Dominica has officially made the wearing of masks mandatory in public places.
Acting Deputy Chief of Police, Davidson Valerie, made the announcement during a press conference on Wednesday night.
According to Valerie, everyone will be required to use a mask while riding a bus, car or taxi or any public transportation.
“The Environmental Health Services Covid-19 Amendment Regulations 2020 has made it mandatory that everyone wears a mask or a suitable covering over the nose and mouth,” he said.
The Deputy Chief said individuals are also required to wear a mask in public buildings including supermarkets, retail and wholesale commercial establishments, bars, markets or any other similar business.
“Other public spaces including parks and beaches,” he added.
Persons who fail to wear a mask will be charged $75.
Valerie went on to say that a police officer or the owner of the premises that a person has entered or is seeking to enter, may request anyone to remove or adjust his mask or suitable covering for identification purposes.
He said no person shall host a gathering of more than 50 persons unless the person has written permission from the Chief of Police.
“An applicant requesting permission to host an event must ensure that all the necessary information is captured on the event application form,” he explained. “The application form must ensure that his name, home address, telephone number or numbers and any other information as may be requested by the Chief of Police, are documented.”
Application forms for that purpose, he said, are available at Discover Dominica Authority (DDA).
“On receipt of the prescribed application form, a monitoring and approval team comprising personnel of the Dominica Police Force and the Ministry of Health will inspect each venue prior to approval,” Valerie stated.
Anyone found in breach of the regulations will be charged $10,000 or be sent to prison for one year.
I can’t believe that almost all of these 18 comments below, at the moment, have written such foolish response against a message that is asking them to protect their health.
I live in Toronto with a population of 3 million people. When I go out, if I see two people without their mask I will not see three. Most of the shops have a sign at their entrance saying: “no mask no entry”. There is no need for the police to be all over the place hunting for people without their mask–the law is the law and it is for the sake of everyone’s health.
But all I am reading here is a set foolish comments. For crying out loud! What is wrong with the minds of fellow Dominicans, that they have no wisdom and understanding to be able to discern what is the important and necessary things of their Life? This is very serious!
@Elizabeth, hello to you! I certainly can believe the crap that’s coming out from some of that nasty lots especially those blue Rattle snakes so-called workers supporters so don’t be surprised at low life people that only have one thing in life is to create mayhem in Dominica.
unvalidated… and unnecessary. Were speaking about mandatory mask wearing, MBD. sit down
“My personal freedom” “my right to do what I want” bla bla bla….
I remember this is the exact same attitude the population of a much larger, richer country than ours took, as people foolishly resisted mask mandate….that country has been overrun by coronavirus.
Let us not be foolish and proud. With the rising case numbers the government HAD TO do this. Let us not be proud and stupid. Let unprotected ourselves, and protect each other.
So Skerrit and Blackmore just legalized an of ganja and they said their reason for that was to help people not have a criminal record so they could go to America ( by the way the double tongue Skerrit one breath sending people to make babies because he concerned about population, yet he trying to pave the way for nationals to migrate to the US?). So when persons are arrested and charged for not wearing mask will that not prevent them from getting their green card? Especially those that will be charged $10k or one year in prison?
I find instead of that fear tactic they should spend more time educating the people about the importance of using a mask. Example, ganja is legal now and the fun of smoking is for groups of two or more to sit together smoking and passing it on to one another. That you can’t do with a mask on and, we talking about direct contact with saliva which is the reason for the mask in the first place. So that false pretense under the banner of fear doesn’t help a bit
In some countries, hospitals are at or approaching capacity. That means if you get sick and go to the hospital, they will not be able to treat you. In other words, you will be going home without treatment – likely to die. The sensible thing then, is to try avoid getting sick and the MASK is one of the tool that can be of assistance – What is so difficult about wearing a mask? I don’t want anyone to get me sick, neither do I want to make anyone sick. For that reason, I will follow the medical protocol of properly wearing a clean mask, avoiding crowds, sanitizing and keeping physical distance. If everyone does his/her part, the danger from Covid can be reduced and we all go back to our normal lives. By the way, I hate wearing a mask but I have seen some who have been victimized by Covid, and months after they are still suffering from illness!
Honourable Dr. Irving McIntyre,
Why in God’s name is Inspector Valarie the one disseminating this information? Have you already abdicated your responsibility? Have you listened to the gentleman’s tone of voice??!!
Heaven help us
HOTEP!
I NB you are refusing to upload my comment which pose critical questions of small nations like ours following blindly after the big white nations the same ones that exploited you for years have never told you the truth but Now you believe them that there is this terrible deseaase and you must destroy your economy and way of life to save people like they ever cared about saving anybody. You the new gate keepers decide I cannot critique the Trick that we are within a international white racist plot which is being advance by these tehbier black leadership
ADMIN: Your previous comment was approved.
this follow fashion nonsense of White People
So if you believe this Plandemic is real you also believe
– 5 Arab guys who took flying lessons for a year were able to hijack 5 of the most sophisticated jets
– in the busiest air corridor in the world and
-fly then through and over the financial and political capitals of the Ruling Empireand – crash them into buildings which miraculously fell in on them selves at the exact rate of free fall for a thing that high …oh wait
– another tower Only 42 stories high fel at the same rate in the same way and that was not even hit
WHY WE ARE STILL BELIEVING ANYTHING THESE PEOPLE SAY IS BEYOND ME
Now CoVid
This desease Covid19 is a trick to capture you all and your stupid black government are again trusting the liars who want to imprison you because they giving them or say they giving them a pass
-death rate according to their figures is .01%-.025%
-80 % of the test prove to be false positives people have 2 results from same hospital…
The European Commission, France, Spain, South Korea, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others had in recent weeks pledged another $360 million to the AMC, the alliance said, bringing total funding over the $2 billion target for this year.
