Bryan eased most U.S. Virgin Islands COVID-19 rules, kept mask mandate and travel portal

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. announced on February 28, 2022, that the U.S. Virgin Islands would relax most COVID-19 protocols while keeping mask requirements in place and maintaining the territory's travel portal.

Under the changes, events no longer required Department of Health approval unless attendance exceeded 999 people. Restaurants, bars, nightclubs, houses of worship, indoor recreational facilities, gaming centers, and retail and wholesale stores were allowed to operate under their business licenses and permits, subject to masking and social-distancing rules. Gyms, wellness facilities, barbershops, hair salons, nail salons and massage therapists also were allowed to operate under their licenses and permits with sanitation requirements.

Masks were no longer required in outdoor sections of establishments, but remained required on mass and public transportation, including Vitran buses, taxicabs and automobiles for hire, and in outdoor areas of airports, seaports and schools.

Bryan also said all government employees were to return to in-person work on March 1, 2022, with COVID-related telework agreements suspended. Public school students were scheduled to return to full in-person learning on March 14, 2022.

Beginning March 7, 2022, the travel portal was set to accept valid digital vaccination records from fully vaccinated travelers in place of a COVID-19 test result.

The administration also said nursing home visitation would be allowed with either a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours or proof of vaccination. The eviction moratorium was ended except for people in the Emergency Rental Assistance Program who were complying with lease terms, while a rent freeze remained in effect during the state of health emergency unless lifted earlier by the governor.

During the same briefing, Bryan ordered flags flown at half-staff through March 4, 2022, in honor of Athniel "Addie" Ottley.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-relaxes-most-covid-19-protocols/