Gov’t announces month-long lockdown

In order to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), government has announced a one-month countrywide lockdown effective from yesterday, with a 6pm to 6am curfew and a restriction on services except for those deemed essential.

The “emergency measures” are being effected under an order in the name of Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence pursuant to an earlier direction by President David Granger, given under the Public Health Ordinance.

The measures, which take effect from the April 3, 2020 and will last for one month unless earlier terminated, come amid growing fears that the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to as many as 20,000 cases here by May 5th. There are also concerns that the country doesn’t have the medical facilities and personnel to deal with such a crisis.

In March the Pan American Health Organisation and World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) representative Dr. William Adu-Krow indicated to Stabroek News that despite a number of precautionary measures being in place, persons have chosen to ignore those measures and continued to act like everything was normal.

Just after 9 last evening, when Stabroek News drove around the city, a few bars including popular Kitty night spot, Seeta’s, remained open despite the previous curfew that had been announced by the city council.

Roopa’s Bar at Station Street, Kitty, King Fish on Lamaha Street and the Magic City Club on Garnett Street were also opened. While King Fish had no patron inside, at Roopa’s Bar and Seeta’s Bar persons were observed drinking.  A few persons were seen standing at the entrance to the Magic City Club.

Popular nightspot Palm Court on Main Street, Sweet Point at Bourda Street along with Frenzy’s Bar in Alberttown and Red Bar on Garnett Street were tightly closed. Throughout the drive around the city, Stabroek News did not observe any police patrol driving around to enforce the measures put in place.

Adu-krow noted that if the coronavirus disease spreads, Guyana’s health system would be overwhelmed and he therefore recommended a number of emergency measures to the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF), including imposing a partial lockdown.

However, although there have calls for a nationwide lockdown, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) Karen Gordon-Boyle gave no indication that the ministry was planning to impose these measures when she have an update on the COVID-19 situation yesterday afternoon.

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has so far reported four deaths from Guyana’s 23 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The Government has already closed schools and halted air traffic in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19 since last month. PAHO/WHO announced on Thursday that following a re-evaluation the number of projected COVID-19 cases in Guyana could reach as much 20,000 by May 5th, 2020. This is an astronomic increase from the projected 1,400 cases previously announced Lawrence.

Below are the full menu of measures:

COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES 
These emergency measures are made pursuant to the paragraphs (1) and (2)(b) of the Direction by the President, given under the Public Health Ordinance, Cap. 145, and published in the Gazette, Legal Supplement B, 16th March 2020. 
The measures shall take effect from the 3rd April, 2020 and last for one month unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions. 
 
1. Restriction to home 
Except as otherwise provided in this Notice every person shall remain in the confines of his or her home and its yard space. 
 
2. Restriction on social activities 
No person shall host, attend or visit- 
(a) a private party; 
(b) a recreational or competitive sporting event; 
(c) a wedding, other than the bride, the bridegroom, official witnesses and the marriage officer; 
(d) a banquet, ball or reception; 
(e) a bar or rum shop; 
(f) the seawall; 
(g) a pool, creek or river; 
(h) a wake or vigil; 
(i) a gym; 
(j) a beauty salon or spa; 
(k) a club or discotheque; 
(m) a meeting of a fraternal society, private or social club or civic association or organisation; or 
(n) any other social activity. 
 
(2) No water sports or recreational activities shall be allowed on any river, creek and internal waters. 
 
(3) No more than ten mourners, one officiant and the funeral director and the necessary staff shall attend a funeral. 
 
3. Restriction on visitation 
No person shall visit or be permitted to visit- 
(a) any place of quarantine or an isolation facility; 
(b) a prison or correctional facility; 
(c) a patient in a hospital, nursing home, senior citizens’ home or any other care facility.

4. Curfew 
A curfew is hereby imposed throughout Guyana from the 3rd April, 2020 to 3rd May, 2020 between the hours of 6:00pm and 6:00am. 
 
5. Public Service, Statutory Bodies and State-owned Enterprises 
All persons employed within the public service, a statutory body or a State-owned enterprise shall work remotely from home, except as may otherwise be directed by the Minister of Public Health acting on the advice of the responsible Ministers and Heads of Agencies. 
 
6. Essential Services 
(1) Subject to subparagraphs (2) and (3), all services shall remain closed except for the following essential services which may carry on operations for 24 hours- 
(a) hospitals, healthcare and medical services including pharmacies, drug stores and private veterinary services; 
(b) nursing homes, orphanages, shelters and other related care centers; 
(c) immigration; 
(d) the Revenue Authority; 
(e) electricity services; 
(f) water supply services; 
(g) the disciplined forces; 
(h) prison services; 
(i) solid waste management, sewerage  and janitorial services; 
(j) air traffic control; 
(k) Demerara Harbour Bridge and Berbice River Bridge; 
(l) hotels and accommodation; 
(m) factories, manufacturers or distributors of food supplies and essential goods including medical supplies where the Minister of Public Health has determined that the continuation of these operations do not pose a risk to public health. 
 
(2) The following services may be open between 6:00am to 5:00 pm- 
(a) banks; 
(b) markets, supermarkets, fruits and vegetable stalls and neighbourhood shops; 
(c) food services and restaurants only for delivery, drive thru and take away services; 
(d) gas stations. 
 
(3) Any service not listed in subparagraphs (1) and (2) may only continue their services if their employees can work exclusively from home. 
 
7. Social distancing and physical distancing protocols. 
Any service mentioned under paragraphs 5 and 6 shall make the necessary arrangements to facilitate social and physical distancing and shall-

(a) ensure that all staff and other persons maintain physical distancing of at least six feet in or outside of their establishment, if in a line to enter the establishment; 
 
(b) determine the number of persons that may be permitted in the establishment at any one time by permitting one person for every thirty square feet of store space; 
 
(c) place distance markers at least six feet apart, indicating where each customer shall stand on a line at a check out point or other line; 
 
(d) place distance markers at least six feet apart on the outside of the establishment, indicating where customers shall stand while waiting to enter the establishment. 
 
8. Religious Worship 
(1) Except for the conduct of funeral services and weddings, all churches and places of religious worship including mosques and temples shall be closed. 
 
(2) Subparagraph (1) does not prohibit any religious worship by virtual or electronic means provided that if virtual or electronic worship is being carried on in the place of worship the number of persons in that place shall not exceed five persons and the social distancing of six feet between persons shall apply. 
 
9. Domestic Travel 
(1) Any person who provides transport within Guyana whether by land, water or air shall not carry in that transport more than half the number of passengers which the motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft is licensed to carry and the operators and passengers of any motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft shall have personal protective equipment.

(2) A motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft shall not be used for a purpose other than a purpose related to a service under paragraphs 5 and 6.

(3) The Police Force shall have powers to stop any motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft and inquire as to the purposes for which that motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft is being utilised, and may arrest anyone found in violation of this paragraph.

(4) Medical evacuation flights shall be allowed with only the patient, one health official and, where necessary, one family member. 
 
10. International Air Travel 
The Cheddi Jagan International and Eugene F. Correia International Airports shall remain closed to all international flights except for outgoing flights, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights, technical stops for fuel only and special authorised flights. 
 
11. Offence 
Any person who fails to comply with any of these measures commits an offence under section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance and is liable on summary conviction to the penalty provided under that section. 
 
 12. Revocation 
All curfews or measures taken under any law or administratively are revoked except those made by the Ministers responsible for Education, Civil Aviation, Maritime, Immigration and Finance. 
 
Made this 3rd day of April, 2020. 
…………………………… 
Hon. Volda Lawrence 
Minister of Public Health