U.S. Virgin Islands allowed bars and nightclubs to reopen on Nov. 9 with restrictions

Government House said on November 9, 2020, that bars and nightclubs in the U.S. Virgin Islands were allowed to reopen under restrictions set out in Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.’s 19th supplemental executive order.

At a weekly press briefing on St. Croix, Communications Director Richard Motta Jr. said bars could operate only with seated service, alcohol could not be served at bar counters, no alcohol could be sold after 11 p.m., and establishments had to close by midnight. Masks were required for patrons unless they were seated.

Government House said pool tables could be used if players wore masks, hand sanitizer was available, and cue sticks and surrounding areas were disinfected after each game. Live music and DJs were permitted in licensed establishments until midnight, and live bands were required to maintain at least 10 feet of distance from patrons.

Occupancy was limited to 50% of licensed or Fire Marshal-approved capacity, or 100 people, whichever was less. Cabarets remained closed.

During the same briefing, Government House said the Education Department had distributed more than 1,500 Chromebooks to public school students, including 997 in the St. Croix District and 670 in the St. Thomas-St. John District. It said the department also had issued 1,700 devices from existing inventory and planned to distribute 12,000 new Chromebooks territorywide.

Government House also reported that the Virgin Islands Department of Labor had issued 79,109 unemployment-related checks totaling $88.3 million, and that the Bureau of Internal Revenue had extended to November 21, 2020, the deadline to file a 2018 income tax return or Form 1040 to receive a stimulus payment.

Officials said the territory was tracking 37 active COVID-19 cases as of November 9, 2020. Government House reported 25,451 people had been tested, with 1,405 positive results, 1,345 recoveries and 23 deaths. It said no COVID-19 patients were hospitalized at Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix and two were hospitalized at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/bars-nightclubs-allowed-to-reopen-today-with-restrictions/