Bryan outlines Safer-at-Home phase as some Virgin Islands businesses reopen

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said on May 4, 2020, that the U.S. Virgin Islands had entered the "Safer-at-Home" phase of its COVID-19 response, allowing some nonessential businesses to resume operations if they followed safety guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Virgin Islands Department of Health.

The order took effect early on May 4. Businesses permitted to reopen included barbers, hair salons, massage therapists, gymnasiums and private health-care facilities for elective medical visits.

Bryan said residents patronizing businesses were required to wear face masks, with exceptions for children younger than 2 and people with acute respiratory issues. Ski masks were barred indoors and outdoors for that purpose. Taxis, safaris and cars for hire were treated as commercial establishments, and all occupants were required to wear masks. Religious leaders were allowed to deliver sermons without masks if they remained at least 10 feet from congregants.

The administration said free "No Mask, No Service" signs would be available through the Department of Property and Procurement and the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs in both districts.

Bryan also said federal CARES Act funds would provide Pandemic EBT food benefits of about $300 per child for children participating in the school lunch program. The program was to be administered by the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services, and all public-school students were eligible, according to the government.

On stimulus payments, Bryan said the Internal Revenue Service had approved the territory's Economic Impact Payment Plan on May 4, clearing the way for funds to be transferred to the Virgin Islands treasury. He said the first round of checks was expected to begin the following week. The territory was still awaiting approval from the Social Security Administration for direct payments to Social Security recipients.

The Labor Department had processed 2,430 unemployment-benefit checks totaling $1.7 million, Bryan said.

The government said the territory was tracking 11 active COVID-19 cases as of May 4. It said 1,046 people had been tested, with 965 negative results, 66 positive results, 15 pending tests and four deaths. Three COVID-19 patients were hospitalized at Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix, including one on a ventilator, and one patient was hospitalized at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/safer-at-home-phase-of-governor-bryans-covid-19-response-begins/