Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has announced a two-week national lockdown from February 3rd as she declared a war on COVID-19.
In an address to the nation, Prime Minister Mottley said the next week will be allowed as a preparation period for the national pause.
Ms. Mottley has also ordered that immediately the elderly should stay at home for the next three weeks.
She disclosed that she commenced since yesterday, a series of consultations on the matter, and met with the social partners, along with the leader of the opposition, the leader of the Democratic Labour Party, as well as medical practitioners.
She noted that there have been three deaths from COVID-19 in the last seven days, again acknowledged that there is community spread and confirmed that three of ten samples sent overseas for testing are positive for the new, more contagious UK strain of the virus.
Setting the background for the new measures, Ms. Mottley stressed that many people are not adhering to the protocols.
She declared that people have dropped their guard as they became accustomed to the pandemic.
Prime minister Mottley again called for people to exercise personal responsibility and not succumb to ‘covid fatigue’.
She urged a renewed commitment to adhering to the protocols and called on everyone to play their part in the “national repair program”.
Effective February 3rd all people wishing to travel to Barbados will be required to take a COVID-19 test no more than 3 days prior to travel, will be required to have a rapid test on arrival and those with a negative test will then be required to stay in an approved quarantine center for a minimum of five nights.
In relation to the national pause.
Other key highlights
1. Effective February 3rd to 17th a national lockdown will be in effect.
2. Employees of public and private sector entities are to work from home wherever possible.
3. Only supermarkets, gas stations (not including convenience stores), and pharmacies can remain open.
4. Supermarkets will be open only from 8 am to 3 pm on weekdays and will be closed all day Saturdays and Sundays.
5. A curfew will be in effect from 7 pm to 6 am.
6. Commercial Bank will be closed from February 3rd to 8th.
7. Markets and vending will be shutdown.
8. Village shops will be closed.
9. Public transport will revert to 60% of capacity.
10.Restaurants, bars, and gyms will remain closed for the two-week period.
11. All activities except those deemed as essential services will be asked to pause.
12. A national house to house testing program will be conducted using the rapid tests with assistance from the University of the West Indies and the Ministry of Health in an effort to identify cases early.
13. Wearing of masks is mandatory in all public spaces by law.
14. Chief compliance officers will be appointed to monitor compliance with the protocols at key entities.
