COVID-19 outbreak: PM Harris announces further restrictions

Basseterre: The government of St Kitts and Nevis announced a 24-hour lockdown as part of the additional restrictive measures to restrict the movement of people, which will curb the current spread of the deadly COVID-19 disease in the Federation.

In a national television speech, Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris said that these additional measures became necessary because “the reduction envisaged during the 14-day incubation period was not realized.”

The Prime Minister said that under these new restrictive measures, the state of emergency for both St Kitts and Nevis would continue the existing curfew for both islands. But there will be for the island of St. Kitts a complete 24-hour lockdown from 6 pm Sunday 27th June to 5 pm Thursday 01st July.

On Thursday 01st July and Friday 02nd July, there will be a limited movement for restricted operations of essential businesses from 06:00 am to 06:00 pm and a return to full 24-hour exclusion from 6 pm Friday 02nd July to Thursday 08th July. “We will again have limited supplies on Thursday, 08th July and Friday, 09th July from 6 am to 6 pm. on both days and return to 24-hour exclusion on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11th July,” said PM Harris

Prime Minister Timothy Harris said a shelter in place order would be strictly enforced by law enforcement.

This means that each person will remain confined to their place of residence, including their garden space, to avoid contact outside their family, except for essential workers who have to report to work; workers required to work in hospitals and medical facilities, licensed security service providers, and other such specifically exempt businesses; for essential travel for medical emergencies; and for essential travel to a vaccination site with vaccination card and one photo ID for law enforcement production on request between 08:00 am and 01:00 pm from Monday 28th June to Wednesday 30th June.

The other measures set out by the Prime Minister are the closure of all businesses during the strict lockdown period; absolutely no mass gatherings, parties or other social events; the closure of all beaches in St. Kitts, as well as the suspension of liquor licenses.

Special dispensation is granted to allow students taking external examinations to travel to examination centres.

Similarly, a limited number of government workers will be allowed to travel to work, and special exceptions will be made for farmers and fishermen to look after their herd, and to go fishing to keep our food supply going during days of limited operations.

Prime Minister Harris added: "There will be a special cut-out for the island of Nevis that will remain basically the same as what is currently being acquired, but will be set out in the SR&O."

A special meeting of the National Assembly is scheduled for Monday, 28th June, where the government wants to expand the state of emergency.