Bryan outlined phased reopening plan and announced fourth COVID-19 death on April 27, 2020

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said during an April 27, 2020, press briefing that he was preparing a new executive order to begin a gradual reopening of nonessential businesses in the U.S. Virgin Islands as the territory's stay-at-home order was set to expire at midnight on April 30.

Bryan also announced the territory's fourth COVID-19 death, a 67-year-old St. Croix woman who was not hospitalized and died at home before testing positive after her death.

According to the figures released at the briefing, 780 people had been tested for the coronavirus, with 716 negative results and 59 positive results. Of the positive cases, 51 had recovered and five tests were pending.

Bryan said he planned over the following two weeks to send legislation to the 33rd Legislature, including a proposal to update the legal definition of "in person" and a revised cannabis bill. He also said he was submitting a request to extend the state of emergency through July 12, 2020.

The governor formally announced the "Your Energy Stimulus" program, which provided a $250 credit for active residential Water and Power Authority accounts and a $500 credit for active commercial accounts. He said the credit would appear on May electricity bills as a "YES Cares Act" credit and could not be redeemed for cash.

Bryan said the Virgin Islands Department of Labor had issued 1,595 unemployment checks totaling $1,110,365 and was continuing to process claims.

He also said the U.S. Small Business Administration had resumed accepting applications in the Virgin Islands for the Paycheck Protection Program. Bryan said 240 Virgin Islands businesses had received more than $62 million through the program.

Bryan said he planned on May 1, 2020, to broaden the range of businesses and recreational activities that could resume safely under Health Department guidance. The next COVID-19 update from the governor was tentatively scheduled for April 29, 2020.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/el-gobernador-bryan-actualiza-a-los-residentes-en-covid-19-2/