Bahamians living in New Providence and the Abaco Islands will spend this National Hero’s’ Day long-weekend under a 24 hour curfew.
Prime minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced the lockdown measures for the islands during an address in the House of Assembly today.
During his address, Minnis noted that one in every one hundred residents in New Providence has been infected with COVID-19.
“We risk a collapse of the health care system,” Minnis stated as he encouraged residents to obey COVID-19 restrictions.
The 24-hour weekend curfew will begin on Friday at 7pm and end on Tuesday at 5am.
The nightly curfew runs Mondays through Fridays between 7pm and 5am.
It will begin from October 13.
During the curfews, only essential services will be allowed to operate.
Only 10 people will be allowed at funerals and weddings.
The prime minister commended residents of the other islands in the Bahamian chain for the work they put in to keep COVID-19 infections down.
Meanwhile, all fines, with the exception of the ones for masks, will be doubled to encourage compliance.
Businesses will be shut down for 14 days on their second violation of COVID-19 restrictions.
The government has also set up a hotline for Bahamians to call authorities, anonymously, to report social gatherings.
The number is 702-9967/8/9.
“The police will be aggressive in pursuing [law breakers] in the case of any Airbnb,” Minnis warned.
He said police points will be set up to quickly respond to any law breakers.
Minnis appealed to social media personalities to use their influence to assist the Government with their anti-COVID-19 measures.
Every Friday, Bahamians are encouraged to wear t-shirts with the slogan “Anti-COVID” or “Let’s fight COVID. Let’s declare Fridays’ anti-COVID t-shirt day.
Source: Loop Caribbean