U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — During his weekly COVID-19 press briefing, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced he is easing some of the restrictions in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the Territory. His announcement comes after the Territory’s rate of positivity for the virus had decreased significantly.
• Effective immediately, churches and houses of worship are allowed to accommodate 50% of their capacity or a maximum of 100 persons, whichever is less.
• Effective immediately, the requirement for the use of disposable dishes, utensils, napkins and drink containers has been suspended.
• Effective November 9, mass gatherings will increase to no more than 100 persons for indoor and outdoor activities or 50% of the capacity.
• Effective November 9, bars that cannot accommodate sit down service will remain closed and all bars and nightclubs in the Territory shall be allowed to open for seated service only. No patrons shall be allowed to congregate standing around the bar counter area. Patrons seated in designated sitting areas may order food, alcohol or both, and those sitting must be adequately spaced according to the Department of Health guidelines.
• Effective November 9, live music and disc jockey entertainment will be allowed in licensed establishments but shall not be permitted after midnight.
“We are slowly getting back to normalcy, but we can’t rush it,” Governor Bryan said. “Let’s take this next step and see if we can sustain it without compromising the public health. Of course, we need your continued cooperation.”
Governor Bryan also implored residents to take an active role in battling the violent crime that pervades the community.
“We have to stand as one people to establish wrong from right and discontinue our silent overlooking of wrong that happens in our community,” Governor Bryan said. “Whether it’s an illegal horse track, drag racing, prostitution, loitering, gaming houses, an illegal numbers game or trespassing, it is time for us to stand as a community and say, ‘No more.’”
“All these little things are breeding grounds and havens for larger criminal activity,” the Governor said. “We are going to push back on all this activity aggressively and we hope we have your support.”
Unemployment
• To date, the Virgin Islands Department of Labor (VIDOL) has issued 41,545 unemployment insurance checks totaling more than $31,895,773.
• The department also has issued an additional 27,657 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation checks totaling $42,406,020.
• VIDOL has issued $4,485,620 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to self-employed Virgin Islanders and $1,568,868 in Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.
• In total, the Bryan-Roach Administration has issued 69,953 checks totaling $78,241,293.
Stimulus
The Bureau of Internal Revenue has extended the deadline to file a return to receive a stimulus check from October 15 to November 21.
COVID-19 cases
• Currently tracking 16 active cases
• 21,964 individuals tested to date (more than 20% of the population)
• 20,620 of those tests were negative
• 1,325 tests came back positive
• 1,289 people have recovered
• 20 fatalities to date
• No COVID-19 patients are hospitalized at Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix.
• Four COVID-19 patients are hospitalized at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.
VIRGIN ISLANDS – The Department of Public Works – Office of Public Transportation will restore VITRAN’s fixed-route service starting Monday, October 5. Services will run from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday.
VITRAN has implemented new safety precautions to address the COVID-19 pandemic such as:
- The required use of protective masks for everyone riding VITRAN buses and waiting at bus stops;
- Sanitization of buses and bus facilities at the end of each route; and
- Installation of protective acrylic sheeting and hand sanitizer dispersers on all buses.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic evolved, VITRAN was forced to suspend fixed-route services for the protection of both transit employees and passengers. With the restoration of fixed-route, and increased trips for Paratransit services, passengers should expect to see an increased level of transportation services across the territory,” said Deputy Commissioner of Transportation Karole Ovesen-McGregor.
Furthermore, during the service suspension, VITRAN Operation Managers and Supervisors re-trained Mass Transit Bus Operators in preparation for the restoration of fixed-route services. Training topics included the use of RouteMatch tablets and in-route operation of buses, route surveys, ADA disability etiquette, wheelchairs lift operation, GenFare farebox operation, and other bus operator etiquettes.
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U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – The Government of the Virgin Islands, as part of its bond covenant, made the $85 million debt service payment to holders of its Internal Revenue Matching Fund bonds Thursday.
Thursday’s debt service payment comes less than a week after Governor Bryan announced that he was suspending plans to pursue a transaction to refinance the Internal Revenue Matching Fund Bonds in pursuit of millions in debt service savings by capitalizing on lower market rates.
In a brief statement Thursday, the governor provided clarity on the benefits of the transaction that would have securitized the Internal Revenue Matching Fund Bonds.
“The effort we embarked on to refund those bonds was to achieve interest savings and to front-load those savings to address current, critical fiscal needs,” Governor Bryan said. “Had the transaction close prior to October 1, we would have saved the $85 million paid to the bondholders today, and those funds would have been available to instead address critical needs like the GERS.”
The governor again thanked the Senators in the 33rd Legislature, who approved the authorization to pursue the transaction for signaling support to appropriate the $85 million to the GERS.
“Although I could not appropriate the funds. Those senators who approved the initial authorization signaled their support for an appropriation of that amount to the GERS,” the governor added. “We will continue our efforts to approve the credit ratings of the V.I. Gov and to gain full investment-grade access to the credit markets.”
After hearing of the Covid 19 outbreak in the VI Prison System Tim Duncan sent 10,800 Mask to the territory for distribution. The donation was facilitated by Sheldon and Sherwin Robinson formerly of Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club, ViVid Streaming and Seaborne Airlines. A smaller donation will be made to Sports Parks and Recreation later this week.
Receiving the boxes clockwise are Officer Cecil Joseph (Corrections StX) Officer Eddie Richardson (VIPD StX) Officers Malik Hodge & Merwin Potter (Corrections StT) and Officer Johnny Rey (VIPD StT).