CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Department of Health clarified Tuesday that the ship that accounted for six new cases of COVID-19 in the territory was a cargo ship at a secure marine facility, not accessible to the general public.
The U.S. Virgin Islands recorded 14 new cases of COVID-19, the Health Department reported Friday, bringing the number of active cases in the territory to 37.
Six of the new positive tests were on St. Croix, Health said in a news release issued on Sunday. The other eight were on St. Thomas.
The department said a vessel in the Charlotte Amalie harbor accounted for six of the St. Thomas cases, and all positive cases from that vessel and their close contacts are safely in quarantine.
Tuesday’s statement clarified the nature of that ship.
“To clarify, the vessel mentioned in the press release is not a sailboat or charter boat in Long Bay (Charlotte Amalie Harbor),” the Health Department press release said.
Territorial Epidemiologist Dr. Esther Ellis encouraged the public to be vigilant as cases continue to peak in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
