Despite the lifting of the curfew, the Government of Dominica will continue to take measures for a “safe, phased reopening of the country.”
The Emergency Powers (Curfew) Order came into effect on August 3rd, 2021 and which was extended over a period of three weeks, came to an end on Monday, August 23rd at 6:00pm.
In this regard, the Cabinet approved the new Environmental Health Services (COVID-19) Regulations under Section 30 of the Environment Health Services Act Chapter 42:01 to deal with the management of COVID-19 From Tuesday 24 August 2021.
In a statement issued on August 22nd 2021, Minister For National Security and Home Affairs, Hon. Rayburn Blackmoore, said the new regulations include provisions for isolation, travel protocols, mandatory mask requirements, large gatherings, reopening of business and public transportation.
He noted that throughout these regulations, the onus is put on persons providing services as well as persons seeking or accessing these services adding that this situation calls for vigilance from every single person, business or entity.
“In keeping with the new protocols for home isolation, a Medical Officer shall require a person who is isolated at home to wear a wristband. The wristband shall only be removed by an authorized medical professional when the person is medically cleared,” Blackmoore stated.
He said a person who fails to comply with a requirement under this order will be faced with a penalty of up to $10,000.
According to the Minister, persons must continue wearing masks or a suitable face covering when using public transportation, in public buildings (supermarkets, retail and wholesale establishments) and at markets, parks, river banks and beaches.
He warned that persons who do not comply will be fined $500. The fine was increased from $75.
“The onus is not only on individuals but on businesses as well. We are urging all Dominicans to do the right thing and wear a mask to protect yourself and those around you and all establishments to ensure that your patrons comply with the mask mandate,” Blackmoore said.
With regard to large gatherings and restrictions on social activity, a person shall not host or attend an event consisting of more than ten or more people including private parties, recreational or competitive sporting events, any social event, meetings of a fraternal society, private or social club or civic associations.
Blackmoore said all religious places of instruction or worship will be open to allow for no more than ten persons and to facilitate the conducting of services by electronic or virtual means. He added that this week the government of Dominica will hold consultation with churches to discuss protocols for a safe reopening.
“Weddings will be limited to ten persons, which include six persons other than the bride, bridegroom, official witnesses and the marriage officer.”
Funerals will also be limited to ten persons including one officiant and essential mortuary staff.
He noted that all schools shall remain closed and will reopen virtually under conditions to be further detailed by the Ministry of Education this week.
As regards public transportation, no more than three persons shall occupy a row in a bus and no more than two persons per row in a taxi. Passengers must sanitize hands, wear a mask, and keep windows open as much as possible.
“Restrictions on visitation will remain in place. That is, a person shall not be permitted to visit any place of quarantine or isolation, hospital, infirmary, residential care facility or nursing home, prison, or a home where a person infected with COVID-19 is isolated. This is especially important to protect the elderly, the vulnerable, the incarcerated and the sick,” the Minister said.
Blackmoore further revealed that effective from Tuesday, August 24, 2021 that business and establishments will reopen in accordance with protocols established and published by the Chief Medical Officer.
He said every business or establishment shall be subject to the physical distancing requirements which will, ensure that customers and staff maintain distance of no less than six feet in or outside of their business, determine the number of people to be inside by permitting one person for every thirty square feet of store space, place distance markers in and outside of the business, Provide all cashiers with masks and exercise proper hygienic practices.
All establishments which were allowed to open under the Emergency Curfew Order will continue to operate, and all other retail and service establishments will reopen with the following exceptions: restaurants will remain open for take-out and delivery only and barbershops, hairdressers and spas to be opened on a phased basis under strict protocols from the Ministry of Health, (Protocols to be published).
Hot water spas and other tourism establishments will also be operated under the same protocols of the Safe in Nature Programme of the Ministry of Tourism. Bars, nightclubs and gyms will remain closed
Although the country is no longer under a curfew, Blackmoore cautioned that the police will work closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure that the measures under the Environmental Health Services are strictly enforced.
“We must however, continue to follow the protocols and follow the advice of the health professionals. Let us continue to be our brother’s keeper and do all in our power to make Dominica a safe a prosperous nation for all.”
