The Ministry of Health said people can now visit beaches and rivers in batches of 10 to relieve stress. This announcement is one of the aspects of the reviews of the current lockdown situation in Dominica. Given that 14 of the total 16 COVID-19 cases in the country have been treated and discharged, with no new cases in the last three weeks, the government said it is necessary to review the lockdown in place in the country.
Health Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre said some businesses will be allowed to re-open and only operate within given hours – 8am to 1 pm on Saturdays, while people can come out from 8am to 5pm on Saturdays. But the total lockdown for Sundays remains in place.
To relieve the stress associated with the lockdown, people can now go to the rivers and beaches but they are not allowed to be more than 10 per group visiting the rivers. Beachgoers are not allowed to consume alcohol or make barbecues or even party with loud music during such outings, and they are advised to observe appropriate social distancing.
Dr. McIntyre stated that police officers will be patrolling the beaches and rivers and local communities to ensure that people adhere to given regulations.
While appliance and textile stores among others are allowed to re-open, hair salons, barber shops, spas, gyms, schools, churches, bars, nightclubs, and game shops are to remain closed until further notice. And even at that, the health minister warned people to always wear face masks, sanitize their hands, and observe proper distancing between people.
This article is copyright © 2020 DOM767
