Omicron Causing 90 Percent of Cases in USVI, Pushing Out Delta

Though it was already known that the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been in wide circulation in the USVI, Governor Albert Bryan on Friday confirmed the variant's presence in the territory. The highly transmissible strain was first detected late November in South Africa, and it's responsible for the current rapid increase of active infections territory-wide.

“Yes, we have confirmed that this surge is being fueled by the highly transmissible Omicron variant,” Governor Bryan said in a news conference Friday. Warning that the increasing numbers would continue to go up before there is a reduction, he said that curbing the spread is the responsibility of all citizens.

Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion said that of the 80 test samples sent away for sequencing, 90 percent tested positive for the Omicron variant, while 10 percent tested positive Delta. The Omicron variant appears to be pushing the deadlier Delta variant out.

According to the V.I. Dept. of Health, there were 1,251 active infections territory-wide as of Thursday, with St. Croix accounted for 623 cases, followed by St. Thomas with 606, and St. John with 22. In St. Thomas, there were seven hospitalizations and no vented patients, while St. Croix had three hospitalizations with one patient on a ventilator. Ms. Encarnacion told the Consortium D.O.H. would provide the publication with detailed data on infection rates among the vaccinated and unvaccinated. She said most of the positive cases among vaccinated individuals were occurring in persons who had been vaccinated for 6 months or more, and not among individuals who had taken booster shots.

In an emotional plea, Governor Bryan called on all to avoid mass gathering events for the New Year's Eve night because the long-term benefit of making such a sacrifice would work in the best interest of all, he said.

“For those of you choosing to celebrate other than the safe confines of your homes, I urge you to please do so safely, but before I even go there, I just want to say that I will be in my house tonight and I urge you to be in your house,” he said.