🌱 USVI Surpasses 1200 COVID Cases + New Quarantine Rules + NYE

Happy New Year's Eve. Here's everything you need to know to get the last day of 2021 started off right.

But first: if you're concerned about the latest outbreak of COVID-19 in the territory, here are several online resources sharing the latest information on testing and vaccines:

• www.covid19usvi.com
• Information about vaccines
• VI Department of Health Facebook

Governor Bryan is also hosting a press conference at 10 a.m. AST, on Friday, December 31, 2021, with an update on the pandemic. You can livestream it at Government House - US Virgin Islands

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 83 Low: 75.

Top Stories:

1. COVID-19 update: 1251 active cases reported and a 7-day positivity average of 17.73% (VI Department of Health)
2. New quarantine requirements (VI Dept. of Health):
   1. If you test positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic (aka not presenting symptoms), you must quarantine for 5 days. If symptoms develop during the 5 days, your quarantine will be extended to 10 days.
   2. If you test positive and do have COVID-19 symptoms, you are required to quarantine for the entire 10-day period.
3. Want to get tested for COVID-19? Prepare to wait and, potentially, walk-away untested. As cases surge across the territory, residents are facing long lines at most testing centers. In some cases, folks have been turned away when the centers run out of tests. Find out what happened to a Virgin Islands Daily News correspondent.
4. Bail was set at $1 million for Francis Javaughn, the 19-year-old suspect in Tuesday's shooting on St. Croix. Javaughn, of the Ruby Rouse housing community, has been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting two men in the Red Brick area on Tuesday. Jose M. Rivera died at the scene and a second male victim is in critical condition at the Juan F. Luis Hospital. The V.I. Consortium has the full story.

Today's US Virgin Islands Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in US Virgin Islands!

Today's Events (NYE!)

• The YES USVI Basketball Classic Weekend kicks off at 3:00 p.m. Catch two days of exciting Division II basketball at the Mark C. Marin Center at Antilles School.
• New Year's Eve at Lovango Rum Bar on St. John - starts at 4:00 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve Party at The Fred - starts at 9:00 p.m.
• New Years Eve/ Old Years Night at the Dorsch Center in Frederiksted - starts at 9:00 p.m.
• The Fete Gala at The Palms at Pelican Cove - starts at 9:00 p.m.

Social Chatter:

• Fact: There is free COVID-19 testing in the USVI. The Virgin Islands Department of Health offers free testing for symptomatic individuals and those who have been exposed to COVID-19/close contacts of confirmed cases of COVID-19.
  Fact: Private providers also offer free testing for those who are insured and there are also options for those who are uninsured.
  Myth: There is no free testing in the USVI.
  Myth: Tests are free everywhere else.
  (VI Dept of Health Facebook)
• Partners 4Kids is offering telemedicine service on the weekends (Saturday and Sunday). By appointment from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Facebook)
• Attn Virgin Islands WIC Program Clients: all in-person services have been suspended until further notice. (Facebook)
• Earlier this year The Department of Public Works celebrated the completion of the Main Street Enhancement Project. Take a moment to view highlights from the celebration in the link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kyx4Ewby3Q
• Three cheers to the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park Trail Crew for clearing 27 miles of trails! Need a trail map? Find them in the National Park Visitor Center & Store or online here - https://donate.friendsvinp.org/shop
• The Dept. of Sports, Parks and Recreation announced a new basketball clinic for kids ages 3-8, starting February 15:
  

  

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See you in 2022!

— 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.