Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said weekend lockdowns will remain in place on New Providence and Abaco, however he announced that beaches are parks will open on weekdays beginning next week.
Minnis also announced tighter restrictions on Grand Bahama, which has seen a spike in cases in recent days.
“We want to, as quickly as possible, address any community spread on Grand Bahama,” Minnis said during a press conference.
Effective Friday, a curfew will be imposed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Grand Bahama, he said.
However, he said the 7p.m. curfew on New Providence Abaco has been pushed back by an hour.
Weddings and funerals will now be limited to ten people, excluding the officiants, on Grand Bahama.
Grand Bahama has more than 700 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Minnis said the government is also looking at Eleuthera, which had 64 confirmed cases up to Tuesday.
“Due to the increase in COVID-19 related activity on Eleuthera, Spanish Wells and Harbour Island, the Ministry of Health will dispatch an emergency team to assess the situation, as was done previously on Bimini,” he said.
“Following this assessment, a determination will be made on what specific measures may be needed for Eleuthera, Spanish Wells and Harbour Island.”
Minnis also announced that food stores are now permitted to open on Saturdays on Abaco from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
As it relates to the opening of beaches and parks on New Providence and Abaco, Minnis said groups are limited to five people. Beaches and parks will be closed on weekends.
He added that New Providence and Abaco residents will be permitted to exercise in their immediate neighborhoods from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
With the anticipated ramping up of the tourism industry expected to take place on November 1, Minnis said health officials will evaluate the rate of transmission two weeks following the re-opening to further guide the government’s response.
He noted that negative RT-PCR tests are required for all returning Bahamians and residents no matter how long they are away for.
Minnis also advised Bahamians to travel with sufficient funds in the event they test positive for COVID-19 and are required to quarantine for 14 days.
The prime minister said other emergency orders also remain in place on New Providence and Abaco with the exception of the reopening of beaches on those islands, and the operation of food stores on Saturday on Abaco.
“This pandemic is exhausting and costly physically, spiritually, emotionally and economically,” Minnis said.
“Sadly, the Northern Hemisphere is likely heading into the worst period of the pandemic… Experts are saying that the next few months will be a dark, dark winter.”
Minnis said Bahamians must get used to the cycle of tightening and loosening restrictions.
The post ‘Bahamians must get used to cycle of tightening and loosening restrictions’ appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamians-must-get-used-to-cycle-of-tightening-and-loosening-restrictions/
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