St. Croix Chamber of Commerce

Growing St Croix's Economy Together

COVID-19 Updates and Business Resources

Please visit this page often as this situation is fluid and changing daily.

Below are updates and resources with links to official information related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 in the USVI

To Sign up for USVI alerts related to the
COVID-19 virus text COVID19USVI to 888777

Positive: 92 (46 STX; 42 STT; 4 STJ)
Tested Negative: 2924
Total Tested: 3055
Pending: 39
Death: 6
Last Updated: As of July 01, 2020
Source: VI Dept of Health

To request a test call VI Dept of Health call 340-712-6299 or 340-776-1519
USVI Community Hotline for questions related to COVID-19 call 340-715-6843

For Medical emergencies call 911

Current USVI Response:

View Updated Government Office Hours & Operations

July 1st Update:

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. updated the public on Thursday, July 1, 2020 during his Press Briefing on new Executive orders for the holiday weekend and going forward as follows:
As of tonight until further notice:

  • All bars must close by midnite, last call nightly is 11pm
  • All alcohol sales throughout the Territory are prohibited from 11pm through 6am. This includes gas stations and convenience stores as well as bars and restaurants.
  • All patrons in bars, restaurants, etc must wear a mask at all times except when consuming food or taking a drink.

For the Holiday Weekend: Friday, July 3rd; Saturday, July 4th; Sunday July 5th

  • All beaches must be completely vacated by 4pm. This includes parking lots and roadside surrounding areas.
  • No DJs on the beaches, No big parties. (Beaches reopen at 6am)
  • The Emancipation Day Fort to Fort walk has been approved (starting at 4am Friday morning). Social distancing and masks are required.

Updates to Limetree Refinery Contractor and Employee Protocols

As Limetree contractors and employees traveling to the Territory have been a concern, protocols have been updated.

  • All Limetree contractors and employees coming in from hot spot states are required to test COVID negative within 72 hours of traveling to St Croix.
  • Upon arrival to St Croix, they are quarantined for 72 hours and then tested again.
    • If tested positive, they remain in quarantine.
    • If negative, they are released to work at Limetree.
Governor Bryan Orders Beaches Closed Early This Weekend, Bars to Stop Serving at 11 p.m. Until Further Notice

There is a State of Emergency in effect. The Territory is currently in Phase Blue: Open Doors as of Monday June 1, 2020 and is reopened to travelers.

  • The transition will be managed according to a five-tiered system
    • Red – Total quarantine
    • Orange – Current Stay-At-Home order (in effect until 6 a.m. Monday, May 4)
    • Yellow – Safer At Home order (effective May 4)
    • Blue – Open Doors (hotel reservations and leisure guest bookings permitted; restaurants open for seating – effective June 1)
    • Green – New Normal

Phase Blue: Open Doors tier Monday, June 1 USVI reopens to travelers.

  • All Businesses Open
  • Hotels, Villas, BNBs, etc may check-in off-island guests
  • Indoor/Outdoor recreation facilities open, no food or drink (movies, bowling alleys)
  • No gathering greater than 50, no gathering without facial covering and social distancing
  • Facial coverings in all commercial entities; No mask, no service
  • Schools, daycares closed
  • Nursing homes limited visitation

Tuesday, May 26 Bars and Restaurants may reopened at limited capacity for dine-in service with the following in place:

  • Seating capacity at 50% of the established normal seating with a maximum of 50 customers or for dine-in (the lesser of the two) – Example: if your seating capacity is 40, you will only be allowed to seat 20; if your seating capacity is 200, you will only be allowed to seat 50.
  • Tables must be at least 6 feet apart
  • Bar stools must be 6 feet apart
  • Employees are required to wear facemasks at all times.
  • Restaurants must provide proper hygiene and sanitizing stations for employees and patrons
  • No parties larger than 6
  • See current Guidance for Restaurants, Bars & Nightclubs

Vulnerable individuals should stay at home to the greatest extent possible, and for purposes of this Executive Order are characterized as persons 65 or older; persons with chronic lung disease or severe asthma; persons with serious heart conditions; persons who are immunocompromised; and pregnant women.

