Bryan called for territorywide day of prayer on March 30 amid COVID-19 response

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said on March 25, 2020, that he was calling for a territorywide Day of Prayer on Monday, March 30, during a Government House press briefing on the U.S. Virgin Islands' response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Bryan said details on the observance would be announced later. He also urged residents to remain at home and follow guidance from the Virgin Islands Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Government House said that as of the afternoon of March 25, there were 17 confirmed coronavirus cases in the territory, with no new confirmed cases reported that day. Officials said 103 people had been investigated as suspected cases, 56 had tested negative, and 30 tests were pending, including 10 on St. Croix, 17 on St. Thomas and three on St. John.

The March 25 briefing also included updates from Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion, Human Services Commissioner Kimberley Causey-Gomez and VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen.

The Virgin Islands Port Authority reported a sharp decline in passenger traffic and said fewer travelers were expected in the coming weeks after the suspension of new hotel reservations took effect on March 25. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Seaborne and Cape Air reported schedule changes or flight cancellations to and from St. Thomas, while no airline cancellations had been reported for St. Croix at that time.

Government House said the three car ferry companies operating between St. John and St. Thomas had modified their schedules. Passenger ferries between St. John and St. Thomas were operating with reduced capacity, while the QE IV ferry serving the St. Croix-St. Thomas route had suspended operations until further notice.

Operations at the Edward Blyden terminal ended at noon on March 25 and were to remain closed until further notice, although customs services remained available there daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cargo operations in the territory continued as normal, according to the release.

Government House also said the Virgin Islands had requested a U.S. Small Business Administration disaster declaration and received approval on March 23. The administration said SBA loan payments would be deferred through Dec. 31, 2020, for borrowers still repaying past disaster loans.

The next Government House COVID-19 briefing was scheduled for March 27, 2020.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/el-gobernador-bryan-hace-llamado-durante-covid-19-a-dia-de-oracion-en-el-territorio/