Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. (File photo)
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Tribune Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has announced new restrictions to movement only for residents of New Providence and Abaco due to high COVID-19 case numbers, that have now forced the health care system to the edge of “collapse”.
Beginning this Friday at 7pm, a 24-hour curfew will be enforced each day throughout the holiday weekend until Tuesday at 5am.
The same will follow for subsequent weekends - Fridays at 7pm to Mondays at 5am.
Additionally, a daily curfew of 7pm will be enforced. Dr Minnis did not say when these new restrictions will end, but he said it depended on an improvement of the current situation.
“The persistently high case numbers – particularly on New Providence – have placed immense strain on our healthcare system and our medical professionals,” Dr Minnis said in the House of Assembly Wednesday.
“Our hospitals are full. Medical teams have been pushed to their capacity. If there is further deterioration in the COVID-19 situation on our most populated island we risk a collapse of the healthcare system.”
During the 24-hour weekend lockdowns, food stores, pharmacies, gas stations, construction sites and laundromats are prohibited from opening.
Dr Minnis said no social gatherings will be permitted, adding a new hotline has been established for residents to anonymously report such prohibited activity. That number is 702-9967.
He said police will clamp down and enforce the law strictly where mass gatherings are found.
Authorities will also be keeping a keen eye out for Airbnb rentals that break Emergency Powers Orders.
Regarding restaurants, outdoor and indoor dining is prohibited. However, hotels with guest are allowed to offer outdoor dining for visitors.
The new Emergency Orders will further include harder restrictions for businesses who are found in breach of protocols.
In the first instance a business will be fined, but if found in contravention of orders a second time, the business will be ordered shut for 14 days.
Full details in tomorrow's Tribune.
Comments
John 4 years, 1 month ago
Can’t see the reasoning behind canceling the 5 am to noon beach privileges thru the week days as it is probably the most therapeutic source on the islands and with school closed and restrictions on churches it was the only opportunity for children to get outdoors for a few hours
Proguing 4 years, 1 month ago
What about exercising outside to keep fit in case one contracts the virus?
John 4 years, 1 month ago
The doubling of fines is draconian and unconscionable as there is no evidence (well maybe one) of repeat offenders and most violators were in an act of desperation: the need for food, medicine or water. And if the emergency hotlines were more responsive these cases could have been avoided. And the understanding is now that they are even less responsive and publishing the numbers to call even less frequently
John 4 years, 1 month ago
Well maybe Minnis is targeting the doubling of fines at those businesses that are hosting large crowds, not social distancing or wearing face masks. To which everyone agrees. But the concern is about businesses that is and have all intentions of following the rules and protocols but get ‘caught slipping’ ? Is it fair to them?
John 4 years, 1 month ago
Minnis must review his beach orders if he is serious. Think about the children and shut ins the same effort it takes to have ‘ambassadors’ out on the beach giving $200 tickets 2 minutes after the beach closes can be used to properly distance and control beach users. Stop being a puppet and a (Bahamian) hater jred
truetruebahamian 4 years, 1 month ago
If Minnis thinks that the hood rats will comply with his orders, he does not understand their mentality and thus he is mentally unequipped to be in the position that he currently holds. A dictator should take note of the French Revolution and hold a healthy respect for the guillotine and the gibbet.
rodentos 4 years, 1 month ago
the only way is to fumigate the rats
John 4 years, 1 month ago
The hood rats you refer to must live in Lyford Cay and ole fort Bay and Albany. Because the people in Bain and Grants Town and St Cecilia are trying their best to comply with the orders. But because of their hardships and by being doubly or even tripled patrolled by the police, they seem to be the greatest violators. Most of them are caught violating the rules within a few feet of where they live. In search of food or water or medicine. And Minnis instructions ( after he just said ‘the beaches close at 10:00 but who cares if you stay til 12:00) to lock them up and fine them if it’s just ONE minute after curfew, shows he has a lot of the ‘Donald Trump’ spirit (or ghost) in him.
trueBahamian 4 years, 1 month ago
It's not nice for the previous poster to label anyone "hood rat". Based on their username, looks like I need to change mine.
A person's economic situation doesn't translate to compliance or defiance of rules. Bain Town or Lyford Cay don't define behaviour.
Clamshell 4 years, 1 month ago
What’s the problem? If ya get sick, ya can just do what “Gravy” Davis did, just fly over to America for first-class treatment ... oh, and don’t forget to fly first-class, too!
