Bryan urged vaccinations as USVI tracked 370 active COVID-19 cases and 39 hospitalizations

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said at a Government House briefing on Aug. 16, 2021, that residents should get vaccinated against COVID-19 as active cases and hospitalizations remained elevated in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Health Department reported that as of Aug. 14, 2021, the territory was tracking 370 active cases, 39 COVID-19 hospitalizations and nine patients on ventilators. Officials said none of the hospitalized COVID-19 patients were fully vaccinated.

Assistant Health Commissioner Dr. Nicole Syms said Aug. 16, 2021, marked one year since her niece was buried after dying from COVID-19, and said she had lost five additional people to the virus since then. She said hospitals were full and staff were exhausted.

Health officials reported a seven-day positivity rate of 5.39% as of Aug. 14, 2021. The territory had recorded 5,295 positive cases, 41 fatalities and 157,247 tests to date.

At Juan F. Luis Medical Center on St. Croix, 17 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, including four on ventilators. At Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas, 22 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, including five on ventilators.

Government House also announced winners in the Vax-to-Win lottery and a special drawing for school-based personnel, and said 48,756 people had received a first vaccine dose and 39,413 were fully vaccinated.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-again-implores-residents-to-get-vaccinated-as-covid-19-hospitalizations-and-active-cases-remain-high/