Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon on Friday called the reduction of the national curfew hours as part of the latest COVID-19 emergency measures “reckless” as cases continue to rise daily.
Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Harmon endorsed statements made earlier in the week by fellow APNU+AFC Members of Parliament, who had pointed out the growing danger caused by the spread of the virus along with the ineffectiveness to the national response under the tenure of the PPP/C.
He noted that it was only the day after those statements were made that the government announced the reduction of the curfew hours, which are now from 9pm to 4am. The curfew was previously 6pm to 6am.
According to Harmon, the government’s latest plans, which includes the reopening of the airports to commercial traffic, were announced at a time when daily increases in the number of COVID-19 cases are being recorded as he noted that the total deaths as a result of the virus increased to 85 on Thursday. “This response from government appears contrary to professional advice and places the need to satisfy business interest over the health of our people,” he said.
Although Harmon’s administration previously moved to relax the curfew, the new PPP/C administration subsequently reinstated it amidst rising numbers. The PPP/C’s latest decision, represents an about-face, which Prime Minister Mark Phillips says is intended to facilitate business. (See story on page 12)
Harmon went on to urge members of the public to take their individual safety measures seriously, including wearing masks and observing social distancing. He also urged persons to have their own sanitisers as he noted that in some officers and public places hand sanitisers are being diluted.
According to the updated measures, which have been gazetted and are in effect until the end of the month, as a result of the new curfew hours non-essential services would now be allowed to operate from 4 am to 8 pm.
Other new measures include requiring that children over the age of eight wear masks when in public or travelling.
The measures also state that in addition to wearing masks in public, all passengers of vehicles, vessels and aircraft are now required to wear masks when travelling unless there is a reasonable excuse for not doing so.
If there is only one person in the vehicle, vessel or aircraft, there is no need to wear a mask. Masks can only be removed if a person is travelling to provide assistance to another person and that person relies on lip communication, if the person needs to eat or have a drink, if the person needs to remove the mask temporarily to comply with request by a relevant person or someone acting in the course of their duties.
Additionally, the mask can only be removed temporarily for identification purposes if necessary for receiving services.
Mask wearing is already mandatory for persons in public spaces and the measures stipulate that masks must be fitted to cover the wearer’s nose and mouth.
