By: Chaïra Flanders
Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 15, 2020 (ZIZ News): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis will once again extend the current State of Emergency currently in place and will extend Regulations made under the Emergency Powers Act in order to continue the fight against COVID-19.
This announcement was made by Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Hon Timothy Harris during an address to the nation on Wednesday evening.
He said the new regulations will begin this weekend.
“The new regulations that come into force this weekend, will extend from Saturday morning at 6am to the following Saturday at 6 am. They will provide for a 24-hour lockdown, a total lockdown, from 6am Saturday [April] 18th until Monday 20th at 6 am”, he explained.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Constitution provides that a declaration of emergency shall lapse after twenty-one (21) days unless it is approved by a resolution of the National Assembly.
Saturday 18th April will be 21 days since the State of Emergency was proclaimed on the 28th of March 2020. Prime Minister Harris said because of this, a Special Sitting of National Assembly will be held on Friday April 17.
“As a result, there will be an Emergency Sitting of the National Assembly on Friday 17th April at 10 am. This sitting has been called to debate and pass a Resolution to extend the State of Emergency. Further regulations would be made to come into force once the current Regulations expire on Saturday 18th April”, he explained.
He said with the regulations in place, four shopping days will be given next week.
“Next week, there will be a gradual relaxation of restrictions and the zoning plan will be discontinued. Four days will be made available to you if you must leave your home, but the shelter in place regulations will still be in force. This will allow you to better plan how to shop for food and other necessities. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday will be available for shopping with partial curfew in place. Wednesday will be a full 24-hour lockdown”, Dr. Harris noted.
The nightly curfews are from 7 pm each evening to 6 am the following morning.
Prime Minister Harris said the medical team is satisfied that there has been no community spread of the virus so far in St. Kitts and Nevis and has advised that the nation must continue to be vigilant.
He said it is recommended that “we keep in place regulations for the immediate future to reduce the risk of transmission and that we must still be mindful to practice social distancing in everything we do”.