All I know is this. All of our vain efforts in posting comments and decrying the government will not effect change. Yes, we show how much we know, we tell of the little these leaders know and their mismanagement of funds and everything else. People, we’ve been doing so for twenty years and will continue doing the same thing for the next twenty years when Skerrit grandson will have his whip on our backs like a Pharaoh and our grandchildren will suck salt and sand. These ministers don’t read your comments! They don’t waste time caring about what you say or think. Thy are not hindered by what you write. They laugh and make light of your thoughts. The only thing that will get their attention and that if the world; is Mass Demonstrations. And mass demonstrations must be sustained. It must not be for a day or two days. Change doesn’t come easy. Sacrifices must be made. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Now you have the freedom to do it. So organize and hit the streets, roads and everywhere.
It sounds like a police state to me!
They are punishing locals for the Government mistakes. They rushed to open up the economy now locals have to be forced to wear mask and pay these ridiculous fines. And why haven’t the government helped with stimulus? All these restrictions but no financial support!
Mask are mandatory on the beach (have you all lost you minds)
The idea of a curfew is so ridiculous; it is something which makes absolutely no sense; in regards to guarding against becoming infected with the virus.
As a matter of fact Dominica is the only place this stupid idea is imposed on people!
What is a curfew?
A curfew is simply a rule; or official order requiring people to remain indoors between specified hours, typically at night; usually between ” dusk-to-dawn.”
If you have people mingling and talking in each others face all day what difference will it make when everybody go to sleep at six o’clock in the evening taking the virus home?
The only behavior which can help slow, or curtail the virus, is to distance ones self from the other; ware face masks even if one is fully vaccinated; and most certainly shut down the entire country; with the exception of all essential services.
That is the method used; and are continuing in the more developed world; which proved to be a success against the virus!
ok baby sarah. Look now i see they putting a new restriction today. All business to close at 6pm. IS either open like normal or open with restrictions feller.
Three weeks of Lies, Hypocrisies, Deceptions, poorverty and abuse of power. Nothing more and nothing less.
When curfew was announced the morning of August 3 we had 10 confirmed cases. After 3 weeks of curfew we have close to 600 active cases and one announced death. So were the three weeks of curfew a time to bring up the numbers or to bring down the numbers? What was the hoopra about? Here is the biggest joke of the Three weeks of curfew: A 16 seater bus could only carry 13 passengers but a 140 seater church has to be closed due to Skerrit’s version of physical distancing. Look another big joke: Due to covid only 3 passengers per seat but to go to the bank you must make an appointment lol. Boy look jokes in a jokers county
I get so pissed when i hear them fellas who disobey all laws, come and ask people to follow or obey laws..
Bro both you and liar Skerrit, are embarrassment to leadership..Only in Dominica you all can be ministers!!
No where else!
I am hoping that the country’s young population do not model on you all, else Dominica will be forever lost!!!
You are so doggone dumb and stupid, with your stuttering and lisping speech defect, how can a bus have about 13 people and a church has 10??? BUFFOONS!!! BAD EXAMPLES! Only to dummies like you this makes sense! Simpleton!!!
I follow protocol not because of misleaders like you all, but just because i know that it’s the right thing to do!!
I am not wired to accept you all as leaders, you all are embarrassments!!!
Allu dno never post my comment what I do u nah
I know is the ship they want to accommodate that is y they lift the curfew..besides that I know u cannot please people anyway..lock down is complain…open up is complain…smh what now..let the tourist vax come in when people start dying then we will wonder. God forbid
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What was the purpose for the 3 weeks of curfew? What did we do during the three weeks of curfew that is different from the new protocols they put in place to reopen? I mean when they put us under lockdown and curfew on August 6, we only had ten confirmed cases. Now we have over 500. So was the purpose of the curfew was to increase the numbers? It looks to me that their objective was to 1. Destroy the economy 2. To stop the opposition from talking about the missing $4.5 billion dollars. 3. To give world bank and other international lenders the impression that things are bad so somebody could open their wallets to them. So now I guess mission was accomplished eh. Going back to August 6 all they had to do was enforce the use of masks and the regular covid 19 protocols. You didn’t have need curfew to tell bus drivers with a 15 seater bus that they can only carry 13. How could you be serious about bringing down covid numbers and yet allowing 13 passengers in a small 15 seater bus?
They also afraid of bus drivers in particular the once with the red bible on the dashboard. The same thing keeps repeating itself, rules are for some but not for others. Remember Uncles trip to Venezuela, whilst all you were praying and fasting in DA to serve his cult? How long do all you allow Uncle to fool you and laugh.