More than a month ago, Health Minister Carvin Malone had issued a call for local hoteliers to consider leasing their properties to government for the venture. That call has now been extended to the residential community.

This is according to a Friday, May 22 media bulletin titled ‘BVI Property Owners Invited To Accommodate Returning Nationals’.

It said: “Persons who wish to have their homes or other properties inspected for the purpose of accommodating persons who are expected to return home as part of their 14-day mandatory quarantine requirement are invited to call the Government’s Customer Service Care Centre at (284) 494-3701 and provide details of the property.”

“Persons are to call Monday to Friday between the hours of 8 am to 5 pm and they can also email bvireentry@gov.vg,” it further said.

It is not clear how many properties government currently has available to use as state quarantine facilities.

June 2 internal reopening

The BVI’s borders will remain closed to incoming passengers until 6 am on June 2 in the first instance. The territory will then commence the gradual and phased internal reopening.

Nationals and other permanent residents still trapped abroad will be required to fill out a registration form to gain re-entry.

“The first priority will be given to the re-entry of nationals, Belongers, holders of permanent residence and naturalised citizens, who upon registration and certification by the Environmental Health Division, are deemed to have approved private quarantinable accommodation for occupancy for at least a 14-day-period,” Premier Andrew Fahie said in a statement recently.