By: Chaïra Flanders
Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 7, 2020 (ZIZ News): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has extended the State of Emergency in the Federation (which includes the 24-hour curfew for citizens and residents) to Saturday April 18 2020 as part of measures geared towards containing the spread of the Novel Coronavirus.
This was revealed by Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris when he delivered an address to the nation on Tuesday April 7 2020.
<> He said, “On the advice of Cabinet I have asked His Excellency, the Governor General, to extend the State of Emergency currently in place, to Saturday 18 th April and to extend regulations made under the Emergency Powers Act”.
During his address he reminded that persons will be allowed to leave their homes on Wednesday, April 8 and Thursday, April 9, on a limited basis to purchase any food and medicines required between the hours of 6 am and 7pm.
Prime Minister Harris said that these regulations are necessary to slow the transmission of the virus from one person to another opportunity to collect essential items including food and medicine will be granted again on Thursday April 16.
<> Most importantly, there will be a total 24-hour curfew or lock down from Thursday 9th at 7:01 pm to Thursday 16th at 6 am. This means that from Thursday night this week, and continuing over the Easter weekend including Good Friday, Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, until Thursday morning, no one should be away from their residence unless he or she has a special exemption as an essential worker or has a pass or permission from the Commissioner of Police.”
Dr. Harris then made a strong plea to the general public asking for all to stay at home and to comply with the new restrictions in order to curb the spread of the virus.
He said, “This is not the time to be cavalier. We are in a war against COVID-19 and we must win. The State will do what it has to do to protect all our people!”
The St. Kitts and Nevis Constitution provides that a declaration of emergency shall lapse at the expiration of twenty-one days beginning with the date of publication of the declaration. Saturday 18th April will be 21 days since the State of Emergency was proclaimed on the 28th of March.