Press Release

Premier's Office
Release Date:
Wednesday, 1 April 2020 - 4:54pm

Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie has announced the extension of the COVID-19 Curfew to April 16.

The decision to extend the COVID-19 Curfew from April 2 for a period of 14-days was made by the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands on March 31. 

Premier Fahie said that the Cabinet has decided that under the Curfew Act 2017, a limited and managed curfew has been imposed from Thursday, April 2 at 6:01 a.m. to April 16 at 6:00 p.m. An absolute curfew will be imposed from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily.

The Premier stated that a limited and managed curfew will be imposed from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. subject to the following conditions: Limited basic and essential services will be allowed to operate and encouraged to offer online shopping for curbside and home delivery. Additionally, businesses operating during this time are mandated to maintain the social distancing guidelines. Persons in vulnerable groups should stay at home and retrieve supplies through delivery services. 

The Premier further added that persons given the opportunity to leave their home to get essentials must use the time wisely and that the Cabinet will advise persons on April 1 of logistically how this will be done. 

Premier Fahie stressed that persons under mandatory quarantine will not be able to leave their homes and will be monitored 24/7 by security personnel to ensure that other members of the community are not put at risk. 

The Territory's Leader thanked the people of the Virgin Islands for complying with the present curfew and other decisions made by the Cabinet to rapidly contain the spread and prevent transmission of COVID-19 within the community. 

The Premier also said that approval was given for the 30 Cuban Medical personnel to assist local health workers in the fight against the COVID 19.  He added that the medical professionals coming into the Territory will be quarantined for a period of 14 days before entering the community. 

To date, the Virgin Islands has three confirmed imported cases of the COVID-19 in the Territory. Persons who have recently travelled and show any symptoms such as a fever, cough and difficulty breathing should stay home and seek medical advice early by contacting the medical hotline at 852-7650.

Author

Sheriece T. Smith

Information Officer II 
Dept. of Information & Public Relations 
Telephone: 468- 2740
Email:    shersmith@gov.vg