Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 25, 2021 (SKNIS): A Shelter in Place Order in St. Kitts and Nevis will be strictly enforced with exemption made only for essential workers and business as the country continues to battle an upsurge in COVID-19 transmission brought about by community spread.
In a televised address to the Nation on June 25, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris said that the upsurge was partly due to “complacency and inaction in this fight as the virus is relentless in its attack and we needed to be relentless in our efforts at containing it and protecting ourselves.”
“The reduction envisaged over the 14 day incubation period was not realized,” he said.
He said the Shelter in Place Order “means that every person shall remain confined to their place of residence, inclusive of their yard space, to avoid contact outside their family, except essential workers, who are required to report to work; workers required to work in hospitals and medical facilities; businesses licensed to provide security guard services, and such other businesses as may be specifically exempted; for essential travel for medical emergencies; and for essential travel to a vaccination site with vaccination card and one photo id for production to law enforcement on demand between 8.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. from Monday, June 28th to Wednesday, June 30th.
Doctors’ offices will be closed during the 24-hour lockdowns and on days of limited operations only essential business will be allowed to operate including supermarkets, pharmacies, and medical facilities, and those limited businesses authorized by the Commissioner of Police.
“While religious and educational institutions are closed, this is a special time for our students as they sit their external exams and therefore a special dispensation is granted to allow students and their parents or guardians to travel to an examination center,” Prime Minister Harris said.
All mass gatherings including parties and other social activities have been forbidden during this time. Beaches are closed, liquor licenses suspended, and all bars, rum shops, and nightclubs will not be allowed to operate.
“We make a special exception for farmers and fishers to tend their flock, and to go fishing to keep our food supply going during days of limited operation,” Dr. Harris said.
Additionally, he said that the sister island of Nevis will not be subjected to a 24-hour lockdown and will continue under the present curfew from 6 pm to 5 am daily.
Also, Prime Minister Harris said an emergency sitting of the National Assembly will be convened in order to extend the State of Emergency.
“We believe that this difficult state of affairs in our beloved Federation, requires that we extend the state of emergency, like ten other countries in the region, have done, to allow us to use the emergency powers to assist our Health Team and Security Personnel in the fight against this deadly virus,” Prime Minister Harris said.
Over the next 14 days from Sunday, June 27, 2021, to Sunday, July 11, 2021. The 14 days will include a mixture of 24-hour lockdowns and days of limited operations.