U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – The territory will reopen to leisure travelers tomorrow, Saturday, September 19th, however, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. is reminding the public that the territory remains in the Safer at Home phase of the COVID-19 pandemic response.
On Saturday Sept. 12, “we allowed hotels and other guest lodgings to begin accepting reservations and tomorrow, Sept. 19, they will once again be able to accept and check-in visitors,” Governor Bryan said. “But I want to remind the public we are still in the Safer at Home Phase in our reopening strategy.”
“While the decline in the COVID-19 active cases and hospitalizations are welcome signs of our progress in slowing the spread of this virus, we continue to take all the necessary precautions to avoid having an uncontrollable surge in cases particularly in our daycares, schools and congregate living facilities,” he said.
Today, the VI Department of Health reported 49 active cases. To date, 18,980 individuals have been tested, with 17,440 negative results and 1,232 positives.
During the current Safer at Home Phase, restaurants are allowed to return to limited in-house dining and service, but are prohibited from allowing patrons to congregate around bar counter areas and from serving alcohol at bar counters.
In addition, all bars, nightclubs, and cabarets remain closed. Visitation at nursing home facilities is strictly prohibited. All public school campuses remain closed and private and parochial school campuses have been allowed to open only after a comprehensive assessment and approval from the VI Department of Health.
To read the full 16th Executive Order on the Safer at Home Phase visit www.vi.gov/executive-orders.