KapunkleUp 4 years, 1 month ago
And then wrap yourself in the Bahamian flag at the next opportunity...
plan242 4 years, 1 month ago
He's all over the place. Maybe he is bi-polar. trigger happy, shooting from the hip with his decisions. Where is the consistency?
immigrant 4 years, 1 month ago
I, for one, am Just excited about T-shirt day! Don’t worry about your job going up in flames...wear this T-Shirt!
professionalbahamian 4 years, 1 month ago
Very Sad and stupid- why close the beaches - resentment for this government must be at an all time high! But of course like every prior Bahamas Government they don’t give a crap what the population thinks or wants. The population is looked upon as children or patients I appears...!
OPEN THE COUNTRY COMPLETELY AND PROMISE IN WRITING NOT TO CLOSE IT IN ANY WAY AGAIN! SWEDEN - a country which never restricted anything, IS DOING BETTER THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD WITH THIS!
Economist 4 years, 1 month ago
Please, SWEDEN has the 14th HEIGHEST DEATH RATE in the WORLD. 582 deaths PER MILLION.
Bahamas around 260 Turks & Caicos 154 Bermuda 145 Cayman 15 Barbados 24
professionalbahamian 4 years, 1 month ago
Please- just flattening the curve until when- when you have an island of upper class and severely impoverished due to economic lockdowns- the curve will play out and the end result may be close to the same...
https://newsroom.uvahealth.com/2020/07/…
whogothere 4 years, 1 month ago
Sweden has has experienced nearly no excess death in comparison to other years. And nearly a large % of the deaths occurred in care facilities rather than in the population. On average 208 people die every month in the bahamas, roughly 6 per day, mostly of the things that make them vulnerable to COVID 19 (estimated from latest mortality report dated 2014). Because we have no historical data on death we're bumbling around in the Dark...as with other countries the standard procedure through testing is they move death from one bucket to the other and blame covid because it gives Govs the excuse to behave like feckless dictators...and cover their butts because of the big booboo (Cratering economies, killing people by delaying diagnostics and treatments, contributing severe depression through economic collapse and loss of social connections) they all made when "the COVID ant" climbed over the lamp and made a big scary shadow...LOCKING DOWN DOES JACK SH*T, WE KNOW THIS, EUROPE KNOWS THIS, THE USA, ASIA KNOW THIS...SOUTH AMERICA KNOW THIS...EVEN BRAVE KNOWS THIS.... EVERYONE knows this NOW....MINNIS PLEASE PLEASE JUST MOVE ON...
ohdrap4 4 years, 1 month ago
I hope my fridge does not give up on me.
I will say prayers to BPL and Cable Bahamas that I may survive the weekend.
I beat the line at aquapure this morning.
Honestman 4 years, 1 month ago
Why are church services being allowed? Surely better from a policing point of view to have everyone off the road at weekends? Church goers can attend services virtually during these weekend lock downs. Makes no sense.
whogothere 4 years, 1 month ago
ZERO SENSE... crazy churches with AC and SINGing is like the worst possible way to handle and AIRBORNE VIRUS....
Dawes 4 years, 1 month ago
How is this meant to help. if the numbers are out of control then lockdown for two weeks. If they aren't then no need for lockdown. From his own mouth businesses are where most cases are occurring (i would highly suspect it is Government entities), so how is allowing them to still operate going to work. We will be like this until November and then no doubt longer unless you are a tourist, as you will be exempt. All they had to do was enforce the rules from the start and it wouldn't have got this far. But at least this time he says they will enforce them (unless you are connected or live in one of those western gated communities as then you can carry on, just don't be poor or unconnected).
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 1 month ago
this onerous 7PM curfew again?what are persons who work 9-5 supposed to do?
goodvibesonly 4 years, 1 month ago
Wake up early to get your essential shopping done. If stores open up at 7am that's time to pick up what you need. Come on now. We're in the middle of a pandemic, we all have to make sacrifices and adjustments to our lives.
DDK 4 years, 1 month ago
SENSELESS FOOL!
ISpeakFacts 4 years, 1 month ago
Someone please send this fool to Sandilands IMMEDIATELY!!!
newcitizen 4 years, 1 month ago
8 months in and still the only solution they have is lockdowns. 8 months with no new game plan. They have no idea what they are doing.
rodentos 4 years, 1 month ago
I can guarantee you even in 5 years they will not cancel emergency powers. It was done on purpose to stay. The whole "pandemic" is designed to give governments absolute powers. You could have picked any random virus the effect would be the same
rodentos 4 years, 1 month ago
Genius master plan at work!
