Nassau, BAHAMAS-A magistrate imposed fines totalling $600 on a man who defied two emergency orders designed to contain community spread of COVID-19.
Police arrested Cameron Brown on April 13 for breaching a five-day nationwide lockdown and failing to wear a mask in public.
Officers stopped Brown while walking in Kennedy Subdivision around 7:30pm.
The lockdown that came into effect at 9pm April 8 and expired at 5am on April 14 confined residents to their homes.
The law requiring residents to wear masks away from home came into force on April 8.
Brown pleaded guilty to violation of lockdown and failing to wear a mask in public at his arraignment before Magistrate Sandradee Gardiner.
The magistrate fined him $400 for the lockdown breach and $200 for not wearing a mask.
Brown has to pay the money by April 24 to avoid serving a one-month prison sentence.
Masks required to enter court buildings
People who don’t wear masks can be refused entry to essential businesses like banks, grocery stores and pharmacies.
You are not permitted to enter the court complex without a mask on.
Last week Health Minister Dr. Duane Sands explained the reason for the mandatory requirement to wear masks.
He said, “By wearing masks we limit the escape of particles when we speak, or when we breathe, and this will reduce the potential for the virus to spread.”
Dr. Sands said the purpose of the lockdown is to force physical distancing – one of the ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The country will begin another lockdown at 9pm on April 17 that will end at 5am on April 20.
As of April 16, there were 54 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country, with nine deaths.
COVID-19 has infected more than 2 million people and killed more than 137,000 worldwide, according to John Hopkins University.