Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Further travel restrictions may be needed to keep new COVID strains out

Further travel restrictions may be needed to keep new COVID strains out

As countries in the region and further afield battle with the coronavirus pandemic, including new strains of the virus, the Virgin Islands intends to remain proactive in keeping the territory safe.

Some of the current measures that have proven to be effective so far are imposition of curfews, social distancing, sanitising, wearing of masks, limiting of gatherings, limiting the ports of entry, mandated tests and quarantine for persons entering the territory and travel bans from certain countries such as the United Kingdom and the Dominican Republic.

According to the latest Covid-19 update on February 13, 2021, the territory has only 4 active cases of the virus and all of the cases and their close contacts are in quarantine.

Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Carvin Malone (AL); however, says further travel restrictions may be necessary to continue to keep the territory safe.

"We have to meet as Cabinet to see if there is any other country we have to be mindful of in terms of whether or not persons coming in will have to go with the fourteen days or if we have to ban persons who are not from here, who doesn't have work permits from here, from coming into the territory," Hon Malone said during a press conference last week Thursday, February 11, 2021.

There are travel bans from certain countries such as the United Kingdom and the Dominican Republic due to the emergence of new strains of COVID-19.

According to the latest Covid-19 update on February 13, 2021, the territory has only 4 active cases of the virus and all of the cases and their close contacts are in quarantine.


‘We cannot get weary in well-doing’


The question of the 3-hour curfew which remains in place, from 2:00am to 5:00am, even though there are reportedly no recorded cases of community spread of the virus, was also brought up at the press conference.

"We cannot get weary in well-doing," said the Health Minister while appealing, "Just a little bit longer, just close your doors, just go inside and close your doors until this passes over."

Hon Malone noted that leaders of other Caribbean countries have scoffed at the night curfews but are now having to implement even harsher curfews than what is in place in the VI.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
×