{"id":1134,"date":"2021-03-01T21:05:02","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T21:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vi.gov\/covid\/?p=1134"},"modified":"2021-03-02T14:07:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-02T14:07:16","slug":"governor-bryan-eases-some-covid-19-restrictions-for-restaurants-taxicabs-and-beaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vi.gov\/covid\/news-post\/governor-bryan-eases-some-covid-19-restrictions-for-restaurants-taxicabs-and-beaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor Bryan Eases Some COVID-19 Restrictions For Restaurants, Taxicabs and Beaches"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Community Vaccination Centers Open in Each District to General Public<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS \u2014\u00a0During Monday\u2019s Government House weekly press briefing, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced that, beginning March 8, some COVID-19 restrictions are being adjusted in an effort to support the local business community.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Beginning next week, beaches can remain open until 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and taxis can transport more than the 50 percent capacity limit if all the passengers are part of the same family or group.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In addition, restaurants can now seat up to 75 percent of their approved seating capacity, and they can seat more than six people at the same table if they are all in the same party.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Masking requirements and social distancing remain in effect.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cAll other guidelines remain in effect, Governor Bryan said. \u201cHowever, as we move forward with out vaccination strategy and toward herd immunity, we will also consider easing those as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Weekend shootings<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Governor Bryan also addressed the violence that occurred on St. Croix during the weekend that left 13 people injured by gunfire and five people dead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cThere are few words to express the outrage and hurt our community feels this morning because of the callous and reckless actions of those who chose to reign terror on our streets over the weekend,\u201d the Governor said. \u201cBut if we are honest, this weekend is emblematic of a culture that we, as a community, have for more than 30 years allowed to snowball into this avalanche of violence.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Governor said that the community enables the violence by expressing shock and addressing anger at everyone except for those people who pull the triggers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cWhen we make their heinous acts less about what they have done and more about our police and first-responders, we absolve them of responsibility and embolden them to inflict more pain in the community,\u201d Governor Bryan said. \u201cI resolve to remember a time in our Virgin Islands when the village meant more than me and mine, and when it was \u2018all ah we.\u2019 I have faith that we will get there again. We just have to do our part and take ownership of our place in this village.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Governor urged any residents who have any information about the shootings to call the Virgin Islands Police Department at 340-778-4950 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8487).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n


Community Vaccination Centers<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

As of Monday, March 1, the Territory entered Phase 3 of its vaccination strategy with the opening of the Community Vaccination Centers in each district. Access to the COVID-19 is open to Virgin Islanders who are 16 and older.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cThis is our latest step toward our goal of having half the population, or 50,000 people, vaccinated by July 1,\u201d Governor Bryan said. \u201cI know there are many in our community who, in the words of Vice President Kamala Harris, have a \u2018righteous skepticism\u2019 toward these and other vaccines, but it is the best shot you can take to protect yourself and the best shot we have as a community toward normalcy.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

On St. Thomas, the Community Vaccination Center is at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center, and on St. Croix, is at UVI\u2019s Great Hall. The Centers are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and residents can schedule an appointment by calling the VITEMA vaccination hotline at 340-777-VACS (8227)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Schools reopening<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Virgin Islands Department of Education is phasing on the reopening of public schools, starting in the St. Croix District for students in pre-K, first grade, special education and Career and Technical education students, beginning Tuesday, March 2.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

On Tuesday, March 9 second- and third-grade students on St. Croix will resume their in-class education. The schedule is as follows:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n