USVI Tourism Commissioner Urges Continued Vigilance In COVID-19 Battle

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte is reminding Virgin Islanders and visitors to the Territory to continue on complying with public overall health steering to mitigate the distribute of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Territory.

Responding to international reports about a spike in situations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Commissioner Boschulte mentioned while there had been changes in the complete number of optimistic situations (from 74 to 111) in excess of the previous two months, the fifty per cent raise can be attributed primarily to incoming contractors at the refinery on St. Croix.

He reminded tourists that the Territory is in its precautionary “Open Doors” phase of restarting its tourism-based mostly financial system, and encouraged all people flying into the USVI to assessment the travel advisory on www.usviupdate.com and familiarize themselves with the Toolkit for Travelers.

“COVID-19 hotspots across the United States continue on to emerge, and we have strict measures in position to mitigate the distribute of the disease, these kinds of as overall health screenings at our airports and the sporting of masks when out in public or getting into any business in the USVI,” Commissioner Boschulte mentioned.

The Commissioner reiterated his self esteem in the Office of Health’s dealing with of the public overall health response, indicating that the number of patients who analyzed optimistic greater from 2.86% on June 19 to three.49% on July three.

The tourism chief mentioned that relative changes to tiny numbers can appear to be much more major than they really are. “If we have 1 situation now, and three tomorrow, that is a two hundred per cent raise,” mentioned Commissioner Boschulte, while acknowledging that every single additional COVID-19 situation was cause for problem.

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced past 7 days that the strict protocols presently in position at the oil refinery, together with temperature scans at the gate, mandatory facial coverings, weekly reporting of contractors touring to St. Croix, and the screening and quarantining of all contractors quickly on arrival, will continue on. Having said that, with the evolving circumstance on the U.S. mainland, all contract staff ought to now be analyzed before arriving on St. Croix, and will not be authorized to travel if effects are optimistic.

Also, refinery staff with accommodations in a nearby residential neighborhood have been ordered not to leave the facility other than for operate obligations.

Federal government officials are at the moment considering further constraints on travel connected to the COVID-19 surge in the continental United States, but Commissioner Boschulte assured tourists en route to the U.S. Virgin Islands in excess of the next several times that there is at the moment no formal plan modify in influence concerning COVID-19 testing for visitors arriving in the Territory, and as these kinds of, a adverse PCR exam is at the moment not essential before travels.

Routine temperature checks and overall health screenings are getting executed at ports of entry. No quarantine is essential if tourists are healthy. Tests, quarantine and isolation protocols are in position for suspected and confirmed situations of COVID-19 and also for contacts of confirmed COVID-19 situations.

In the meantime, the sale of alcohol is prohibited at all establishments following 11 p.m., and all bars will be closed day-to-day at midnight right until further recognize.