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Following announcements on Oct. 26 that removed the nighttime curfew on bars and nightclubs, and the 11:00 p.m. ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages among other items, Governor Albert Bryan on Nov. 29 — the Monday after Thanksgiving — will further ease restrictions put in place to depress the spread of Covid-19.
Speaking to the Consortium Wednesday, the territory's leader said the latest easing are a result of encouraging signs in the territory, as Covid-19 cases continue to decline. As of Wednesday there were 79 active infections, with St. Croix accounting for a majority with 64, followed by St. Thomas with 10, and St. John with 5. The latest numbers represent a sharp increases of 35 cases on St. Croix from two days earlier, when the island had only 44 active infections. Part of the increase is tied to an outbreak at the Golden Grove Correctional Facility, where 14 inmates tested positive for the virus Wednesday.
"We're going to ease down on the restrictions again because it's been three weeks now and so far so good, knock on wood," the governor said, adding that the changes will be announced on the Monday after Thanksgiving. "So the restaurants, the ferries, the maximum people in any place at one time — all of those are going to change."
One change the governor provided more details on is allowing facilities hosting events to have a maximum capacity of 150 with both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. The current limit is 100, which Mr. Bryan announced on Oct. 26 and again confirmed to the Consortium Wednesday. The administration's Covid-19 Task Force routinely disregards Mr. Bryan's directives on the matter, as they continue to advise owners of entertainment facilities that the limit for events allowing a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals is 50. The governor will have to make clear on Nov. 29 his latest directives, and see to it that they are not flouted by the task force.
For vaccinated events, the capacity is expected to remain at 250 and those events must seek permission from the territory's Health commissioner. The Health commissioner may also allow events with more than 250 vaccinated individuals at her discretion.
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