In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Governor Augustus Jaspert also announced that all businesses will now be allowed to reopen, “subject to inspection by the Social Distancing & Monitoring Task Force and certification by the Environmental Health Division”.

“This means those remaining businesses, such as bars, can open once they have received approval,” Governor Jaspert said.

Unrestricted marine activity will be allowed

Governor Jaspert said in his statement that the movement of vessels within the territorial waters will be allowed, except in waters that are classified as an ‘exclusion zone’.

“This exclusion zone is necessary to ensure that our law enforcement and security agencies can effectively monitor and control our key marine borders to ensure that there is no unauthorised entry which could bring the risk of the virus in,” Jaspert explained.

He continued: “Unrestricted marine traffic and activity will be allowed only between 5 am and 5 pm, notwithstanding further curfew restrictions. This restriction to daylight hours only on the water is again to help our law enforcement ensure that they can keep our borders safe from unauthorised entry.

The governor further said unrestricted marine traffic and activity will be permitted east of 64.34300” W on the south side of Tortola and an area east of the dividing line between the westernmost tip of Jost Van Dyke and the westernmost tip of Tortola.

He said a map will be published showing the markings.

“Traffic through the exclusion zone and outside of the navigational limits is restricted and requires pre-clearance from the Multi-Agency Operational Command prior to transit,” Jaspert sated.

“Vessels fitted with Automatic Identification System technology will be required to use same while navigating within the territorial waters, especially in the exclusion zone to make them easily identifiable to law enforcement from a distance,” he added.

He further reminded residents and businesses to continue to take the anti-coronavirus precautions and proper hygiene protocols.