🌱 New Covid Restrictions For Bars, Restaurants + Traveling

Governor Bryan announced new restrictions on bars, restaurants, night clubs and new rules for traveling to the USVI in light of surging Covid-19 cases in the territory.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 84 Low: 76.

And check out the full forecast for the week ahead on Patch USVI.

Top Headlines:

1. New requirements for traveling to the USVI: Beginning on Monday, January 3, 2021, all travelers to the USVI must submit a negative COVID-19 test taken with 72 hours (3 days_ prior to travel. This applies to all travelers, vaccinatd or not, including people who were vaccinated in the USVI. (Government House Press Briefing)
2. Starting this evening: bars, restaurants and nightclubs will close at midnight and last call for alcohol will be at 11 p.m. The new rules will stay in place until Mon Jan 10. (Government House Press Briefing)
3. The new owners of Frenchman’s Reef Resort on St. Thomas will receive $244.94 million in benefits from the V.I. Economic Development Authority. The VIEDA board voted unanimously to grant Fortress Investment Group the benefits, which will be paid out over 30 years. The Fortress Investment Group runs both the Reef Marriott Resort and Spa and Noni Beach, a St. Thomas Resort, Autograph Collection. The Virgin Islands Daily News has the full story.
4. Stephanie Barnes, a former consultant to the Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission, reported to the V.I. District Court on St. Croix Monday morning to begin serving an 8-year prison sentence. Barnes was convicted of conspiring with former Casino Control Commission Chairwoman Violet Anne Golden to steal money from the Casino Commission. (VI Consortium)
5. Check out who is hiring right now. USVI Patch has the latest job posting.

Today's US Virgin Islands Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Ring, the home security company. Ring does a lot more than doorbells: check out their full suite of smart home products at Ring.com. And thank you Ring for helping to make local news happen in US Virgin Islands!

Today's Events:

• AARP VI Firm and Flow Exercise Class, on Facebook Live at 8:30 a.m.
• Conversations with AARP in the Virgin Island, on Facebook at 11:00 a.m.
• Bingo at Off The Wall starts at 6:00 p.m.
• Jahnee Redlocks at Brew STX at 6:00 p.m.

And check out upcoming events for the week: USVI Patch

Social Chatter:

• Schneider Regional Medical Center Seeks a Chief Executive Officer (Twitter)
• “Friends in the Courtyard” Artisans meet Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts. (Twitter)
• Friends of Virgin Islands National Park: Check out this week's work locations and meeting times for Trail VolunteersThis week’s work locations and meeting times. (Facebook)
• Looking for something to do on January 31? News of St. John is making a case for spending New Year's Eve at Honeymoon Beach.

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That's all for today. See you tomorrow morning.

— Ashleigh Baldwin

About me: I'm the Patch Community News Editor for the U.S. Virgin Islands. I'm here to provide news you can use. Do you have a news tip, question or feedback? Please contact me at ashleigh.baldwin@patch.com.