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COVID-19 curfew remains in effect; six-phase re-opening plan announced

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A sink is placed on the pavement of Wellington and Regent Streets, Georgetown [Photo: June 2, 2020/News Room]

National COVID-19 Task Force

Media release

For immediate release

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

NCTF announces six phase re-opening plan

The National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) announces a six-phase re-opening of Guyana commencing with Phase 1 starting tomorrow, June 18th and will last until July 2nd.

The current curfew of 6pm to 6am will remain in effect for Phase 1 in all administrative regions. The non-curfew measures will be lifted in Regions 5 and 8 which, to date, have not been affected by COVID-19. The details are outlined in the attached order.

During Phase 1 the following will apply:

  1. All food establishments (including street vendors) will be permitted to operate takeout and delivery services from 6am to 5pm.
  2. No dine-in services will be permitted at these locations.
  3. Hardware, plumbing and electrical stores will be allowed to operate from 6am to 5pm.
  4. Ninety (90) minutes of exercise is allowed for citizens, Monday to Friday from 6am to 6pm in open public spaces.
  5. Public transport will be permitted to continue to operate at 50% passenger capacity.
  6. Social distancing rules and the wearing of face masks must be maintained.
  7. Bars are to remain closed.
  8. No contact or team sport is allowed.
  9. Gatherings of more than five persons remain prohibited.
  10. Stay-At-Home order remains in effect. Persons are only permitted to leave home if they are essential workers, for essential services, emergency medical care and for the 90 minute daily exercise allowance.

Additionally, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is now classified as an essential service. This is especially necessary for the timely opening and closing of sluices which is critical at this time of regular heavy rainfall.

NOTICE

COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES (No. 4)

These emergency measures are made pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2)(b) of the Direction by the President, given under the Public Health Ordinance, Cap. 145, and published in the Gazette, Legal Supplement- B, 16th March 2020.

The measures shall take effect from the 18th June, 2020 and last until the 2nd July, 2020 unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.

  1. Restriction to home

Except as otherwise provided in this Notice every person shall remain in the confines of his or her home and its yard space.

  1. Restriction on social activities
  • No person shall host, attend or visit-
  • a private party;
  • a recreational or competitive sporting event;
  • a wedding, other than the bride, the bridegroom, official witnesses and the marriage officer;
  • a banquet, ball or reception;
  • a bar or rum shop;
  • a wake or vigil;
  • a gym;
  • a spa;
  • a club or discotheque;
  • a meeting of a fraternal society, private or social club or civic association or organisation; or
  • any other social activity.
  • No water sports or recreational activities shall be allowed on any river, creek, beach and internal waters.
  • No more than ten mourners, one officiant and the funeral director and the necessary staff shall attend a funeral.
  • Ninety minutes of exercise is permitted from Monday to Friday only in parks, on roads, seawalls, beaches and by rivers and creeks.
  1. Restriction on visitation

No person shall visit or be permitted to visit-

  • any place of quarantine or an isolation facility;
  • a prison or correctional facility;
  • a patient in a hospital, nursing home, senior citizens’ home or any other care facility.
  1. Curfew

A curfew is hereby imposed throughout Guyana from the 18th June, 2020 to 2nd July, 2020 between the hours of 6:00pm and 6:00am.

  1. Public Service, Statutory Bodies and State-owned Enterprises

All persons employed within the Public Service, a statutory body or a State-owned enterprise shall work remotely from home, except as may otherwise be directed by the Minister of Public Health acting on the advice of the responsible Minister or Head of Agency.

