All Borders Closed to the Entry of Belizean Nationals
Belmopan. April 5, 2020. 9:12 a.m.
Effective today, April 5th, all borders are also closed to Belizean nationals seeking to enter the country. This decision was made by the Government of Belize with unanimous support from the National Oversight Committee to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Belizeans will only be allowed entry into the country for the purposes of an emergency or seeking emergency medical care.
This new measure will last for the duration of the national state of emergency.
Belizeans in-country are reminded that all borders remain closed for exiting the country.
All shops which sell groceries, grocery stores and supermarkets will be opened
The Government of Grenada announces that on Monday, April 6th, 2020 all shops which sell groceries, grocery stores and supermarkets will be opened across the tri-island from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Please note, that given the state of emergency designed to protect citizens against the deadly COVID-19 only one person per household is allowed to go out to shop. And that person is encouraged to wear a face mask or some type of face covering. Everyone else is to remain at home unless you are an essential worker. All individuals shopping must observe the social distancing guideline of at least 6 feet away from any other individual. Any crowding or failure to comply will result in the closure of the grocery store or supermarket.
The Governor General has been advised A State of Emergency in Antigua and Barbuda
The Cabinet determined that circumstances in Antigua have sufficiently changed with the onset of the COVID-19 crisis so as to declare a State of Emergency which now exists under Section 20(1) of the Constitution Order of Antigua and Barbuda 1981.
The Governor General has been advised, on that basis to declare: A State of Emergency in Antigua and Barbuda.
Commencing at midnight on Saturday March, 28, 2020, for a period of 14 days or up until April 11, 2020, a curfew will enter into effect from 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. beginning Saturday evening, 28th March, 2020, and continuing daily until April 11, 2020. The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda and The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force will patrol the streets of Antigua and Barbuda to ensure compliance with the curfew hours.
All essential services workers, include: Doctors, Nurses, Hospital Orderlies and Administrative Staff, Caregivers, employees of the Central Government and of Statutory Bodies (who are to be advised by their senior managers), Judges, Lawyers and support staff, Air Traffic Controllers, Police Officers, Soldiers, Workers at Clinics, Elderly Care Workers, the Port Authority employees.
Employees of Wholesalers, Supermarkets and Bakeries (shall close in time for staff to arrive home at 8:00 pm), of Pharmacies, of Banks, of Gas Stations and Tire Repair Shops, of Call Centers, all Construction Workers and Media Workers are regarded as essential workers for this purpose but shall maintain social distance.
Bars, Clubs, places of entertainment and Gyms are to close today Friday, March 27, 2020, by 8:00 p.m. tonight. Restaurants are encouraged to remain open in order to serve takeaway meals only, or breakfasts and lunches.
All non-essential services and businesses are to remain closed for two weeks, in the first instance, during the State of Emergency.
Drivers of all buses shall wear masks and all passengers shall also wear masks; the Government of Antigua and Barbuda will provide ten thousand masks for bus drivers and passengers shortly, but they are to purchase their own.
Sports Clubs and athletic associations shall advise their members that no more than twenty-five persons are allowed to congregate at any one time, and that they must return to their homes before 8:00 p.m. at night during the State of the Emergency.
Funerals and weddings shall not exceed the twenty-five-person rule and social distancing shall be practiced. Antigua and Barbuda’s borders are closed to incoming Yachts at the commencement of the Curfew on Saturday night.
All public servants and pensioners were paid today, as directed by the Prime Minister. The National Security Council will meet today at 4:00 p.m. to ensure the efficacy of Cabinet’s Decisions.
The Caribbean Examinations Council® (CXC®) stands in solidarity with the region and the international community as we grapple with the impact of COVID-19 on our way of life. During the past two weeks, we have been monitoring developments across the CARICOM region and working closely with representatives from the Ministries of Education and tertiary institutions to arrive at a regional consensus for the administration of May/June 2020 examinations.
The Council recognises the impact of COVID-19 on the education system in general and, more specifically, on the schedule of CXC’s regional examinations. Accordingly, the Council has proposed
a revised examinations strategy to yield valid grades and minimize the disruption to the education system during these unprecedented times. Consequently, the Council has made the policy decision to offer a modified examination process as follows:
Administration of at least one common paper (Multiple Choice Assessments);
School Based Assessments (SBAs) and Paper 032s (Alternative to SBA) for private candidates;
Award final grades based on the moderated SBAs and Multiple Choice Papers.
The following are exceptions to the aforementioned process where candidates will be required to
complete additional components:
Modern Languages (Spanish, French and Portuguese)
Human and Social Biology
Visual Arts
This strategy will employ the e-Testing modality (online and offline) in order to reduce the examinations administration processing time resulting in the shortest turn-around time for marking and the release of examination results. In addition, it will provide an opportunity for the timely presentation of grades to facilitate matriculation to higher education or to access employment. This also minimizes disruption to the 2020/2021 academic year.
While the proposed revised administration schedule for the May/June 2020 examinations is July 2020, we continue to be guided by national protocols across the region.
Students and teachers are encouraged to utilize the CXC Learning Hub – our e-Learning platform that provides learners and instructors with a single access point to multiple resources geared towards exam preparation is available at: learninghub.cxc.org.
Rest assured that as the management and staff of the Council continue to monitor the emerging situation, our first priority is the health and well-being of all our stakeholders.
Several Member States have reported their first imported cases, and contact tracing, testing and quarantine measures are being taken. It is expected that with further testing – more cases will be identified.
