🌱 Rolling Back COVID-19 Travel Restrictions, Carnival + More

Restrictions are slowly peeling back as active COVID-19 cases drop and the Omicron surge appears to be waning. Find out which restrictions have already been repealed below.

Plus, Carnival is not canceled!

• Starting today, Virgin Islanders who received the Covid-19 vaccine in the territory no longer need to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test prior to traveling to the USVI. Folks who are unvaccinated will still need to show proof of a negative test, but the test can be taken within five days of travel, via the VI Consortium.
• Governor Bryan told the VI Consortium that preliminary plans are underway for a Carnival this year, however, there will be no parade. Instead, residents and visitors can look forward to "Village nights and some other activities."
• The Governor signed a pact to position the USVI as a major player in the international shipping economy. The first step would be to make an open registry in the USVI, which would "allow foreign container, cruise, tanker, and other commercial vessels to register in the territory," according to The Source.

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Today's weather: Some sun with a shower. High: 81 Low: 72.

Today's events:

• Kickboxing with Trey (6:00 p.m.)

Social Buzz:

• Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation: Basketball Clinics on St. Croix at DC Canegata (Ages 6-8) are in full effect! 4pm-5:30 Bring your children down to Canegata center and register, anytime between 8am-6pm! Mondays and Wednesdays. (Facebook)
• "Registration for the 2022 Beach to Beach Power Swim is now open! Coined as the most beautiful open water race in the world, this is a race for everyone!" (Facebook)
• Coral World shared a crazy video about frigate birds, "Bizarre Mating Ritual of the Frigate Bird." Coral World's team recently treated tow frigate bridds who were released back into the wild. (Coral World Ocean Park)
• VI Department of Health: "Starting Wednesday, February 2nd, the Department of Health will shift to temporarily cease its COVID-19 pop-up testing events on St. Croix and St. Thomas..." (Facebook)
• Virgin Islands Port Authority: "A tractor-trailer collision that damaged several electrical poles at the Crown Bay Sandfill on St. Thomas has left the area without electricity..." (Facebook)
• U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature: "GERS BOND BILL NO. 34-0188 ADOPTED" (Facebook)
• Don't miss Friends of St Croix East End Marine Park's Facebook story today for a Virtual BioBlitz of the UVI Wetlands!

  

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— 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.