The European Commission, France, Spain, South Korea, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others had in recent weeks pledged another $360 million to the AMC, the alliance said, bringing total funding over the $2 billion target for this year.
AHAYAH
former slave owners want to help u
THEY LOVE YOU
LONDON/GENEVA (Reuters) – A facility set up by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the GAVI vaccine group has exceeded an interim target of raising more than $2 billion to buy and distribute COVID-19 shots for poorer countries, but said it still needs more.
war on poverty
war on poor people
war on the children of Jacob
How you gonna write me a ticket for not wearing a mask in my car. You’ll have a hard time getting me to stop and wait for the ticket. Plus even if you get the vehicle plates you have to prove it was me driving my car. I have darkers and I driving so ur police better be good with a camera
they never said that… your car is not a public place smh, I seeing police without much less for police to stop people, and they not going to stop you to put on a mask if you simply walking through town smh as for beach hahaha
If you are driving your car with no one else but your family in the car, why should that be a violation if I am not wearing a mask. As we drop into panic mode we continue to talk and do nonsense.
So imagine this, I am on the beach and I have my masked on right? I want to go for a swim do I leave the masked on? What if I just get out of the water and I am not wearing a masked will I get charged for not wearing a masked? So many unanswered questions.
Show me the science behind this tyranny
@Robert, Shut your dam mouth you would not recognized science from truth or fake!!!
There is no science, it is all about control. With or without mask cases of this virus is on the rise globally. With 27 active cases Dominica (much too much for a population of 70k, Barbados with more than 3 times our population has 9 active cases)with this mask mandate has hit the panic button.
Great question, wish the Government had asked this question before
passing such Law.
Ridiculous
WHO said many times that masks are USELESS and even dangerous for health !!!
ADMIN: This is the statement from the WHO website:
“Masks should be used as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission and save lives; the use of a mask alone is not sufficient to provide an adequate level of protection against COVID-19.”
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
But admin your quote basically said exactly the same thing the guy said. You just added 20 more words and complicated it
ADMIN: To make it even simpler: just as you need all ingredients to bake a successful cake masks are just one ingredient in successfully preventing the spread of COVID.
Using just one ingredient or following just one guideline is not enough.
ADMIN, Good response! But I can’t believe that those in charge have to go that far to make Dominicans take the situation of Corvid-19; this is appalling!
Admin in response to your quote from The WHO. Why should a person take the advice from The WHO and think that they are infallible in wake of evidence of their past record. The WHO is not what we think they are, same as The FDA, and CDC. Do you know the amount of Prescription drugs that are given to people and are told by their Doctor it should be used as part of a comprehensive strategy to manage and suppress their illness, is the drug safe, of course not, wearing a mask is not safe for a person’s health. To pass a Law making it mandatory for people to wear as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission of COVID-19 to save lives is, tyranny. (link removed)
ADMIN: You are free to express your opinion. However, the link has been removed due to the potentially misleading claims made in the article about mask usage. The sources provided did not directly support the claims made.
All the sources given point to improper use, extended use or the existence of preexisting conditions or health issues that exposed mask users to adverse health effects.
So where does this statement say it is useless and where does it say it is dangerous? Masks besides social distancing are the most effective measures to prevent spreading of the virus. Every other statement on this is pure and dangerous nonsense.
But wait nuh, Creole Festival just brought Dominica out of the 15th century where the island went as far as bringing dem people to film their last rendition of Pirates of the Caribbean, now allyou taking the country back to pre-historic times with dem kinna arbitrary rules,,,
Allyou doh have noffing to offer people when dey come, who allyou think will come Dominica when allyou put in them arbitrary rules dere like dat,,,
And people not working like before since Ross gone AllMan in limbo wiff noffing to do and no money so who allyou going to get to pay dem ten thousand dollars???
And when people tired wiff allyou how much people can the prison hold when allyou cannot get people to pay the fine and they tell allyou to send them in the Ress-Up because life in there is 12 months without worrying about work as there is none already free food and nuff sleep,,,
So it will be 12 months in the ress-up just living it up,,,
But then again how much people the prison can hold…
That does not make any sense. How can being on the beach without a mask be more dangerous than a party of 45 people in a private residence not wearing masks?
My car is not a public place. And you really think we’re going to sit on empty beaches with masks on? Get real.
Is this the soviet union?
Well… you guys would make stalin proud….
Valerie now I hearing business that’s a better move than putting people in quarantine that’s negative but the gathering is to large take it down to 10 or 15
Honestly is this meant to protect people or generate revenue
Adequate and effective public health awareness and education is still grossly lacking.
Anyway I support all public health protocols to protect people from Covid 19
I understand the urgency to put all measures in place to safeguard the public health of the island during this deadly pandemic.
I am not sure its the police or law enforcement to deliver that message- certainly it should no be Mr. Valerie regardless of his rank in the force. We have some complications there to the detriment of the police public relations and public trust and and the public.
But also this delicate message should first be delivered by a caring health care professional or a member of the clergy- Pastor Rodney or someone else the public trusts and respects.
People are under so much stress already , broke and demoralize and a top cop coming with is his ‘huffing and puffing, bla, bla, blah’- not good…we are better than that Dominicans.
so what if i have a party and invite 45 people then 6 moppers show up i going to get charged?????
You are right you said it you have a party so you control your crowd its your job . That’s
the law people always try to twist the law.
You should know who you invited in the first place. Uninvites should be asked to leave your property.