The Government of Antigua and Barbuda Further Extends the 24-Hour Curfew

15 April 2020

 The Government of Antigua and Barbuda, on the advice of health officials including PAHO, and to control the spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) disease, extended the current 24-Hour curfew for another week. The extension will come into effect from Thursday, 16 April 2020 at 6:00 AM. 

As of current date, Antigua and Barbuda recorded twenty-three (23) confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection (including two patients re-tested) with three (3) COVID-related deaths. Five (5) patients have so far recovered from the disease. Additionally, there are six (6) persons in quarantine facilities and sixty-eight (68) in self-quarantine. 

The curfew restrictions already imposed for the past two (2) weeks under the State of Emergency will continue apace. However, considering the manageable amount of confirmed COVID-19 patients and a decline in persons seeking medical attention, Cabinet had agreed to cautiously and incrementally expand the list of essential services allowed to operate within the prescribed 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM time window. Services which are now allowed to operate include: 

• APUA and cable television bill payment 
• vehicle parts stores (delivery only) 
• hardware stores 
• marine services 
• Sole traders to include: 
  • Landscaping personnel 
  •  Vehicle maintenance personnel 
  •  Construction companies: only personnel without pre-existing health conditions will be allowed to work on construction sites, and car-pooling is prohibited. 

Further, the Cabinet, in its desire to help our people build resilience against COVID-19 and other diseases, relaxed the regulations to allow for running, walking, cycling and hiking during the prescribed hours of 7:00 AM -12:00 PM. However, existing health protocols of limiting gatherings to two (2) persons, social distancing provisions of 1.5-1.8 meters (approximately 5-6 feet) between persons and replacement of face masks upon completion of the exercise activity remain firmly in place. Beaches remain closed to the public. 

The Infectious Disease Treatment Centre (IDTC) will be commissioned early next week. This will allow for increased COVID-19 testing, as well as delivery of face masks to the general public. The Cabinet also actively encourages utilising e-commerce tools to reduce person-to-person contact, and for supermarkets to provide online delivery services. 

It must be emphasised that the situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic remains very fluid. Accordingly, citizens are urged to be vigilant in the observance of recommended health protocols and to be socially responsible as the nation seeks to conduct limited business without community spread. 

CURFEW REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES 

 The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has declared a State of Emergency in an effort to curb the spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus). As a result, a 24-hour curfew has been enacted to extend from 6:00 AM on Thursday, 16 April to 12:00 AM on Wednesday, 22 April 2020. The Government also advises against any movement during the day by non-essential workers except for food and emergency supplies. Also in this regard, private vehicles are limited to two (2) occupants. The Government further advises that essential workers and the general public should continue to practice social distancing of five (5) to six (6) feet between persons. Moreover, persons must remain at their place of residence during the 24-hour curfew hours i.e. #stayathome.

See below for the revised regulations and guidelines as issued by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda issued on 15 April 2020.

Essential-Services-Statement-April-16-2020-24-Hrs-Lockdown-Continues