Bryan ordered residents to stay home and nonessential businesses to halt in-person operations in U.S. Virgin Islands

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said on March 23, 2020, that he had issued an executive order over the weekend requiring nonessential businesses in the U.S. Virgin Islands to close and adding restrictions on leisure travel to the territory.

The order closed all bars effective March 23 and restricted restaurant dine-in service. It also limited taxis and safari vehicles to half of their previously permitted capacity.

For 30 days, the order barred hotels, guest houses, villas, inns, Airbnb properties and charter vessels from accepting new reservations or new guests.

Beginning March 25, only businesses selling or producing food, medical facilities, basic life services such as gas stations, banks, laundromats and shipping companies, shelter providers, and media organizations were allowed to remain open, provided they complied with existing limits on mass gatherings and promoted social distancing of at least 6 feet.

The order also suspended portions of Virgin Islands law related to landlord-tenant actions to recover possession of real property and collect rent, and provisions barring certain retired government workers from receiving annuities if they returned to the workforce.

Previously announced restrictions remained in effect, including orders for nonessential government employees to stay home or work remotely, the closure of schools and Head Start programs across the territory, the closure of senior centers, and limits on visits to elder-care facilities.

Government operations were limited to essential services through April 6, 2020, and schools were to remain closed until at least April 14, 2020.

Bryan said on March 23 that 74 suspected cases had been investigated, with 55 negative results, 17 positive results and two pending tests. He said 16 of the 17 people who tested positive were in quarantine and recovering at home without hospitalization, and that the territory's first positive case had recovered and later tested negative.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/el-gobernador-bryan-ordena-a-residentes-permanecer-en-casa-empresas-no-esenciales-pone-fin-a-las-operaciones-en-persona/