Bryan said U.S. Virgin Islands would enter 'Open Doors' reopening phase on June 1

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said during a COVID-19 briefing on May 28, 2020, that the U.S. Virgin Islands would enter the blue "Open Doors" phase of its reopening plan on June 1, allowing prohibitions on leisure travel to expire.

Bryan said the territory had received more than 500 test results from possibly infected individuals without a positive result. He also said there had been no recent hospitalizations and fewer calls to COVID-19 hotlines.

Government House said 6,030 stimulus checks totaling about $10 million were mailed on May 26. It said 18,429 checks totaling just under $30 million had been mailed by May 28, with another batch scheduled to be mailed on May 30.

The administration said 29,414 residential customers had received a $250 YES credit and 5,461 commercial ratepayers had received a $500 credit, for a total of nearly 35,000 ratepayers.

Government House said the federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, which adds $600 a week for unemployment beneficiaries, began during the week of May 25. Eligible recipients were to receive a lump-sum payment retroactive to April 4, with weekly payments continuing through July 31. The Department of Labor sent out 3,118 checks on May 27, according to the statement.

As of May 28, Government House said the territory was tracking two active COVID-19 cases. It said 1,708 people had been tested, with 1,617 negative results, 69 positive results, 62 recoveries, 22 pending tests and six deaths. It said no COVID-19 patients were hospitalized at Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix, while one patient was hospitalized on a ventilator at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-initiates-open-doors-phase-of-territorys-reopening-from-covid-19/