Bryan ordered early beach closures for July 3-5 and 11 p.m. alcohol cutoff in U.S. Virgin Islands

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said on July 2, 2020, that all beaches in the U.S. Virgin Islands would close at 4 p.m. daily from July 3 through July 5 and reopen at 6 a.m. each day as part of measures aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Bryan also ordered bars to stop serving drinks after 11 p.m. until further notice. Bars were required to close by midnight and remain closed until 6 a.m. Stores also were barred from selling alcohol after 11 p.m. until 6 a.m.

The governor said the territory also was imposing a 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving from states with high infection rates, including Texas and Florida. Visitors were required to present negative COVID-19 test results taken within 72 hours of arrival or take a test upon arrival and remain in quarantine until receiving a negative result. Those who did not take a test were required to quarantine for 14 days.

Bryan said the government and the Health Department were working with Limetree Bay on stricter protocols for contract workers arriving from the mainland to work at the St. Croix facility. According to the announcement, arriving contractors were placed in a 72-hour quarantine, then tested for COVID-19 before being cleared to work if the result was negative.

The government said it was tracking 11 active COVID-19 cases as of July 2, 2020. It said 3,055 people had been tested, with 2,924 negative results, 92 positive results, 39 pending tests and six fatalities. One patient was hospitalized on a ventilator at Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix, and one patient was hospitalized at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-orders-beaches-closed-early-this-weekend-bars-to-stop-serving-at-11-p-m-until-further-notice/