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Governor Albert Bryan will announce Tuesday the transition from the "Stay-at-Home" order implemented three weeks ago to quell the spread of the novel coronavirus in the USVI, to the "Safer at Home" phase of reopening, which will allow the reopening of non-essential businesses, among other easing of restrictions.
This is the second time the territory's attempting the "Safer at Home" phase; Mr. Bryan had tested a strategy of keeping the territory open while managing Covid-19 cases through successful hospitalizations, whereby patients would receive treatment and be released. But with the surge in cases in July and early August, the governor on August 13 announced that he would revert to the Stay-at-Home order for two weeks.
Guidelines under the territory’s Safer at Home phase include:
- Non-essential businesses open, bars remain closed, hotel reservation systems closed
- Indoor/Outdoor recreation facilities open, no food or drink
- Facial covering in all commercial entities
- No gathering greater than 50, facial coverings and social distancing required
- Nursing homes closed to visitation
- Beaches closed at 4:00 p.m. on weekends and on Holidays
Mr. Bryan also said Saturday that he intends to allow dine-in service at restaurants under the Safer at Home phase beginning on September 8. Even so, the governor stressed that during the Safer at Home phase, restrictions on dine-in service at restaurant establishments will be re-established, according to Government House.
Those restrictions include:
- No serving of alcohol at bar counters
- No seating of more than 6 persons per table
- Tables must be 6 feet apart
- Patrons must wear masks at all times when not eating or drinking
Government House said the prohibition on hotels accepting any leisure guests will remain in effect until September 18, though hotels can accept reservations from Sept. 12.
