With No New COVID-19 Cases In 18 Days, Govt Eases Lockdown Restrictions
With no new COVID-19 cases in 18 days, the government has eased some lockdown restrictions. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and Health Minister Irving McIntyre said the revision was necessary given that Dominicans adhered to regulations that facilitated reduced cases of coronavirus infections in the country.
The total number of positive COVID-19 cases in Dominica was 16 with 13 of them already discharged after due treatment. The remaining three are due for discharge soon, even though there are 10 isolated persons who are currently under observation. Since there are no new diagnoses in the past 18 days, the government said they may have to review SRO 15 regulations under which the entire country is locked down.
Some of the new changes that will go into immediate effect to bring relief to the people include –
- The lifting of the suspension on liquor license. With this, adults can buy alcohol but they may not consume it within the vicinity of purchase but at their respective homes. No consumers must sit and socialize while taking alcohol where they bought it.
- Buses are now authorized to carry two passengers per seat instead of the previous one. But passengers must sanitize their hands before embarkation, and they must wear face masks while the windows remain open for ventilation.
- Insurance firms, laundry services, bookshops, and mechanic shows can now resume their normal businesses. But they are to close at 4 pm.
- Roseau market will now be open for trades but the market must shut down by 4 pm, while vendors selling from their vehicles must use the Bay-front for their business.
Bars, night clubs, barbershops, hair salons, nail shops and game shops may be considered safe to reopen if there are no new cases in the next few days. Meanwhile, it remains forbidden for more than 10 people to gather together for any social occasions, and the existing curfew will remain in place on weekends.
If there are no new infection cases by May 4, the government may review the situation to grant further reliefs.
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