  1. Essential Services
  • Subject to subparagraphs (2) and (3), all services shall remain closed except for the following essential services which may carry on operations for 24 hours each day-
  • hospitals, healthcare and medical services including pharmacies, drug stores and private veterinary services;
  • nursing homes, orphanages, shelters and other related care centres;
  • immigration;
  • the Judiciary;
  • the Parliament;
  • the Diplomatic Corps;
  • the Revenue Authority;
  • the Maritime Administration Department;
  • the National Emergency Operations Centre;
  • water supply services including the collection, storage, purification and distribution of water for public use;
  • the disciplined forces;
  • prison services;
  • solid waste management, sewerage and janitorial services including live-in domestic workers;
  • National Drainage and Irrigation Authority;
  • air traffic control;
  • Demerara Harbour Bridge and Berbice River Bridge;
  • hotels and accommodation;
  • electricity and energy services including the oil and gas sector and those who provide services to the oil and gas sector;
  • businesses that ensure global continuity of supply of mining and petroleum materials and products (e.g. metals and minerals such as bauxite, gold and diamonds);
  • mining and petroleum development operations, production and processing;
  • mineral and petroleum exploration and development;
  • mining and petroleum supply and services that support supply chains in the mining and petroleum industries;
  • businesses and operations that engage in the cutting, processing and preparation of trees into lumber and ensure continuity of supply of forestry products;
  • security services including private security;
  • telecommunications providers including internet, telephone and call centre operators, media houses, broadcasting and the Guyana National Printers Ltd.;
  • port operations limited to bulk marking operations and loading and offloading only, of marine vessels, petroleum vessels, ships, bulk and containerised vessels;
  • port service logistics and freight services, including transportation and delivery services to and from wharves, terminals and ports;
  • transportation of dry goods and beverages for wholesale delivery;
  • construction services where their workers are engaged in the construction of healthcare facilities;
  • factories, manufacturers or distributors of food supplies (particularly producers or processors of rice, sugar, poultry and fish) and essential medical supplies where the Minister of Public Health has determined that the continuation of these operations do not pose a risk to public health;
  • workers necessary to keep furnaces and kilns operating safely in manufacturing operations that are not listed as essential;
  • services of Attorneys-at-Law.
  • The following services may be open between 6:00 am to 5:00 pm each day-
  • banks and other financial institutions defined in the Financial Institutions Act, Cap. 85:03, remittance services, and their support services;
  • markets, supermarkets, fruit and vegetable stalls, bulk food stores and neighbourhood grocery shops;
  • food services and restaurants only for delivery, drive-thru and take away services;
  • gas stations;
  • postal and shipping services;
  • funeral homes;
  • beauty salons and barbershops;
  • operation, inspection, repair and maintenance of essential services including vehicles, vessels and aircraft and traffic signal maintenance;
  • automotive repair and maintenance facilities that provide direct support to essential businesses;
  • services necessary for the maintenance of residences including plumbing, electrical and extermination services.
  • Any service not listed in subparagraphs (1) and (2) shall close their operations unless their employees can work exclusively from home or their services can operate through delivery or curbside pickup.
  • Where a Village Council, as defined in the Amerindian Act, Cap. 29:01, has determined that a public health threat exists in relation to any mining or forestry operation conducted in accordance with subparagraph (1), the Village Council shall recommend to the Minister of Public Health that the operation be discontinued.
  1. Requirement of Identification

Any person permitted to go to work under this Notice shall have in his or her possession an official identification document and official work identification document or some proof of workplace, and shall produce the identification documents or proof of workplace if requested to do so by a member of the Police Force.

  1. Preferential Treatment for Healthcare Workers

Where a healthcare worker has to do business in a service mentioned in paragraph 6(2) (a), (b), (c) or (d) the worker shall not join a line but shall be given preferential treatment on submission of proof of identification.

  1. Social distancing and physical distancing protocols

Any service mentioned under paragraphs 5 and 6 shall make the necessary arrangements to facilitate social and physical distancing and shall-

  • require persons to wear a mask when inside of the establishment;
  • ensure that all staff and other persons maintain a physical distance of at least six feet in or outside of their establishment, if in a line to enter the establishment;
  • determine the number of persons that may be permitted in the establishment at any one time in order to comply with subparagraph (b).
  1. Religious Worship
  • Except for the conduct of funeral services and weddings, all churches and places of religious worship including mosques and temples shall be closed.
  • Subparagraph (1) does not prohibit any religious worship by virtual or electronic means provided that if virtual or electronic worship is being carried on in the place of worship the number of persons in that place shall not exceed five persons and the physical distance of six feet between persons shall apply.
  1. Domestic Travel
  • Any person who provides transport within Guyana whether by land, water or air shall not carry in that transport more than half the number of passengers which the motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft is licensed to carry and the operators and passengers of any motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft shall have personal protective equipment.
  • A motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft shall not be used for a purpose other than a purpose related to a service under paragraphs 5 and 6.
  • Medical evacuation flights shall be allowed with only the patient, one health official and, where necessary, one family member.
  • The Kurupukari Crossing shall be closed except during the hours of 6am to 5pm and only to facilitate the passage of essential services and supplies.
  • The Police Force shall have powers to stop any motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft and inquire as to the purposes for which that motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft is being utilised, and may arrest anyone found in violation of this paragraph.
  1. International Air Travel

The Cheddi Jagan International and Eugene F. Correia International Airports shall remain closed to all international flights except for outgoing flights, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights, technical stops for fuel only and special authorised flights.

  1. Testing for the Coronavirus (Covid-19)

(1) Where any private medical laboratory tests any person for Coronavirus and the result of the test is positive, the private medical laboratory shall immediately report and forward the name and address of the person and the result of the test to the Director of the Health Emergency Operations Centre.

(2) Where any person has tested positive for Coronavirus that person shall-

  • comply with all applicable directions given and requirements imposed by the Health Emergency Operations Centre; and
  • provide information to the Health Emergency Operations Centre about any individual with whom the person may have had contact with, at least fourteen days before testing positive for 
  1. Hotline Calls to be Justifiable

A person shall not call a Covid-19 hotline number without a justifiable reason.

  1. Offence

Any person who fails to comply with any of these measures commits an offence under section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance and is liable on summary conviction to the penalty provided under that section.

  1. Measures taken by certain Ministers

All other measures taken under any law or administratively by the Ministers responsible for Education, Civil Aviation, Maritime, Immigration and Finance shall remain effective and in full force.

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