CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections (BOC) said it “continues to progress,despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which have affected employee morale,wellness, and work-life balance at correctional agencies nationwide.” Director Wynnie Testamark said she will continue to focus on supporting BOC staff by offering increased training, wellness, and virtual resiliency […]
Category: Health News
Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith To Discuss Safety Of COVID-19 Vaccine Next Week
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, the chairwoman of President Biden’s COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, will be the guest on the “Press Box” at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 25 on the Government House Facebook page. Dr. Nunez-Smith has also asked six additional federal agencies to be represented on the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, which was […]
Statement About Service From Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security
I want to update you about how things are going at the Social Security Administration. About a year ago, I took the unprecedented step to close our offices to the public. I did this to keep our employees and you—the public we serve—safe. As we enter year two of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines and other […]
Tourism: Taking All Tourists Regardless Of Health Status Reaped Huge Dollar Rewards
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The numbers are in, and Virgin Islands Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte said the territory did far better than its neighbors during the 2020 tourist season. Where stay-over visits to the Caribbean fell 65.5 percent based on reports from the Caribbean Tourism Organization — and global tourism decreased 73.9 percent over the same […]
New Website For The USVI Means Poison Prevention Is Now At Your Fingertips
JACKSONVILLE — The Florida/USVI Poison Information Center is announcing a new website for residentsof the U.S. Virgin Islands in conjunction with National Poison Prevention Week. The new website can be found at usvipoisoncontrol.org and features information on home safety, outdoor hazards, as well as ways for residents to order free education materials and request a […]
Health Department Offers COVID-19 Vaccines At DeCastro Clinic On St. John
CRUZ BAY — The Virgin Islands Department of Health will offer COVID-19 vaccinations to residents on St. John from 8 a.m. to noon – beginning March 20 — on every Saturday through the end of April at the DeCastro Clinic. Additionally, the Community Vaccination Center on St. Thomas has extended its hours and is open from […]
Puerto Rico To Get $23 Billion In Federal Rescue Aid From Biden Administration
WASHINGTON — Puerto Rico’s economy will receive a jolt from billions of dollars of federal aid this year from the American Rescue Plan as the territory works its way out of bankruptcy. Highlights of that aid include $3 billion for K through 12 schools, $308 million for childcare, and $370 million for rental, mortgage, and […]
USVI Lags Behind Most Other Territories, U.S. Mainland In Being Fully Vaccinated
CHRISTIANSTED — If a Virgin Islander took a shot today — it was probably a Cruzan Rum shot — not the COVID-19 vaccine. That’s because the USVI has the third-lowest rate of coronavirus inoculations among the eight overseas American territories and freely-associated states. According to the latest statistics from the CDC, the U.S. Virgin Islands […]
Florida Companies Donate COVID-19 Rapid Tests To Barbados, St. Lucia
MIRAMAR, Florida — Two Florida companies have joined forces to donate over 20,000 rapid Antigen tests to the OECS member states and Barbados. The kits donated have been approved by the WHO. The kits are scheduled to arrive this week to the different beneficiary island nations. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the donation by Ryvex […]
VERIFY: Can Government Take My $1,400 Stimulus Check To Pay For Child Support?
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — President Joe Biden signed the new $1.9 trillion rescue package last week, providing for payments to qualifying individuals of up to $1,400, with payments to a qualifying family of four of $5,600. It is known as the American Rescue Plan. People who make $75,000 or less a year are eligible for the full $1,400 payment. […]