Executive Orders related to COVID-19

Executive Orders provide more detail on the current status and allowed business operations

The income tax filing deadline for 2019 tax returns has been extended to July 15, and the Taxpayer Assistance Program has been suspended until further notice.

Those who have not filed their 2018 taxes with the BIR are encouraged to do so as Stimulus checks are based on 2018 filings. Seniors on Social Security who do not file taxes (earnings are below the tax threshold) will not need to do so. Social Security information is being shared with the VI Government to include mailing addresses for stimulus checks.

If you received a Stimulus check already via your filing in another state, you are required to contact the VI BIR to prevent a duplicate check being sent to you.

Press Release: VI BIR Cautions Against Receiving Duplicate Stimulus Checks

Business Resources Related to Coronavirus

For more details on funding sources and options> SBA Coronavirus Relief Options

SBA – Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

STATS: Approvals through May 16, 2020 for the US Virgin Islands: 1,260 recipients totaling $112,608,137 View PPP Report

Notice: PPP Resumes April 27, 2020

The SBA will resume accepting Paycheck Protection Program applications from participating lenders on Monday, April 27, 2020 at 10:30am EDT.

An SBA loan that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. > Get More Information

  • The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.
  • SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
  • You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program.
  • Lenders may begin processing loan applications as soon as April 3, 2020. The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30, 2020.

Who Can Apply?

The following entities affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19) may be eligible:

  • Any small business concern that meets SBA’s size standards (either the industry based sized standard or the alternative size standard)
  • Any business, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, 501(c)(19) veterans organization, or Tribal business concern (sec. 31(b)(2)(C) of the Small Business Act) with the greater of:
    • 500 employees, or
    • That meets the SBA industry size standard if more than 500
  • Any business with a NAICS Code that begins with 72 (Accommodations and Food Services) that has more than one physical location and employs less than 500 per location
  • Sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed persons.

Participating Local Lenders

SBA – Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)

STATS: Approvals through May 18, 2020 for the US Virgin Islands: 104 recipients totaling $8,068,500 View EIDL COVID-19 Loan Report

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

USVI businesses are now eligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans at  https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela

Loan Facts and Requirements

  • Small businesses and non-profit organizations of any size affected by COVID-19 may apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
  • Any business with 500 or fewer employees that was in operation before February 1, 2020, is eligible
  • Businesses with > than 500 employees that are considered small under SBA’s size standards and in operation before February 1, 2020 are also eligible
  • Farmers – Agriculture businesses and farms with fewer than 500 employees now qualify for small business disaster relief loans.
  • Faith Based entities that provide secular social services to the general public are eligible
  • Application deadline runs from 01/31/20 to 12/31/20
  • Loan amounts of up to $2 million
  • Terms up to 30 years
  • Interest rate for for-profit companies: 3.75%; non-profits: 2.75%
  • Proceeds may be used for working capital, including:
    • Payroll costs, salaries and sick leave
    • Rent or mortgage payments
    • Material costs
    • Preexisting debt

Document Requirements

  • Minimal documents
  • Lower credit

Applications are received online. There will be no Business Recovery Center to accept applications in-person as was the case after Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

For assistance, applicants may call 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. SBDC staff on both St. Thomas and St. Croix are also available for assistance in person by making an appointment at 340-693-1694.

U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza announced on March 23, 2020 changes to help borrowers still paying back SBA loans from previous disasters. By making this change, deferments through December 31, 2020, will be automatic. Now, borrowers of home and business disaster loans do not have to contact SBA to request a deferment.

The most up-to-date information on SBA’a available resources may be found at www.SBA.gov/Coronavirus

sbdc virgin islands

SBDC staff is working with the local SBA to provide necessary resources.

VI SBDC staff is available by email at info@visbdc.org or telephone at 1-340-693-1694 ext 5104.

