Attorney-General Levi Peter has announced a state of emergency in Dominica on DBS radio. The top government official announced that a curfew lasting from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shall be in effect throughout Dominica to further arrest the spread of coronavirus on the island. The nationwide lockdown will be total on weekends and end on April 20.
“A curfew is hereby imposed throughout Dominica from 6 p.m. on the 1st day of April 2020 to 6 a.m. on the 20th day of April 2020 as follows,” Attorney General Peter stated, “a person must not be out in a public place between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Monday to Friday; and between the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday to Friday, a person must not be out in a public place except to provide or access essential services.”
Individuals on essential services or accessing essential services are exempted from the curfew. However, all persons are tasked to stay at home to limit the spread of COVID-19 infection.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the government is working on an economic stimulus package to cushion the effect of the lockdown on the people. He lamented that the government has lost a lot of revenue due to the coronavirus situation and several sectors of the economy are impacted at the moment.
“The impact on the economy is tremendous and it will certainly be extended for several months to come,” PM Skerrit said. “Productivity is not at the level that it should be and the revenue of the state is severely impaired, international trade has dropped dramatically, hotels are empty which means no revenue from the tourism industry into the treasury and the pockets of our citizens.”
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