Bryan outlined phased reopening plan and announced fourth COVID-19 death in U.S. Virgin Islands

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said on April 27, 2020, that he was preparing a new executive order to begin a phased reopening of nonessential businesses in the U.S. Virgin Islands as the territory's stay-at-home order was set to expire at midnight on April 30.

At a press conference, Bryan also announced the territory's fourth COVID-19 death, a 67-year-old St. Croix woman who died at home and tested positive for the virus after her death.

Government House said 780 people had been tested for the coronavirus as of April 27, with 716 negative results and 59 positive results. Of the positive cases, 51 people had recovered and five tests were pending.

Bryan said he planned to send legislation to the 33rd Legislature within two weeks, including a proposal to revise the legal definition of "in person" and a revision to cannabis legislation. He also said he was transmitting a request to extend the territory's state of emergency through July 12 and asking lawmakers to consider a 60-day extension rather than 30 days.

Bryan formally announced the Your Energy Stimulus, or YES, program, which would provide a $250 credit for active residential Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority accounts and a $500 credit for active business accounts. Government House said the credit would appear on May power bills as a YES Cares Act Credit, could not be converted to cash, and any unused amount would be applied to the following month's bill.

The Virgin Islands Department of Labor had issued 1,595 unemployment checks totaling $1,110,365, Bryan said. He also said the U.S. Small Business Administration had resumed accepting Paycheck Protection Program applications from Virgin Islands businesses and that 240 businesses in the territory had received more than $62 million through the program.

Bryan said he planned to broaden the scope of business and recreational activity allowed on May 1, 2020, with guidance from Health Department officials.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-updates-residents-on-covid-19-4/