CHARLOTTE AMALIE — V.I. Attorney General Denise George has joined a coalition of attorneys general representing 43 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories, urging Congress to extend the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economy (CARES) Act funding until the end of 2021. The effort is being led by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost […]
Category: Health News
Should I Wipe Down Groceries During The Pandemic?
Should I wipe down groceries during the pandemic? Experts say it’s not necessary for most people. The coronavirus spreads mainly through the respiratory droplets people spray when talking, coughing, sneezing or singing. It’s why health experts stress the importance of wearing masks and social distancing. Experts still recommend cleaning surfaces — especially frequently touched spots […]
Bryan Urges Community To Avoid Holiday Gatherings; Medical Director Says Vaccine Is Safe To Take
CHRISTIANSTED — During his weekly press briefing today, Governor Albert Bryan urged residents to scale back on holiday gatherings to try to stop the advance of the COVID-19 virus. Bryan also said that further restrictions will have to be imposed in the next few weeks — including mandating 100 percent testing at the airports — to continue […]
Lawmakers Say COVID-19 Relief Bill Won’t Offer $1,200 Checks
WASHINGTON — With time running out, lawmakers on Sunday closed in on a proposed COVID-19 relief bill that would provide roughly $300 in extra federal weekly unemployment benefits but not another round of $1,200 in direct payments to most Americans, leaving that issue for President-elect Joe Biden to wrestle over with a new Congress next year. The $908 billion […]
COVID-19 Dropped A Bomb On The Tourism Economy … Worse Than Irma And Maria
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — What kind of a bomb has COVID-19 dropped on the tourism economy? Worse than two hurricanes in 2017. That’s the finding of the U.S. Virgin Islands chief economist, who said the coronavirus has hit tourism worse than Hurricanes Irma and Maria combined. Donnie Dorsett, a senior economist with the Bureau of Economic […]
Puerto Rico Wants To Arrest California Man Who Attacked National Guard Trooper Over Face Mask Rule
SAN JUAN — A judge on Friday ordered the arrest of a California tourist from who is accused of attacking a National Guard trooper at Puerto Rico’s airport after refusing to wear a face mask as required under pandemic restrictions. The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Adrien Williams. He faces charges including assault in the […]
Just As On The Mainland, COVID-19 Cases Are Trending Upwards In USVI
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Just as coronavirus cases are on the rise on the mainland, in the U.S. Virgin Islands COVID-19 cases increased significantly this week, the Virgin Islands Department of Health said. In two days near the end of the week, VIDOH was tracking at least 50 confirmed cases of the disease — with 26 […]
COVID-19’s Shadow Pandemic: A Surge In Violence Against Women And Girls
A survey of five Caribbean countries showed that nearly half of women have faced at least one form of physical, economic, emotional or sexual violence. Unequal power relations between women and men lead to controlling behaviors within intimate relationships, research shows. The problem has become worse since the outbreak of COVID-19. Community-based prevention efforts must […]
Governor Bryan Requests Extension Of The State of Emergency By Legislature
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Albert Bryan has asked the 33rd Legislature to take up his request during their Special Session on Tuesday, December 8, to extend the State of Emergency until February 6, 2021. The current State of Emergency expires on December 8. “Given that the USVI is a major travel destination, it is not immune to […]
Will Republicans And Democrats Sign Off On A 2nd Stimulus Check By Dec. 31?
WASHINGTON — Time is running out for the U.S. government to approve a second coronavirus relief package. So where does that leave Americans anxiously awaiting a second federal stimulus check — the cash payments that were distributed earlier this year? There are signs that a scaled-down deal might be in the works, although the popular […]