Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. announced Saturday that he expects to issue an executive order moving the territory to the Safer-at-Home phase of its COVID-19 reopening strategy on Tuesday, including allowing dining in at restaurants, but the Stay-at-Home order remains in effect through Labor Day.
The governor’s executive order placing the territory in Safer-at-Home will set new guidelines to take effect on Tuesday when the existing restrictions under the current Stay-at-Home order are set to expire.
Guidelines under the territory’s Safer-at-Home phase include:
– Non-essential businesses open, bars remain closed, hotel reservation systems remain closed;
– Indoor/Outdoor recreation facilities open, no food or drink;
– Facial coverings required in all commercial entities;
– No gathering greater than 50, facial coverings and social distancing required;
– Nursing homes closed to visitation; and
– Beaches closed at 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
While dining in service at restaurants will resume, the governor stressed that during the Safer-at-Home phase, restrictions on dine-in service at restaurant establishments will be reestablished.
Those restrictions include:
– No serving of alcohol at bar counters;
– No seating of more than six persons per table;
– Tables must be six feet apart, and;
– Patrons must wear masks at all times when not eating or drinking.
The prohibition on hotels accepting any leisure guests remains in effect until Sept. 18. Hotels can begin accepting new leisure travel reservations on Sept. 12.
