Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement announcing an important $2,441,666.67 grant for VI Department of Health:
“I am pleased to announce that the Virgin Islands Department of Health will receive a $2,441.666.67 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. During the incident period, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created an immediate threat to the health and safety of the public, requiring emergency response and protective measures throughout the territories of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI).
“In response to the event, the V.I. Department of Health/St. Croix conducted emergency protective measures by contracting with Pafford Medical Services to augment the overburdened Health Department and Emergency Medical Services division, by providing ambulances, equipment and supplies to the USVI healthcare facilities to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The applicant also contracted staff to support the high demand for needed personnel due to the increased population being affected with COVID-19.
“An Emergency Medical Services Task Force allowed the Department of Health to care for patients outside of the hospital setting, for focused utilization of the hospital beds and ventilators for COVID-19 patients, and allowed the applicant to provide care to their other patients within the territory, instead of flying patients to healthcare facilities elsewhere.”