CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Virgin Islands National Guard assisted with drive-through screenings led by the Virgin Islands Office of Veterans Affairs on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
The Virgin Islands Office of Veterans Affairs held drive-through COVID-19 screenings at the Barron Spot Village Mall in St. Croix on May 18 and at the Medical Foundation building in St. Thomas on May 20.
“In trying times, you can always count on the VA to ensure that Veterans are taken care of, and that is the VING ready to assist,” 1st Lt. Kerwin Williams, Task Force Bravo Deputy Commander said.
According to the Virgin Islands Office of Veterans Affairs, to protect veterans, their families, and the staff working at the VA office, in-person operations have been limited throughout the Territory.
Available Mondays on St. Croix and Wednesdays on St. Thomas, screenings are conducted via appointments to alleviate the build-up of traffic, which is currently supported by VI Guardsmen at the testing sites.
Dr. Marian Torres, chief of performance improvement and a team of six medical personnel from the Puerto Rico VA Hospital in San Juan, expeditiously checked the temperature and collected samples from the nasal cavity.
“After receiving the test results and meeting with the medical board, based on the data obtained, it will determine if we are to increase the number of testing days,” Torres said.
During the testing, Torres met and thanked the Adjutant General of the Virgin Islands National Guard, Brig. Gen. Kodjo Knox-Limbacker for the Guardsmen’s support at the site.
“They did an amazing job; it was truly a pleasure to have them here today,” said Torres. “They were a big help to the cause.”
For further information, contact the Veterans Affairs office at 340-774-8387 (St. Thomas) or 340-773-8387 (St. Croix). Please visit the USVI Department of Health’s website, doh.vi.gov/coronavirus, or text COVID19USVI to 888777. #COVID19USVI