
Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — During Monday’s weekly press briefing, Government House Communications Director Richard Motta Jr. asked residents to gather safely and responsibly for the holidays and to limit gatherings to 10 or fewer people if possible.
Director Motta reminded the public that one week into the Territory’s latest step forward on the path to a “new normal” to continue taking the necessary precautions and to adhere to the guidelines issued by the Virgin Islands Department of Health.
“These guidelines are in place to keep us all safe. This is particularly important as we approach the holiday season and as we grapple with increased travel to and from the United States while many of those mainland states are experiencing alarming surges in COVID positivity,” he said. “If you must gather for the holidays, do so responsibly and within the guidelines issued by the Department of Health. Limit your family gatherings to persons within your immediate household or to no more than 10 persons.”
During the briefing, Territorial Epidemiologist Esther Ellis listed a number of precautions and guidelines residents can take when entertaining during the holidays:
A complete list of guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic can be found at www.covid19usvi.com.
Medicare Advantage Plan
Division of Personnel Director Dayna Clendinen also presented information about the Medicare Advantage Plan, to which all government retirees will be transitioned beginning January 1.
Retirees should receive a new United Healthcare Advantage card the first week in December.
Benefits to retirees under the new plan include:
Under the new plan, Medicare Part D prescription coverage remains unchanged.
Director Clendinen also addressed a mass-mailing of a coupon book and a 2021 premium about the AARP Medicare Supplement Plan, and she clarified that unless a person has an individual health care plan with AARP, the letter and coupon book can be disregarded.
As United HealthCare transitions to the GVI Medicare Advantage Plan, beneficiaries may receive a termination notice; however, that does not mean those beneficiaries have lost coverage, Director Clendinen said.
For more information about the GVI Group Medicare Advantage Plan, call the Personnel Division at 340-774-8588 or 340-718-8588 or contact United HealthCare at 866-827-9022 or visit uhcvirtualretiree.com/gvi.
Unemployment
In total, the Bryan-Roach Administration has issued 79,691 checks totaling $89,020,101.
Stimulus
Laptops
To date, the Virgin Islands Department of Education has distributed:
COVID-19 cases