St. Croix from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additional sites were scheduled for February 3 at the V.I. Port Authority Gravel Yard on St. John from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., February 4 at Bordeaux Fire Station on St. Thomas from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and February 4 at Canegata Rec Center on St. Croix from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Canegata also was scheduled to host testing on February 9, 11, 16, 18, 23 and 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Encarnacion said 9,429 vaccines had been administered, 1,815 people had received second doses, and the territory's positivity rate was 4.1%.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue said it expected to begin issuing second Economic Impact Payments during the week of February 8. Eligible taxpayers were to receive $600, with an additional $600 for dependents age 16 or younger. The payments were to be based on 2019 tax returns.

Government House also said Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. ordered an extension of alcohol sales and bar and restaurant operating hours for Super Bowl Sunday on February 7. Alcohol sales were permitted until midnight and bars and restaurants could remain open until 1 a.m. that day.

At the briefing, officials said the territory was tracking 91 active COVID-19 cases as of February 1. They reported 41,968 tests conducted to date, 2,421 positive results, 2,306 recoveries and 24 deaths. One COVID-19 patient was hospitalized at Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix and one at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/vitema-announces-vaccination-hotline-health-operating-pop-up-sites-for-free-covid-19-testing/