THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS 
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR 
GOVERNMENT HOUSE 
 
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
March 19, 2020 
Press Contact 
Richard Motta 
340-474-2399 
www.vi.gov 
richard.mottajr@go.vi.gov 
 
 
Governor Bryan’s Statement  
From March 19 Press Conference 
 
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS—The following is a transcript of Governor Albert Bryan Jr.’s 
statement at the Thursday, March 19, press conference on the Territory’s response to the 
COVID-19 virus: 
 
Good Day, 
 
I want to begin today, as I did Monday by thanking each of you for continuing to follow the CDC 
and Department of Health’s guidance on how to protect yourselves, your loved ones, and our 
community against the spread of the coronavirus.  
 
It is very heartening to see the community’s response to the virus and efforts to keep our families 
and neighbors safe. During this crisis, our priorities are to contain the virus as much as possible 
and to isolate and keep our most vulnerable population safe— that being our seniors and 
individuals with compromised immune systems. 
 
As a government, we are striving to keep you as informed as possible with the latest information 
as soon as we get it.   
 
Yesterday afternoon, the Department of Health received confirmation from the Center for Disease 
Control that a third person had tested positive for COVID-19 coronavirus in our territory.  
 
Like the previous two cases, that individual remains under quarantine and is expected to recover 
fully. I ask that you join me in wishing them all a safe and speedy recovery.  
 
 
PUI Update 
We are currently awaiting the results of tests conducted on 21 individuals. We have already 
received the test results on 11 individuals, 3 of which tested positive, and the remaining 8 tested 
negative.   
 
At this point, we are testing the most likely people to have contracted the virus either because they 
have traveled, or we know they have come in contact with persons who may have tested 
positive. We also continue to contact trace the positive individuals to ensure that we test those with 
whom they may have come in contact.  
 
Mass Gatherings and Large Events 
On Monday, following the CDC’s guidance on mass gatherings and large events, we announced 
restrictions on in-person events consisting of 50 or more people.  
 
Today, as we continue our efforts to stay on the offense in protecting against the spread of this 
virus in our community, I am announcing that effective Saturday 6 am, we are limiting in-person 
events to a maximum of 10 individuals. This decree also includes bars and restaurants, which are 
now prohibited from seating more than ten individuals at any one time. This mandate will be 
strictly enforced. 
 
We are willing to exempt big box stores such as K-mart, Home Depot, Plaza, Pueblo, and the like, 
who can maintain adequate social distancing of their customers.  
 
However, any business or commercial establishment seeking an exemption from this requirement 
is required to contact the Commissioner of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs to 
discuss a waiver. We are also exempting funerals, but we are asking people other than immediate 
family to refrain from attending until this crisis is over.  
 
We recommend that memorial services be planned for some point after the state of emergency has 
been lifted. While we understand that this is very disruptive, we must cooperate to prevent the 
further spread of this disease in our community. 
 
Easter Camping 
In light of this, we are also prohibiting camping on public beaches for the upcoming Easter 
season. We understand that camping is a longstanding tradition this time of year; however, in the 
interest of the public’s health, we must curtail this practice.  
 
Government Operations  
Finally, effective Monday, March 23rd, until Monday, April 6th, or further notice, government 
services will be restricted to essential services only.  
We have directed all commissioners to establish essential versus non-essential employees.  
 
Being that this is much different from a hurricane, employees will be notified by their supervisors 
who will be required to come to work, who will work from home, or remain at home until April 
6th.  
 
 
At this time, I am ordering a 60-day extension on motor vehicle registration and licenses, renewal 
of business licensing, and other permits. Online services will remain operational. For benefit 
services like SNAP, Medicaid, and Medicare, please contact the respective government agency to 
make arrangements.  
 
Passengers arriving by air have slowed to a trickle, but we still have over 1500 visitors in the 
territory. There are no requests by my administration to close the airports at this time.  
 
Today we are announcing the escalation of emergency measures to increase the containment of 
the virus. We will continue to monitor the progress of these measures and expect to increase them 
if necessary. 
  
We are urging the public to be responsible and comply with the measures in place, so we do not 
have to impose a curfew. Continue to be diligent and stay informed.  
 
Alerts 
Once again, I am asking that all cellphone subscribers sign up for the local alerts on news and 
information about the coronavirus in the U.S. Virgin Islands by texting COVID19USVI to 888777. 
 
God Bless you, and God Bless the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
 
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