CHRISTIANSTED — A 77-year-old St. Croix man with “underlying health issues” was the third person to die of COVID-19 in the territory, Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. said.
Speaking at a press conference in Government House this afternoon, Bryan said he got confirmation of the unidentified man’s death “late Friday afternoon” and that the man had “a recent history of travel from the state of Florida.”
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his loved ones at this time,” the governor said.
To date, 625 people have been tested for the novel coronavirus, with 554 testing negative. Of the 53 people who tested positive, 48 of them have recovered and the Virgin Islands Department of Health currently is tracking two cases and 18 test results still are pending.
Bryan also said that all the territory’s public beaches have reopened, as have the beaches under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, with the exception Cramer’s Park on St. Croix’s East End, which was recently vandalized and is expected to reopen Wednesday.
“We are allowing beach restaurants to reopen, but we are restricting the sale of alcohol,” Bryan said. “I want to remind the public that the requirements for social distancing and avoiding mass gatherings are still in effect and will be fully enforced. That means absolutely no congregations of more than 10 individuals.”
Bryan said governors on the mainland have tried to reopen their beaches only to see residents stop adhering to physical distancing suggestions.
“If we run into similar issues with compliance here locally, I will have no choice but to close the beaches once again,” he cautioned. “I want to be absolutely clear, no picnics, no parties, no DJs, no get-togethers, no camping, no kick-backs, no bonfires.”
Bryan also addressed the status of the federal stimulus checks and additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, and he said he has been assured by Delegate Stacey Plaskett and congressional leaders that more federal funding for the pay check program is imminent.
PATIENTS UNDER INVESTIGATION update (625 CUMULATIVE TOTAL): As of April 19, 2020
Positive: 53 (15 STX; 36 STT; 2 STJ)
Negative: 554 (302 STX; 231 STT; 21 STJ)
Pending: 18 (2 STX; 15 STT; 1 STJ)
Recovered: 48/53 recovered
Deaths: 3