TalRussell 4 years, 1 month ago
Early out 2017 gate 'em was not fooling when he poked a finger in Papa Hubert's chest, warning, 'em flee into exile, and would be challenged if 'em showed up on Mackey Street!
Mr. Minnis's greatest gift will be to The Fourteen sitting red coat House MPs and senators be targeted not run come to the rungin general election bell time with the releasing of The Fourteen from having to convince voting constituents that the red party still has the DNA makeup of Comrades Cecil and Papa Hubert.
Shakehead* once for Yeah your comrade not making this up, Twice for Not
Clamshell 4 years, 1 month ago
Uh ... huh? Wha? Huh? Somebody, quick, check Tal for a fever. He got da Gibberish-19, I fear!
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 1 month ago
translation: In the run-up to 2017 he told Hubert Ingraham his time was done! The era of Ingraham is over! so dont you be sowing yuh face round the FNM macket st headquarters. Now it would be a gift to the FNM if he doesn't run because how will they explain 2017-2021 performance and requesting another 5 years
Clamshell 4 years, 1 month ago
THANK YOU!!
DRIVER31 4 years, 1 month ago
Dear Mr. Minnis
1.People aren't only catching COVID AT NIGHT or at the Beaches. STOP with that bull. 2.Suppose COVID Lasts the rest of your time in office, do you intend to continue to lock the country down every other month? If so how do you intend to help the Bahamians that live in Hardship imposed by the decisions your office makes? 3. How do you intend to turn the Bahamian Economy around if we are unable to work to generate the funds required for us to pay (Bills, Rent, Debts, General Cost of Living, Tickets and court fines), in a country focused on Tourism and Construction? Or are we supposed to let these fees pile up? Or are we all going to jail? 4. We do not set the example for the country you do, be carful what you say and how you backtrack.
Mr. Minnis, we the Bahamian people that voted you into power are now questioning this decision
truetruebahamian 4 years, 1 month ago
It's discrimination. He wants to keep us Oriental, White, Indian and Latinos who always are in fear - and borrow to pay what he wants. Soon it won't be happening anymore because we have already been drained - and he and his bunch like the bunch before have millions to ride on.
benniesun 4 years, 1 month ago
I have heard that the PMH is full. I guess that before the plandemic PMH was never full and no one never had to wait for a bed or an operation. All of the fearmongering and bickering back and forth are why we cannot see the bigger picture. The entire world is locked down and will stay locked down until TPTB decide otherwise. Unrest and strife are being incited worldwide only to justify greater repression of the populations. We are no different and if you understand the covid test, then you will realize that the lockdowns will be in perpetuity.
Those smug ones among us, who have some measure of financial security and who are screaming for more lockdowns even though the less fortunate ones are badly hurting, will soon enough find out that their dollars are not long enough for them to survive what is in play. Do your research about the 'Grand Solar Minimum' and why the United Nations stated that we are headed for famines of biblical proportion. Or you can just lurk and bicker about who is and who isn't spreading something that we all have in our DNA.
ohdrap4 4 years, 1 month ago
The doctors are now saying lickdowns are necessary because the morgue is full.
They kept corpses there for 2 years and just buried some !!!
Now people keep them there waiting until they lift restrictions so their 5th cousins can come to the funeral.
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 1 month ago
if the data suggests the spread is in the workplace and at home, why we still talking about Bahamians behaving badly? I've have yet to hear any politician say, why all y'all have to be at work or while y'all lock up in y'all house y'all don't know das how the virus is spread?
tribanon 4 years, 1 month ago
No surprise here for those capable of seeing the big picture. With the Communist Chinese Party's help, Minnis is in the process of using the Covid-19 pandemic as a means to transform The Bahamas into a police state with himself as the self-appointed dictator. Minnis has secured the support of the very sinister and evil Xi Jinping led communist regime by assuring them that he will ensure the interests of The Bahamas as a nation will be aligned with the strategic interests of the CCP in our region of the world. Flee while you can!
JohnQ 4 years, 1 month ago
Free your selves. Your rights are being trampled on!! This Chinese virus is contagious, but we know protecting the most vulnerable around us is the answer. We can return to our way of life if we protect the vulnerable, accept some risk and understand that a positive test is not a death sentence.
whogothere 4 years, 1 month ago
Wherever the virus is from - 6000 scientist around the world agree with you
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-5444238…
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