Bryan said public-school reopening was under review as COVID-19 cases rose in the Virgin Islands

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said during a Government House briefing on July 26, 2021, that his administration was re-evaluating plans for in-person learning at the territory’s public schools, which were scheduled to reopen on Aug. 9, as COVID-19 cases continued to rise.

Bryan said some pandemic restrictions also might need to be reimposed. He said the territory had 208 active cases and 35 deaths as of July 24, and that none of the people then hospitalized in critical condition or those who had died had been vaccinated.

The Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation suspended its programs and facility rentals for at least two weeks, Bryan said. He also said the Health Department had sought temporary support and additional resources from its medical procurement contractor, Pafford, to help respond to the surge.

Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion said the department’s digital vaccination records would begin being used on July 28, 2021, to facilitate re-entry to the territory through the travel portal.

Government House also said two $100,000 Vax-to-Win lottery prizes drawn on July 16 went to Aretha McFarlande of St. Croix and Xingbin Yun of St. Thomas, who accepted on behalf of his daughter, Rena.

The administration said it had paid $10 million in retroactive compensation to eligible government retirees during the previous week for amounts owed under a collective bargaining unit covering 1990 to 2001.

As of July 24, officials said 43,856 people had received a first vaccine dose and 37,005 were fully vaccinated. The Health Department reported a 4.82% positivity rate, 21 hospitalized COVID-19 patients between the territory’s two main hospitals, 4,375 positive tests to date, and 4,132 recoveries.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-re-evaluating-in-person-learning-at-public-schools-as-surge-of-covid-19-cases-continues/