{"id":1170,"date":"2021-03-22T22:29:03","date_gmt":"2021-03-22T22:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vi.gov\/covid\/?p=1170"},"modified":"2021-03-30T14:40:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T14:40:16","slug":"governor-bryan-working-with-other-governors-to-push-cdc-to-allow-cruise-lines-to-dock-at-u-s-ports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vi.gov\/covid\/news-post\/governor-bryan-working-with-other-governors-to-push-cdc-to-allow-cruise-lines-to-dock-at-u-s-ports\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor Bryan Working With Other Governors To Push CDC to Allow Cruise Lines to Dock at U.S. Ports"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Governor Reiterates his Call for Virgin Islanders to Adhere to Social Distancing and Masking Guidelines During Upcoming Easter and Memorial Day Holidays<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS \u2014\u00a0Governor Albert Bryan Jr. said during Monday\u2019s Government House weekly press briefing that he is working with other governors to proactively urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to lift its \u201cNo Sail Order\u201d and allow the Cruise Lines to resume passenger operations in the United States.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Governor Bryan said he and other government entities with a stake in the cruise industry met virtually two weeks ago with all of the cruise line executives and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association to discuss the return of cruise lines to the Territory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cThe meeting was very cordial, but it was apparent that the principals were not optimistic about the return of cruise travel to U.S. waters,\u201d Governor Bryan said. \u201cWe have decided to take a more proactive approach to the return of cruise ships and have issued a national appeal to the president to issue the regulations for cruise travel from the CDC. We, as well as 15 other states, have felt the economic pressure of the cessation of cruise travel in the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Governor said he is working with the other governors to draft a letter to President Biden asking for the new rules and regulations for cruising and for a potential sail date.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cWe have been waiting on these rules and regulations since last year, when cruise travel was banned in the United States,\u201d Governor Bryan said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Upcoming holidays<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Governor once more reiterated the importance of residents continuing to follow social distancing and masking requirements, particularly in light of the upcoming Memorial Day and Easter holidays.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cWe are seeing instances where people are attending parties both here in the Territory and on the mainland, particularly in the state of Florida, which does not follow these guidelines, and as a result, we are experiencing a slight uptick in positive cases,\u201d Governor Bryan said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cWe have been doing well and have managed to strike that balance between protecting the public health, keeping our economy afloat and allowing individuals to enjoy again some of the leisure activities of pre-pandemic life,\u201d the Governor said. \u201cBut we can easily lose our footing on that tight rope that we have been so successful at walking. There have been too many instances of residents frequenting areas that are either surging or are still considered COVID hotspots.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Governor urged residents to get vaccinated to continue suppressing the spread of COVID-19 and discouraged unnecessary travel, even though there are stringent health safety measures in place at all the Territory\u2019s ports.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cI get it. It has been a long time. We have endured a year of strict protocols and changes to our social lives that no one enjoys,\u201d Governor Bryan said. \u201cIf we can achieve community immunity through vaccination, we can get back to social gatherings and some of the other leisure activities of pre-pandemic life.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Anyone who thinks they may have contracted COVID-19 can call the Epidemiology hotline at 340-712-6299 or 340-776-1519. For more information, visit covid19usvi.com<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For information about the COVID-19 vaccines, call the VITEMA hotline Mondays-Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 340-777-VACS (8227).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Emergency Rental Assistance Program<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program to assist families who have fallen behind on rent payments as a result of the pandemic will begin on Monday, March 29.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

To qualify, residents must:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n