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Govt issues new Family Island Emergency Order provisions

The Office of the Prime Minister advises the following measures will begin Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at 5 a.m. for Grand Bahama, Andros, Crooked Island, Acklins, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Exuma, Bimini, the Berry Islands, Mayaguana, Inagua and Abaco.

The curfew for these islands will be 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily. 

Permitted commercial activities include:

• Daily (6 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

o Food stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and water depots

o Hardware stores 

o Laundromats.

• Monday through Friday

o Commercial banks, Credit Unions and Money Transfer Businesses 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

o Financial institutions with essential staff 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

o Law Firms for criminal and urgent civil matters 

o Retail bakeries 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Other daily operations

o Wholesalers and manufacturers may operate 

o Other businesses that can provide curbside, online or delivery services can operate, including retail and gaming houses

o Restaurants can open with outdoor dining, takeout, delivery and drive-through services, except for fish fry restaurants.

Hotels with guests can operate with current restrictions of: no outdoor dining allowed, no gaming, gyms and spas.

The National Food Distribution Task Force, NGOs and churches may continue food distribution.

Churches may continue to have office hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Daily private prayer may continue.

Churches may also have indoor services following the Bahamas Christian Council Guidelines.

Weddings are permitted with 10 people, excluding the officiant. Funerals are permitted with 10 people, excluding the officiant and mortuary staff.

Government offices will be open with essential staff. As directed by Permanent Secretaries, those who can work from home will be advised to do so.

No gatherings will be allowed in homes except those limited to a maximum of 20 people.

Exercise is permitted from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. in a person’s neighborhood, except for Grand Bahama which will be limited to 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Exercising in one’s yard is permissible at any time.

Attending the beaches and parks is permitted 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except for Grand Bahama which will be limited to 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. 

Schools can open for academic instruction with physical distancing and sanitisation. 

For those homeschooling, a maximum of five students are permitted in programmes. 

Requests for permission to instruct more than five students are to be made to the Ministry of Education.

Construction is permitted, along with commercial fishing, crabbing and subsistence fishing.

These provisions allow for commercial activity and opening up, while also maintaining provisions to preserve public health.

Additionally, effective Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at 5 a.m., the islands of Chub Cay, Long Cay, Long Island, Rum Cay, Ragged Island, and Spanish Wells will continue to have no curfew. 

San Salvador and Harbour Island are also moved to this category of islands.

Commercial activities are allowed with physical distancing and sanitisation protocols.

Social gatherings should be limited to no more than 20 people; physical distancing protocols for church services, funerals and weddings are to be followed; and beaches and parks are open.

Comments

The_Oracle 4 years, 2 months ago

Typo's found, per exercise clause. If it mirrors the Parks and Beaches clause, GB is exercise 5am-9am, other islands 5am-9pm. But that would be applying sensibility not possessed by the Author of the order.

proudloudandfnm 4 years, 2 months ago

Exercise is permitted from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. in a person’s neighborhood, except for Grand Bahama which will be limited to 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Exercising in one’s yard is permissible at any time.

Huh?

Economist 4 years, 2 months ago

Sure why not bunch up all the heavy breathing people into a space when you can reduce the density.

Ahhh, but "this is for your safety and health".........emmmmm I must be missing something here?????

Proguing 4 years, 2 months ago

and you get your vitamin D (most important vit to fight Covid 19) from the sun, so there should be no time limit on exercising

Jim 4 years, 2 months ago

Some boaters from FL are entering, Port Royal, Bimini and not clearing customs or immigration. Some other Fl boaters are entering marina at Bimini and not being screened appropriately upon arrival, the Americans may clear customs and immigration but the Bahamians they are returning with just get off the boat and head home. Apparently no oversight as long as the money comes in. Not fair to the Bahamians that have dealth with all the lock downs and loss of jobs.

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