People in the Caribbean who refuse to take vaccinations to counter the coronavirus will cause the COVID-19 pandemic to remain longer in the region, endangering lives, livelihoods, and entire economies. Whatever genuine fears may exist, these people must be educated about the value of the vaccine to their own health, and they must be encouraged […]
Tag: COVID-19 Pandemic
Bolivian City Uses Cold Chicken Truck To Move COVID-19 Vaccines
LA PAZ (Reuters) — A Bolivian city has resorted to using a refrigerated chicken truck to keep COVID-19 vaccines cold, a reflection of how the pandemic is straining resources in developing countries as they look to ramp up inoculations with limited infrastructure. Vaccines doses that arrived in the central city of Trinidad were taken from […]
76-Year-St. Croix Man Is Territory’s 25th COVID-19 Victim: VIDOH Says
CHRISTIANSTED — The Virgin Islands Health Department confirmed Wednesday that a 76-year-old St. Croix resident’s death is related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “After further investigating cause of death and ensuring notification of next of kin, the Virgin Islands Department of Health is saddened to confirm the territory’s twenty-fifth death related to COVID-19,” the VIDOH […]
Rough Road Ahead For Caribbean and Latin American Economies, IMF Says
SAN JUAN (Reuters) — Latin American and Caribbean economic activity will not return to pre-pandemic levels of output until 2023 and GDP per capita will catch up only in 2025, later than other parts of the world, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Monday. Among contributing factors, the Fund listed a failure to contain […]
USVI Gets $12 Million To Help Tenants Behind In Their Rent; Senator Asks Bryan To Dole Out Money
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The U.S. Virgin Islands has received about $12 million from the COVID-19 aid bill passed by Congress in December to aid the territory’s residents with rent payments, Senator Marvin Blyden said. Blyden called on Governor Albert Bryan to take swift action to implement a program of financial assistance to renters and mortgage […]
Tourism Commissioner Boschulte Promises ‘Vitamin D’ To Travelers Visiting The U.S. Virgin Islands
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — In the latest two-part installment of “Traveling with Denella Ri’chard,” the travel expert and former cruise executive explores the beautiful and recently reopened U.S. Virgin Islands, including stops in the territory’s main islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. Ri’chard is joined by a handful of special guests, including the USVI’s […]
Cuba Opens Door To Most Small Business Initiatives
HAVANA (Reuters) — In a major reform of the state-dominated economy, the Cuban government will allow small private businesses to operate in most fields, eliminating its limited list of activities, state-run media reported today. The measure, coming as the Caribbean island seeks to recover from an economic slump, will expand the field from 127 activities […]
VITEMA Launches Hotline To Schedule Vaccine Appointments
CHRISTIANSTED — During the Government House weekly press briefing VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen said there is a new hotline for people to call if you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination now. “Currently, the territory is still serving Phase 1A and Phase 1B, and as a result the 28-plus providers were quickly overwhelmed by individuals […]
Additional Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Force DPW To Close Entire Public Works Compound In Anna’s Hope
CHRISTIANSTED — On Tuesday, the Department of Public Works said its VITRAN St. Croix office will be closed until further notice. Today, DPW spokeswoman Renee Exius said “the entire Annas Hope Compound” would be closed “throughout the rest of the week.” “The Annas Hope Main Office is expected to reopen on Monday, January 11, while […]
Public Works Closes VITRAN Office Due To ‘Several’ Confirmed Cases of COVID-19
CHRISTIANSTED — The Department of Public Works is advising the community that effective immediately, VITRAN’s St. Croix office will be closed until further notice, due to at least two confirmed cases of COVID-19. “This closure will allow the department to properly disinfect the office to protect employees and clients,” DPW spokeswoman Renee Exius said today. […]