Health Department allows Hotel on the Cay to re-open after water testing

PROTESTANT CAY — The Department of Health lifted Hotel on the Cay’s cease-and-desist order following negative test results for legionella.

“Based on negative laboratory results in all but one sample, the hotel is permitted to resume hotel operations except for one room which is still under remediation,” said Virgin Islands Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion. “After additional remediation in that room, we will retest that room and periodically test randomly selected rooms.” Commissioner Encarnacion again acknowledged the hotel’s cooperation in immediately addressing the issue with extensive plumbing replacements to prevent further cases from occurring. Last week, the Health Department ordered the immediate ceasing of hotel operations following confirmed cases of Legionnaire’s disease and evidence of legionella contamination in the establishment’s showerheads and kitchen and bathroom sinks.