Over US$485,000 granted to two USVI clinics to fight COVID-19

Frederiksted Health Care Incorporation and East End Medical Centre will get over US$485,000 in support from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to stop coronavirus (COVID-19) transmissions in the territory.

Frederiksted Health Care Incorporation, which is located on St Croix, will receive US$275,719 will East End Medical, located on St Thomas, was awarded US$209,149.

Governor Albert Bryan Jr’s Office stated the clinics will use the money to expand the range of testing and testing-related activities to best address the needs of their local communities.

This involves the purchase of personal protective equipment; training for staff, outreach, acquisition and administration of tests; laboratory services; reporting identified contacts of infected health centre patients of their exposure to COVID-19, and the expansion of walk-up or drive-up testing capabilities.

The federal funding is part of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act signed into law on April 24.

Through its Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS awarded $583 million to 1,385 HRSA-funded health centres in the United States and its Territories.

To date, the Virgin Islands Department of Health has tested 1,242 individuals for COVID-19 in the territory. Of those, 69 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19. There are currently 58 tests pending.