Governor Walks Back Plan to Verify Vaccination Status of Mainland Americans Through USVI Portal System

Governor Albert Bryan on Tuesday walked back a plan to verify people vaccinated in the U.S. for travel to the USVI using the territory's travel portal system, stating that he wants to be sure that tourists traveling here are free of Covid-19.

Mr. Bryan's latest comments are in stark contrast to what he said on Oct. 4, when he stated that people who got fully vaccinated in any U.S. state would soon be able to verify their vaccination status through the USVI Travel Portal.

At the time, the territory's leader said once in place, the system "will make travel to and from the territory a little bit easier for our guests." The program was expected to go live "in two to three weeks," according to the governor.

On Tuesday, Mr. Bryan told the Consortium in response to a question during his weekly press briefing that he had doubts about the program. "I really have my mixed feelings on that," he said. "I could tell you my cabinet members are pushing me towards that, but I really feel safe making sure that people who are not from here, they're not residents, get tested."

Currently, only people vaccinated in the U.S. Virgin Islands can use the travel portal's vaccination verification system. All other individuals must upload an acceptable Covid-19 test result and wait to be verified by the system, which is in part manned by humans. Vaccinated Virgin Islanders can simply upload their information and await verification.