Barbados Government Tighten Measures

By Deanzer Roberts

Barbadians and residents living in Barbados, will now be restricted from beaches and parks, and will not be allowed to leave their homes unless they have to purchase food or medicine, seek medical dental attention; and do banking business.

The announcement was made by Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw, in a televised address from Ilaro Court, official residence of the Prime Minister last night.

With the number of cases now at 45 based on a total of 382 tests that have been conducted, she said tighter measures must be taken.

“Just to remind you, there were 34 positive test results in Monday’s update. So in just the last two days alone, we have recorded a whopping 11 new cases,” she said.

Before announcing the measures, she indicated that Prime Minister Hon. Mia Amor Mottley participated in a combined virtual meeting of the Covid-19 Cabinet sub-committee and the Health Emergency Operations Committee, and stands fully behind, and in support of the measures, as the country comes face to face with this epidemic in furtherance of their determination to fight and contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

Among the near 46 000 that have died worldwide from complications associated with this disease, at least five Barbadians who resides overseas, have already succumbed to what she referred to as a “mighty pandemic”.

According to Miss Bradshaw, 45 cases in Barbados is too high, but the fear she noted is that it will not end there, “the prognosis, on our current trajectory, if we do not change course, as a nation, is for this number to continue to rise at an accelerated rate, over the course of the next few weeks.”

MEASURES

• With immediate effect, a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a government facility will be placed on all persons entering Barbados, irrespective of port of origin or port of entry;
• With effect from the 3rd day of April 2020until midnight on the 14th day of April 2020every non-essential service shall remain closed, except the following which may open only between the hours specified:

1. abattoirs, butchers’ shops and fish markets between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
2. bakeries between 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
3. farms between 5:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
4.  pharmaceutical manufacturers, manufacturers of juices, soft drinks and dairy products, food processors and food distributors between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
5. banks and credit unions only for the purpose of supporting the automatic teller machines.
6. cleaning services between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
7. fuel manufacturers, fuel storage facilities and fuel distributors between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
8.  pharmacies, wholesale and retail grocery stores, mini-marts and village shops between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
9. gasoline stations between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
10. delivery services relating to groceries and medical supplies between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
11. hotels, villas & other rental accommodation, excluding gaming rooms, spas, gyms and discotheques and restaurants, only for take-away service and room service.
12. Sugar Factories for the entire day.
13. Private veterinary services as needed.

• With effect from 6.00 p.m.  on Friday, 3rd April all government ministries, departments and statutory corporations will be closed until 6.00 a.m. on 15th April – the end of the current period of restriction.  The only exception to this order will be those public services designated as essential services which shall open between 9.00 a.m and 6.00 p.m and only employees designated as essential may go to the office.

All other staff shall remain at home.

A full list of these Ministries, departments and statutory corporations will be published by the Government Information Service.

• The owner and operator of every business establishment shall restrict the number of persons within or outside that establishment at any one time in order to ensure that a distance of at least six feet is maintained between every person.
• Places of religious worship may open only for

(a) the conduct of funeral services and weddings; and

(b) the streaming of religious services at which only three persons including the officiant may be present.

No person shall host or attend:

1. a)  A private party;
2. b)  A recreational or competitive sporting event;
3. c)  A wedding other than the bride, bridegroom, official witnesses and the marriage officer
4. d)  A banquet, ball or reception;
5. e)  Any social event;
6. f)  A meeting of a fraternal society, private or social club or civic association or organization;

• No person shall transmit video or audio of, or in any way make known to the public the identity of any person in a quarantine or isolation station;
• No person shall visit a prison or a Government Industrial School;
• Private businesses and offices may only continue their operations where the employees can work exclusively from home;
• All beaches and parks shall be closed;
• No more than ten mourners, one officiant and the funeral director and the necessary staff shall attend a funeral;
• No more than one person at any time shall visit a patient in a hospital, nursing home, maternity home or facility for the treatment of persons with an addiction or a dependency on drugs or substances;
• No person shall leave his residence except:

1. a)  to purchase food or medicine;
2. b)  To seek medical or dental attention;
3. c)  To do banking business;
4. d)  To work in an essential service or in a business that is exempt from this Directive.

• No group, exceeding 3 persons, who are not members of the same household shall remain outdoors unless they are within the curtilage of their residence.
• Notwithstanding paragraph 14, no more than 5 members of the same household shall remain outdoors as a group, except in the curtilage of their residence.
• The sale of intoxicating liquor is hereby prohibited.
• A person who contravenes this Directive without reasonable explanation is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $50, 000 or to imprisonment for a term of one year or to both pursuant to paragraph 15(1) of the Emergency Management (COVID-19) Order, 2020.

Regional Freelance Journalist

rdeanzer@hotmail.com

1-246-242-2293