Published 5 April 2020
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
PM Harris: Shop in your communities, venture out only for a compelling reason
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 5, 2020 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — As the Federation observes further Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations under the State of Emergency, Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr the Hon Timothy Harris is reiterating his earlier call to all citizens and residents to restrict their movement when total lockdown is lifted and to only shop in their communities.
Addressing the nation on Saturday April 4 on WINN FM’s ‘Inside the News’ hosted by Mr Clive Bacchus, Prime Minister Harris advised against persons in the rural areas travelling to Basseterre to do their shopping for items that could be gotten from supermarkets and shops in their localities.
“I appeal to our citizens and residents to make our Federation proud by abiding with the health guidelines – staying at your homes and observing the new norms in which we must now become familiar, for example the practice of social and physical distancing especially when we have to venture out,” advised Dr Harris. “But venturing out must be for a compelling reason. Whatever can be postponed my advice is please postpone it.”
The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Deloris Stapleton-Harris, added: “We are appealing to people – support their community retail outlets as much as possible while still practising the social distancing, but as much as we can, stay away from crowds.”
The new (COVID-19) Regulations, the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No. 3) Regulations, SR&O No. 10 of 2020 took effect from Friday April 3 at 6:01 am and will run until Thursday April 9 at 7:00 pm when the Cabinet of Ministers will determine any new action to be taken.
Total lockdown (24-hour curfew) was reintroduced from Saturday April 4 at 7:00 pm and will run until Wednesday April 8 at 6:00 am. According to Prime Minister Harris, on Wednesday and Thursday next week the Regulations will allow persons to leave their homes once more on a limited basis to purchase any food and medicines between the hours of 6:00 am and 7:00 am, while a curfew will be in place for Wednesday night from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am on Thursday.
The country is at war and discipline, ingenuity, unity of purpose and allegiance to the flag are tools all must have in their arsenal, advised Dr Harris who also has lead responsibility for Human Resource Development, Health and HIV/AIDS issues in the CARICOM’s quasi-cabinet.
“I find that the verse in Isaiah 26:20 to be particularly relevant to us as we face these turbulent times of COVID-19, and I give this advice to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis: ‘Go home my people and lock your doors, hide yourself for a little while until the Lord’s anger has passed’,” said the Honourable Prime Minister and added that the passage was telling the people of St. Kitts and Nevis to stay at home as much as possible.
Observing that the pandemic is no laughing matter and that people must treat it with all seriousness, Prime Minister Harris repeated a few of the tips that have been given: Practise good hand hygiene; avoid touching any part of your face; boost your immune system; and practise social and physical distancing.
Thanking the country’s health workers and medical professionals for the advice they have given with respect to how people can protect themselves from COVID-19, Prime Minister Harris said that the advice is very simple, and every able-bodied person in St. Kitts and Nevis can get it right and that they are empowered for their own health.
“Their dedication to serving the community is an example which has inspired me in these difficult times,” said Dr Harris. “I want therefore to extend on behalf of the Cabinet and on my own behalf as the Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis my deepest gratitude to the health workers and the medical professionals for caring for those who have been tested positive for COVID-19 and indeed for advising us how to keep ourselves safe. Our prayers must go out to those who have been tested positive at this time.”
As of 3:00 pm Saturday April 4, the Federation had reported 10 confirmed COVID-19 cases, seven on St. Kitts and three on Nevis, with no deaths. All these persons are in isolation.
