Bryan ordered nightclubs closed on Dec. 17 and bars shut from Dec. 25 through at least Jan. 8 amid rising COVID-19 cases

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said on Dec. 14, 2020, that nightclubs in the U.S. Virgin Islands would close beginning at 5 p.m. on Dec. 17 and that bars would close from Dec. 25 through at least Jan. 8 as COVID-19 cases increased in the territory.

Bryan also said the government would increase enforcement against property owners who allow parties that violate COVID-19 protocols. He said the Department of Health would reassess conditions before bars could reopen.

Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion said the territory was expected to receive at least 975 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine during the week of Dec. 14 to begin Phase 1A vaccinations for clinical health-care staff and people in long-term care facilities. She said the Moderna vaccine was expected the following week.

The Department of Health said it had worked with federal officials during the previous week to test its vaccine distribution plan and was continuing provider training, vaccination scheduling and data-reporting preparations.

The government reported that 1,746 people were tested for COVID-19 between Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, with 158 positive results, a 9% positivity rate. The territory reported 179 active cases, 1,807 total positive tests, 1,605 recoveries and 23 deaths. Two COVID-19 patients were hospitalized at Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix, including one on a ventilator, and no COVID-19 patients were hospitalized at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.

The Virgin Islands Department of Labor said it had begun the Lost Wages Assistance Program on Dec. 14. The department said it had issued 1,549 checks totaling $1.3 million through that program after completing programming, testing and staff training.

The department also said it had received 17,520 unemployment-assistance applications since the government's COVID-19 response began and had processed 16,756 of them as of Dec. 13, a 96% completion rate.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-closes-nightclubs-bars-to-close-after-christmas-as-covid-19-cases-continue-to-spike-across-the-territory/