Visit the VI SBDC Facebook page for video resources.

Coronavirus Small Business Guide

US Chamber of Commerce

USVI Department of Labor/Unemployment Information

The Dept of Labor is now providing online applications for Unemployment on their website at vidol.gov . They are requesting that businesses have a representative from your establishment call the Agency before notices of separation are issued so that they can be aware of how many people can be expected to file for unemployment assistance and other services.
They will also have a drop box for physical applications for those who are not able to fill out the application online.

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Employer Best Practices

Any employer that needs to reduce hours, give furloughs, layoffs or possible reduction in hours, the VIDOL is requesting that employers do the following:

  1. Send a letter to the Office of the Commissioner that includes the names of the affected employees in advance of the reduction of hours to twenty (20) a week, discharge or layoff.
  2. Contact the Department of Labor directly at the following numbers:
    • St Thomas 340-776-3700 extensions 2013 or 2035
    • St Croix 340-773-1994 extensions 2152 or 2154
  3. Timely file your quarterly reports. The filing of quarterly reports is necessary to assure persons receive the correct unemployment compensation.
  4. Send a notice to the employee with the reason for the separation before reducing in hours, discharge or layoff.

On St. Croix
erica.henry@dol.gov.vi
nicole.bartholonew@dol.gov.vi

On St. Thomas/St. John
faye.reed@dol.vi.gov

US Virgin Islands Departments & Resources

Official CoronavirusReference Sites

US Virgin Islands Official Reference Sites

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) & BIR Updates

The IRS has pushed back the Federal tax filing deadline from April 15 to July 15 according to the Treasury Department. More information regarding IRS Tax Relief can be found at irs.gov/coronavirus

The income tax filing deadline for 2019 tax returns has been extended to July 15, and the Taxpayer Assistance Program has been suspended until further notice.

All face-to-face appointments have been cancelled until mid-April.

Taxpayers who need to clear imported goods through excise tax offices are asked to use the online system at https://excise.bir.vi.gov.

All tax returns that need to be filed should be done by mail, with a certified receipt, if possible. Include an extra copy of the return stamped, self-addressed envelope so the Bureau can return a stamped copy.

The St. John office is closed until further notice. St. Croix and St. Thomas office hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, and cashiering services will be available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily until further notice.

For more information, call 340-773-1040 on St. Croix and 340-774-1040 on St. Thomas.  Use the following extensions and email address for specific needs:

  • Audit Division – St. Croix extension  is 4233 and St. Thomas extension is 2271, or send an email to pcranston@irb.gov.vi
  • Delinquent Accounts and Returns – St. Croix extension  is 4254 and St. Thomas extension is 2232, or send an email to secarr@irb.gov.vi
  • Processing – St. Croix number is 340-712-2513 and St. Thomas extension is 2223, or send an email to rdavis@irb.gov.vi
  • Excise Division – St. Croix number is 340-778-1021 and St. Thomas extension is 3201, or send an email to ghodge@irb.gov.vi
  • Director’s Office – St. Croix extension  is 4225 and St. Thomas extension is 4225, or send an email to cwilliams@irb.gov.vi

The Bureau of Internal Revenue website is bir.vi.gov.

FEMA Response and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

OSHA Guidance Resources related to COVID-19

USVI Department of Human Services

Cash, Food and Energy Assistance Programs Ready to Help Through Uncertain Times with Telephone Interviews and Relaxed Federal Guidelines

In response to the Covid19 Pandemic, the USVI Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Division of Family Assistance announced that their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as Food Stamps), cash, and energy assistance programs are ready to serve existing and new clients through conducting interviews via telephone rather than in person for everyone’s health and wellness. Download Details below:

DHS SNAP Cash Energy Assistance ProgramsDownload

WTJX Educational Resources

CDC Guidance

The CDC has compiled some excellent guidance for business owners: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers, Plan, Prepare and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019

Other important CDC links: