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 GOVERNMENT OF  
THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES 
 
VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 
ST. CROIX OFFICE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                 
  ST.THOMAS OFFICE 
CHARLES HARWOOD MEMORIAL COMPLEX 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                      1303 HOSPITAL GROUND, SUITE 10 
3500 ESTATE RICHMOND 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                           CHARLOTTE AMALIE 
CHRISTIANSTED, ST. CROIX, U.S.V.I. 00820-4370  
 
 
 
 
 
                                            ST.THOMAS, U.S.V.I. 00802-6722 
TEL: (340) 718-6551 * FAX: (340) 718-1376         
 
 
 
 
 
                          TEL: (340) 774-0117 * FAX: (340) 777-4001 
 
For Immediate Release 
                                                                           
Health Officials Announce First Confirmed Case of COVID-19 in the USVI 
ST. CROIX, USVI (March 13, 2020) — The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health announces its first 
confirmed case of COVID-19 disease, the new coronavirus. The territory’s first case is a resident with some 
recent interna^onal travel history to one of the five loca^ons with widespread transmission of the disease. 
Health officials have been closely monitoring the global outbreak and building capacity to respond to a posi^ve 
case in the territory. “The Center for Disease Control and Preven^on confirmed today at 4p that we now have 
a posi^ve, confirmed case of COVID-19 disease in the U.S. Virgin Islands. We must con^nue to remain vigilant. 
If you are experiencing flu like symptoms and have traveled to China, Iran, South Korea, Europe or Japan in the 
last 14 days,  please self-quaran^ne and call (340) 712 -6299 or (340) 776-1519. By prac^cing good hand and 
respiratory hygiene, we can all protect ourselves from COVID-19 and even influenza (the flu) which is s^ll 
affec^ng our community. Most of all, protect your loved ones over 65yrs”, stated Health 
Commissioner Justa Encarnacion. 
The department’s Epidemiology Division con^nues to conduct tes^ng for cases that meet the Person Under 
Inves^ga^on (PUI) criteria, conduct contact tracing, and assist healthcare providers and the public with up-to-
date educa^on as to what to do to prevent addi^onal cases. 
Territorial Epidemiologist Dr. Esther Ellis added, “Within the Epidemiology division we are doing everything 
possible to flalen the epidemiological curve, which decreases the case load at any one ^me and allows 
healthcare facili^es ^me and the ability to respond. If you are sick, it is cri^cal that you stay home. We are 
urging the public to only go to the emergency room if you are in need of emergency care due to the severity of 
your illness.” 
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The current risk of transmission in the V.I. remains low for most residents, but precau^ons should s^ll be taken 
to avoid transmission within the community. A person may also get COVID-19 by touching a surface that has 
the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes. 
To avoid the virus and help prevent its spread, Department of Health officials recommend these steps: 
· Avoid close contact with sick people. 
· While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible. 
· Stay home if sick. 
· Cover your nose and mouth with a ^ssue when coughing or sneezing and discard the ^ssue. Wash hands 
immediately. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. 
· Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs. 
· Wash hands ooen with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use 
an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60 percent alcohol. 
The Centers for Disease Control and Preven^on currently recommends avoiding non-essen^al travel to China, 
Iran, Japan, South Korea and Europe, as well as no cruise ship travel. Older adults and those with underlying 
health issues are par^cularly vulnerable and should avoid crowded places and non-essen^al air travel to 
decrease their risk for virus transmission. 
COVID-19 symptoms reported include fever, cough and shortness of breath. It spreads mostly between people 
who are in close contact via respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs 
or sneezes. Persons who have contracted COVID-19 are most likely to spread it when they are most 
symptoma^c. This means they are more likely to spread it to others when they are sick. 
If you or a loved one are showing coronavirus symptoms and have recently traveled to an area with person-to-
person spread, or been in contact with someone with coronavirus, you should contact the Department of 
Health at 340-712-6299 or 340-776-1519. You will be given instruc^ons on what to do next and that may 
include isola^ng yourself from others. 
If you have medical emergency, call 911 and let them know if you have been infected or you believe that you 
may be. 
For more informa^on, visit doh.vi.gov/coronavirus or cdc.gov/covid19. 
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