The Commission of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) continues to mobilise efforts with multiple key stakeholders to address the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the citizens in the Eastern Caribbean.
OECS collaborates with Facebook and CARPHA to provide a coordinated Regional communications response
The OECS, CARPHA, and Facebook have agreed to mobilise efforts towards ensuring the dissemination of reliable messaging on the response to COVID-19 in the region through the use of the Facebook social media platform.
On March 14 2020, the Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules, convened a virtual meeting with the Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr. Joy St. John; the Public Policy Manager for the Caribbean at Facebook, Claudia Giraldo; and the Strategic Advisor on Information and Communications Technology to the OECS, Rhea Yaw Ching.
To this end, the team at Facebook will donate ad credits to facilitate broader dissemination of further COVID-19 communications campaigns and also agreed to provide technical training to communications staff of the OECS Commission and CARPHA.
OECS secures USD 20,000 donation from Sagicor
On March 14 2020, the OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules officially met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Sagicor Life Insurance Company for the Eastern Caribbean, Donald Austin, to discuss areas of collaboration as it pertains to the regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following a presentation on the assessment of medical equipment needed in the OECS region, supported by a financial pre-assessment, both parties agreed on a USD 20,000 donation from Sagicor. The donation represents 50% of the regional need and will facilitate the purchase of infrared thermometers and the screening of people infected by the COVID-19.
OECS secures support from Cuba
Health practitioners in the OECS will benefit from training and support for care and management from the Cuban authorities to strengthen the local response to the COVID-19 threat.
Cooperating with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The OECS is working in close collaboration with IAEA to support the accessibility of Member States to diagnostic equipment and tests in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Coordinating the distribution of Direct Relief donations to other OECS Member States
On March 14, 2020 staff members of the OECS Pharmaceutical Procurement Services and the OECS Facilities Unit coordinated the reception, repacking and distribution of multiple equipments donated by Direct Relief to support the response to the COVID-19 threat in the OECS Member states. The donated items included personal protect equipment (PPE), N95 masks, gloves, and hurricane preparedness backpacks (HPPs) among others.
The OECS urges each citizen to observe the recommendations and thus to limit the expansion of the pandemic which is a collective responsibility.
On Friday, March 20, the Rodney Bay Public Health Facility opened to facilitate increasing numbers of passengers requiring quarantine and isolation. By Sunday, March 22, there were over 100 people in quarantine and three people in isolation.
Over the past two days, the facility has been challenged by persons in quarantine attempting to abscond. Persons who went back into communities were successfully returned through the help of the police and the community. By communities working with us in our response to COVID-19, we are better strengthened in reducing the possible spread of the virus.
If you have information on anyone coming in from an area of restriction in the last 14 days, please notify the public health officials or the police.
Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation actively engaging stakeholders
The Government of Grenada through the Ministry of Health (MOH) continues to work with all stakeholders to implement strong measures in response to the external threat of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Grenada remains well-informed of the latest international developments while implementing measures to safeguard citizens and visitors alike. To date, Grenada has no confirmed cases of COVID-19.
As it relates to the country’s important tourism sector, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Dr. Clarice Modeste-Curwen, together with the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Grenada Airports Authority (GAA), continue to engage stakeholders to ensure that they understand and observe the necessary protocols. The Minister convened meetings with Tour Operators, Taxi Associations, representatives of the Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada (MAYAG) and the accommodation sector to reassure them that government is cognizant of the challenges that the industry is facing and is doing its best to support as needed.
The Government of Grenada issued the following travel advisory on March 17, 2020. Countries placed on Grenada’s restricted travel list include: Iran, China, South Korea, Singapore, Japan and Europe including the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Non-nationals originating from the above mentioned countries in the last 14 days will be refused entry into Grenada.
Grenadian nationals/residents travelling to or from any of the above locations will be quarantined for a period of 14 days upon arrival into Grenada.
If you are arriving from any other destination, you will be screened upon entry, and quarantined for 14 days (The Ministry of Health will determine the facility).
Before disembarking, every passenger is required to complete a declaration form on his/her health status.
On March 16, the Government of Grenada announced that passengers will not be allowed to disembark from ANY cruise ship on the shores of Grenada, until further notice.
All yachts and small vessels will now be processed/screened through the Camper and Nicholson Port Louis marina in Grenada and Tyrrel Bay Marina in Carriacou.
Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean remains committed to delivering an outstanding experience to all our visitors. We wish to remind you to continue to practice all safety and health protocols outlined by the Government. For those of you returning to your country of residence during this period, please contact your travel agent to make the necessary arrangements.
Given the fluidity of the global COVID-19 pandemic, please note that all air travel and cruise ship advisories are subject to change, as more information becomes available. For further information please visit the Government of Grenada’s webpage at www.mgovernance.net/moh/ or the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page at Facebook/HealthGrenada.
The Ministry of Health has advised the public to continue using proper hygiene methods when they cough and sneeze and to practice social distancing.
COVID 19 Hotline: (473) 53VIRUS – 538-4787 or 458-4787
Live-on-board and pleasure boat passengers will not be permitted to come ashore
The Ministry of Health says effective immediately, live-on-board and pleasure boat passengers and crew will not be permitted to come ashore in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
They are being urged to contact the Grenada Ports Authority or the appropriate marina via VHF, and follow prescribed procedures for receiving supplies.
The requirements are enforced by Immigration and Public Health regulations.
Failure to comply may result in fines and arrest.
The Ministry says any establishment engaging live-on-board passengers and their crew members is subject to stringent measures.
