With the wearing of face masks mandatory in public spaces across the country from today, the Guyana Police Force will be responsible for ensuring the citizenry’s adherence to the new COVID-19 measure, according to Director of Operations of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) Secretariat Mark Archer.
Archer told Stabroek News that it will fall under the responsibility of the Guyana Police Force to enforce the measure.
Archer added that the NCTF does not have a policing arm and therefore it would rely on the police to be the enforcement agents at this time.
He also noted that the task force will engage in campaigns to spread the message of the importance of wearing a face mask once in public.
“We will be encouraging the wearing face masks through our PR campaigns but we will also emphasise on the importance of personal behaviour. If we want to control this situation and not have it out of control like it is in some parts of the US and other parts of the world, the behaviour of the people has to change, they have to be responsible,” Archer stressed.
Archer also told Stabroek News that there are currently two emergency response and enforcement teams which have been deployed to the hotspots in regions One and Seven.
Archer stated that these units are currently monitoring and enforcing COVID-19 measures in Moruca, Region One and at Aranka, in Region Seven, to stem the number of rising cases.
The teams are mandated to monitor and respond to reports of persons violating the gazetted emergency COVID-19 measures, including the national curfew and restrictions on gatherings, which have been put in place to stem the transmission of the virus.
Archer noted that the police force is also required to establish more units to monitor and enforce measures in the other regions.
From today Guyana is entering the third phase of the reopening of the economy although COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise.
As part of the third phase, all persons are required to wear a face mask in public spaces at all times. It had only been advised previously.
Additionally, the national curfew, has been amended to last from 8pm to 6am. This new curfew period will only be applicable in Regions Five and Six on Saturdays and Sundays.
Under the new measures, public sector workers will no longer be required to work remotely from home and are expected to work on rotation unless otherwise instructed by the respective heads of agencies. Private sector entities were also included and will be allowed to operate as long as employees are working on rotation specified by the employer. As a result, clothing, shoes and book stores are now permitted to resume operations. Private sector construction is also now allowed to resume.
Under the gazetted sixth iteration of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures, every employer is required to ensure a roster is prepared setting out a gradual return of employees, starting from the most essential and critical staff. Further employers are required to ensure that appropriate guidelines are implemented to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus among their workers. Some of the guidelines include screening of workers, preventative measures before and after work, physical distancing, and use of Personal Protective Equipment as well as cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
The opening hours for food services and restaurants will be extended during the third phase as they will be allowed to open only for delivery, drive-thru, curb-side pickup and take away services from 6am to midnight. However, indoor and buffet dining are prohibited. The order states that outdoor dining at restaurants will only be permitted from 6am to 6pm only where tables are spaced six feet apart from each other and no more than four persons are seated at least three feet apart at one table. “Staff at restaurants shall wear a mask at all times and shall sanitise dining tables and chairs after use by each customer,” the updated measures state.
Any person who fails to comply with any of the measures outlined is held to have committed an offence under section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance and is liable on summary conviction to the penalty provided under said section.
