Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Oct 21, 2025

USVI issues new 'Stay at Home Order' as COVID-19 cases surge

USVI issues new 'Stay at Home Order' as COVID-19 cases surge

Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr on Thursday, August 13, 2020, took bold steps to beat back the rise of novel coronavirus in the US Virgin Islands (USVI), which has been spreading briskly through the community — infiltrating the Queen Louise Home for the Aged and the Alexander A. Farrelly Criminal Complex — both of which are in St Thomas.

Mr Bryan said when he first announced that the territory would move to its Open Doors phase on June 1, 2020, he stated at the time that his administration would revert to a more restrictive phase if cases of the virus surged.

Unfortunately we have arrived at the point this week," the governor said during his press briefing.

As of Wednesday, 682 people tested positive for the virus: 346 on St Thomas, 314 on St Croix, and 22 on St John. DOH said it was tracking as of Wednesday, August 12, 2020, 197 active Covid-19 cases: 165 on St Thomas, 27 on St Croix and 5 on St John.

Here's what you need to know


Effective Monday, August 17, 2020, the territory will revert to the Stay at Home or orange alert phase of the administration's Covid-19 response. "This means that effective 6:00 am Monday all non-essential businesses are ordered closed," Mr Bryan said. "Non-essential public sector workers are also to remain at home. This phase of alert will continue for at least the next two weeks at which time we will re-evaluate whether it is safe to advance again to the yellow alert: Safer at Home."

*   Hotels, Airbnb, guest houses and villas have been ordered to cease accepting new reservations effective immediately.
*   Reservations are only to be accepted for business -related travel, government workers and emergency workers.
*   Effective Wednesday, August 19, hotels are barred from checking in any guests aside from business-related travelers, government workers and emergency workers.
*   Virgin Islanders at home and abroad are encouraged to restrict travel to essential and urgent business only.

"While we're taking these measures, keep in mind that we do not have the full authority to close neither our airports or our seaports, nor is that a desirable outcome," the governor said, adding that the territory must maintain a certain level of commercial and airline traffic to allow for emergency travel and transport of medical supplies and other essential items such as mail and packages.

*   The governor ordered all public, private and parochial school campuses closed for students.
*   Virtual learning is allowed to continue.
*   Churches are to remain closed for the next two weeks during this Stay at Home period.
*   All beaches have been ordered closed on weekends and holidays from noon, meaning residents are allowed to go to the beach on holidays and weekends in the morning time.
*   Restaurants have been restricted to takeout, drive-thru, or delivery service only.
*   All essential business must operate within the existing mass gathering restrictions and promote the recommended social distancing requirement of 6 feet or more between individuals, along with the mandatory use of facial covering, the governor said.

"That restriction is no more than 10 people in any establishment other than the [big] box stores and grocery stores," said the governor.

State of Emergency


Mr Bryan reminded the public that the territory is still under a state of emergency. "Everyone is getting tired, but we have been dealing with this virus now for almost 6 months; we must continue to be diligent," he said. "We're doing the things now that will allow us to do better in the future."

Mr Bryan said the actions were taken today to ease the strain in the St Thomas-St John District, and to "ease the anticipation of a major surge that could affect both islands."

The governor said his aim from the onset has been to balance what he said is public health, economic wellbeing, and personal freedoms of residents.

"But at this time the public health concerns trumps all of those," he said.

Mr Bryan further stressed that the goal of the order is to stop "all movement in the territory [and] all gatherings in the territory until we can get this virus beaten back to a manageable state."

He said all movement, except if absolutely necessary, must stop. "This is not a test; it's not an experiment. We have done this before and it proved effective in slowing the spread," Mr Bryan said.

And while the government has a role to play in addressing the Covid-19 crisis, Mr Bryan said members of the community have a part to play as well. "We are doing our best to do our part, and I ask you in turn that each of you do your best to do your part," he said.

Mr Bryan said the administration would assess active cases, trends in the positivity rates and how many of the active Covid-19 positive cases require acute medical care. "Those will be the determining factors as to how long we continue in this phase," he said.

"However, at this point it is clear that we will not get back to the Open Doors phase again for at least another month," the governor added.

The administration in March issued the following list and descriptions of essential businesses:

Places that sell or produce food:


*   Grocery stores, convenience stores, and pet supply stores. This includes stores that sell groceries and sell other non-grocery products, and products necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation of homes.
*   Restaurants that prepare and serve food or beverages, but only for delivery, drive-through, or carry out.
*   Food cultivation, including farming, livestock, and fishing.

Places with medical purpose:


*   Home-based care for seniors, adults, people with a disability, or children.
*   Residential facilities and shelters for seniors, adults, people with a disability, and children.

Media outlets:


Newspapers, television, radio, and other media services.

Core life services:


*   Gas stations, and auto-supply, and auto-repair.
*   Banks and credit unions.
*   Hardware stores and building supplies.
*   Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry service providers.
*   Plumbers, electricians, custodial/janitorial workers, handyman services, funeral home workers and morticians, carpenters, landscapers, gardeners,   property managers, private security personnel, and other service providers who provide services to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation to properties and other essential businesses.
*   Businesses that supply office or computer products needed by people who work from home.

Businesses that supply other Essential Businesses with the support or supplies necessary to operate.


*   Businesses that ship, truck, provide logistical support or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residences, essential businesses, healthcare operations, essential infrastructure.
*   Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers providing transportation services necessary for activities of daily living.
*   Businesses that provide parts and services for essential infrastructure.
*   Professional services, such as legal or accounting services.

Childcare for essential workers:


*   Childcare facilities providing services that enable employees exempted to work.

Places that provide shelter:


*   Hotels, shared rental units, and similar facilities.
*   Homeless shelters and social services for economically disadvantaged people.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
Bessent Accuses China of Dragging Down Global Economy Amid New Trade Curbs
U.S. Revokes Visas of Foreign Nationals Who ‘Celebrated’ Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
AI and Cybersecurity at Forefront as GITEX Global 2025 Kicks Off in Dubai
DJI Loses Appeal to Remove Pentagon’s ‘Chinese Military Company’ Label
EU Deploys New Biometric Entry/Exit System: What Non-EU Travelers Must Know
Australian Prime Minister’s Private Number Exposed Through AI Contact Scraper
Ex-Microsoft Engineer Confirms Famous Windows XP Key Was Leaked Corporate License, Not a Hack
×