{"id":1016,"date":"2020-12-14T20:35:02","date_gmt":"2020-12-14T20:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vi.gov\/covid\/?p=1016"},"modified":"2020-12-21T14:32:22","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T14:32:22","slug":"governor-bryan-closes-nightclubs-bars-to-close-after-christmas-as-covid-19-cases-continue-to-spike-across-the-territory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vi.gov\/covid\/news-post\/governor-bryan-closes-nightclubs-bars-to-close-after-christmas-as-covid-19-cases-continue-to-spike-across-the-territory\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor Bryan Closes Nightclubs, Bars to Close After Christmas As COVID-19 Cases Continue to Spike Across the Territory"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

USVI Will Receive Pfizer Vaccine This Week and Moderna Vaccine Expected Next Week; Vaccine Deliveries to the Territory Will Continue Through December \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS \u2014\u00a0Governor Albert Bryan Jr. on Monday said he is closing nightclubs \u2013 beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, December 17 \u2013 in an effort to mitigate the continued spike of COVID-19 cases in the Territory and across the mainland U.S.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Governor Bryan also said that all bars are to close from Christmas Day until at least January 8 \u2013 at which time the Department of Health will reassess the threat of the virus spreading \u2013 and that he is stepping up enforcement on property owners who allow their properties to be used for parties in violation of COVID-19 protocols.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cOur neighbors in Puerto Rico and the BVI imposed curfews in attempts to curtail the spread of the virus. \u00a0The USVI COVID Task Force has begun discussions on the implementation of a curfew to curtail nighttime gatherings,\u201d Governor Bryan said. \u201cI want everyone within the sound of my voice to know that I am perhaps the one person standing between you and a curfew here in the Territory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cSo, I am appealing to you, please stop trying to make sense out of nonsense and wear your mask and do the things that you need to do,\u201d the Governor said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Governor Bryan said he plans to publicly receive the vaccine to demonstrate its safety and to encourage all residents to get vaccinated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion provided details of the vaccine rollout in the U.S. Virgin Islands, with the Pfizer vaccine set to arrive this week in the Territory and the Moderna vaccine coming next week.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cA minimum of 975 doses are expected to be in the territory this week to start Phase 1A vaccinations, to include clinical healthcare staff and persons in long-term care facilities,\u201d Commissioner Encarnacion said. \u201cPopulations in Phases 1B through C comprise first responders, persons with immunocompromised conditions and the senior population as more vaccines are ordered and delivered on a weekly basis.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Last week the Department of Health\u00a0 worked with federal officials to test its distribution plan for dispersing the vaccines throughout the Territory, and next steps include continued healthcare provider training by federal and Pfizer vaccine officials, finalizing details of vaccination scheduling of targeted populations, confirming data reporting, and continued dissemination of public information.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Commissioner Encarnacion reiterated the importance of staying safe and keeping others safe during the holiday period, and she stressed that avoiding travel and gatherings is the safest approach.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cMany residents are traveling to the mainland to attend mass gatherings and are not following best practices for reducing the spread of COVID-19,\u201d the Commissioner said. \u201cWe are still strongly discouraging residents from non-essential travel as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the U.S. mainland and locally. Travel increases your chance of getting COVID-19 especially in areas with a high positivity rate.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Unemployment<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Department of Labor has begun its seventh program of assistance for eligible beneficiaries with the start of the Lost Wages Assistance Program, which began on Monday. The program is federally funded through an application the Department of Labor submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and was approved in September.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

After completing programming, testing and staff training, the Department of Labor has issued 1,549 checks totaling $1.3 million through the Lost Wages Assistance Program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n