Nassau, BAHAMAS- Prime Minister Hubert Minnis on Sunday announced plans to introduce grocery shopping schedules, as he tightens a curfew to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
The move to reduce crowding during essential errands came after the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country increased to 14. Two patients are in hospital, while the remaining cases are well enough to recover at home.
Minnis said, “We anticipate more cases in a short period of time over the coming 20 days. This suggests that we are at the beginning of an expected surge. This means we must increase our efforts to restrict the spread of the virus and save lives.”
A curfew imposed on March 20 that expires Tuesday will be extended to April 8.
The current 24-hour curfew requires non-essential workers to remain at home unless they are buying food, medicine or visiting a doctor.
POLICE CRACKDOWN ON CURFEW VIOLATIONS
Police will increase enforcement of the curfew, Minnis said
Violators could be jailed for up to 18 months or pay a maximum fine of $10,000. Last week, police prosecuted 83 persons for curfew violations.
In order to reduce traffic in stores, Minnis suggested a designated shopper per family and assigned shopping days based on the first letter of surnames. He also encouraged stores to offer online shopping.
Minnis stressed panic buying is unnecessary since there are sufficient stocks of food and propane in the country.
He said, “This measure is intended to reduce the number of people on the road and to reduce the number of people at grocery stores at any one time. This is to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”
REDUCED HOURS FOR BANKS AND PHARMACIES
Banks and pharmacies will now open from 9am to 1pm. Landscaping, property maintenance and janitorial companies can only open on Saturdays and Sundays.
What’s more, pool maintenance businesses will open only on Fridays and Saturdays.
Street vendors, with the exception of newspaper vendors, will be banned. However, paper vendors must stay in one location.
Effective March 31 at 9am, all public parks will close to force people to either exercise in their yards or communities.
Minnis said, “Driving to any exercise site or facility is prohibited.”
STAY HOME TO AVOID DYING ALONE
With more than 30,000 coronavirus deaths worldwide, the prime minister urged people to follow advice to stay at home to avoid dying alone.
Minnis said that the sick in other countries were taken to isolation wards for treatment.
“This means no friends of family members were able to see them because of how contagious COVID-19 is. They endured treatment alone. They got sicker alone. Many died alone with no friends or relatives at their sides.”
He stressed that staying home reduced the risk of exposure to the deadly virus.
