Governor Albert Bryan Jr. made a plea to residents to unite against gun violence and come forward with information about recent homicides. “Unfortunately, we have lost eight people to the Coronavirus here in the Territory since we officially began our response in March. In that same timeframe, we have lost almost three times as many Virgin Islanders to senseless gun violence.” "While it is easy to point the finger at law enforcement, the hard truth is that no law enforcement strategy that does not involve information and cooperation from the community will stop gun violence from reoccurring," the Governor said.
Health Department Medical Director Dr. Tai Hunte-Caesar said irresponsible behavior within the USVI community is causing the spread of COVID-19 to the elderly and other vulnerable populations and needs to stop. Describing her daily experience within the territory’s two hospitals, Hunte-Caesar said it’s mostly residents over 70 and those with underlying medical conditions, like diabetes, hypertension or asthma, that are being hospitalized with the virus, which they catch from family members who go out, travel or “hang out” with friends, then bring it back home. “You are putting everyone’s lives at risk,” she said. “If my four-year-old daughter can say, ‘no you can’t come up to me because you aren’t wearing a mask, I think everyone can get it by now. This is what is happening in the hospitals, and it is not fair, and it’s not right.”
A portion of the Melvin Evans Highway, from the Williams Delight intersection eastbound to the West Airport Road intersection, will be closed for roadwork today at 9 a.m. through Friday, August 7. Eastbound traffic will be routed through Williams Delight on to Queen Mary Highway. Motorists are asked to find alternate routes or leave at least 30 minutes earlier to get to your destination on time.