Sir Richard Branson wants a $500 million bailout for Virgin Atlantic from the United Kingdom government, and after the request drew criticism he offered up Necker Island as collateral. “Over …
May 6, 2020
May 4, 2020
Coping with Covid-19 anxiety
A recent video chat about mental health started off with reassurances that feelings of anxiety are normal, and an invitation to virtually join the moderator in enjoying a calming mug …
May 4, 2020
77 businesses report 683 layoffs, but many more likely
As of Sunday, 77 businesses had responded to the government’s call to report personnel changes resulting from the recent economic restrictions enacted to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in the …
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May 4, 2020
‘I think I had it’: After cruise-ship calls, negative Covid test raises doubts
A Tortola resident tested negative for Covid-19 last month, but she strongly suspects she had the disease because of the symptoms she and two co-workers suffered after interacting with passengers …
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May 2, 2020
Recycling efforts redouble post lockdown
Throughout the lockdown, government ministers repeatedly encouraged residents to rinse, separate and store their recyclable items so they could be collected and processed once the curfew was lifted. The curfew …
May 1, 2020
Recent batch of Covid-19 samples test negative: Almost 130 tests taken in Virgin Islands
Nine samples that were recently tested for Covid-19 by the Caribbean Public Health Agency all came back negative, Premier Andrew Fahie said at a Friday press conference about a change …
May 1, 2020
Public sector to re-open Monday
Senior public officers are preparing this week for the reopening of the public service, which is slated for 8 a.m. on Monday. All offices of the public service will formally …
April 30, 2020
Virgin Islands records sixth Covid-19 case
Over the past week, one new case of Covid-19 was confirmed in the Virgin Islands, and the number of residents being tested and quarantined continued to rise. But the newest …
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April 30, 2020
Re-opening for business: After lockdown, economy chugging back to life
On Monday morning, for the first time in more than three weeks, patrons queued up in front of banks, farmers sold their wares on shaded sidewalks, and residents wandered supermarket …
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April 30, 2020
‘I packed 300 food bags for aid effort’
At 11:30 p.m. last Thursday night, I tied my sneakers and walked out in the empty street with a mask already on my face. Waiting at the corner was my …
April 30, 2020
Premier: Stimulus ‘template’ approved
A “template” of an economic stimulus plan has been approved by the Cabinet and will be presented to the public soon, Premier Andrew Fahie promised on Saturday. Though he stopped …
April 29, 2020
Water delivery continues with third lockdown
Since the Covid-19 lockdown started, teams from the Water and Sewerage Department installed new water system infrastructure and worked to provide water services to more residents in the territory. “Notwithstanding …
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April 24, 2020
Economy to start reopening in spite of new Covid-19 case
The sixth case of Covid-19 was confirmed in the territory Friday, but the government plans to proceed with a phased reopening of the economy starting Monday morning as essential businesses …
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April 24, 2020
Survey collects info on 300-plus layoffs
A recent survey of businesses in the territory provided information about more than 300 of the workers who have lost their jobs because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing …
April 24, 2020
Frontline workers prepare
With six Covid-19 cases now confirmed in the Virgin Islands and fears of community spread growing, health officials have been using the lockdown to gather resources for what promises to …
April 24, 2020
Visitors ‘stuck’ in British Virgin Islands
Because of the territory’s pandemic lockdown measures, many visitors have been “stuck” in the territory, Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley said last Thursday in the House of …
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April 24, 2020
EDITORIAL: Government must expand testing; fix and extend lockdown
Recent warning signs suggest that the Virgin Islands is now seeing local transmission of Covid-19, which could mean that the highly contagious disease is much more widespread here than previously …
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April 24, 2020
Testing rate lags in VI
Although the Virgin Islands has been testing residents for Covid-19 since the first case was confirmed on March 25, it has fallen behind some of its neighbours in the region, …
April 23, 2020
Food delivery systems are overwhelmed
On Monday night, Shereeza Bipat-Richards wrote on Facebook about the numerous social media posts she had seen about residents running out of food and other supplies, losing their jobs, and …
April 23, 2020
Virtual classes to start in May
Virgin Islands teachers are currently taking lessons of their own. Under the guidance of trainers with Kiker Learning, a Google-affiliated platform that instructs teachers in virtual education, primary school instructors …
April 23, 2020
Virgin Islands records first death of COVID-19 patient
On April 15, officials celebrated the territory’s relatively low number of Covid-19 cases and announced plans to reopen the territory starting this week. The same day, however, a 52-year-old Filipino …
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April 20, 2020
Cabinet okays ‘interim’ stimulus framework
The Cabinet has approved certain aspects of an economic stimulus programme designed to help the territory weather the coronavirus pandemic, and full details will be disclosed soon, Premier Andrew Fahie …
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April 19, 2020
Curfew extended 6 days, home deliveries continue
Following the death of a 52-year-old Filipino woman suspected to have Covid-19, government has extended the round-the-clock lockdown an additional six days to allow for “aggressive contact tracing,” Premier Andrew …
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April 18, 2020
Woman with suspected Covid-19 dies
A 52-year-old woman who tested positive locally for Covid-19 has died in the intensive care unit of the Dr. Orlando Smith Hospital, the Health Emergency Operations Centre announced at 11:53 …
April 17, 2020
‘After 10 days of symptoms, I tested negative for Covid-19’
Government officials announced the first two confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Virgin Islands on Wednesday, March 25, just as Beacon journalists were completing our final edits for that week’s …
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