{"id":114556,"date":"2020-08-03T11:57:35","date_gmt":"2020-08-03T15:57:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=114556"},"modified":"2020-08-03T12:04:02","modified_gmt":"2020-08-03T16:04:02","slug":"pm-defends-decision-to-close-beaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/pm-defends-decision-to-close-beaches\/","title":{"rendered":"PM Defends Decision To Close Beaches"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Prime Minister Gaston Browne has appealed to residents to accept the closure of beaches today and tomorrow as an imperative to controlling the coroanavirus.<\/div>\n
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Browne warns that “we have 21 active COVID cases.”<\/div>\n
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“Our focus is to reduce the number of active cases. Considering the propensity for crowding on public holidays, the beach restriction is an imperative,” he said in a post on his personal Facebook page.<\/div>\n
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“We must as loyal and patriotic citizens guard against complacency, ignorance and obstinacy which could place our entire society at risk,” Browne added.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The government announced on Saturday that beaches will be closed today and tomorrow despite both days being holidays.<\/div>\n
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Under normal circumstances, residents and visitors would be enjoying the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival. However, carnival was cancelled in April due to the coronavirus pandemic.<\/div>\n
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Blade won the first ever virtual Party Monarch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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On Friday, Dr James Knight warned of a significantly increased risk of community spread of Covid-19 at the moment, but not because of the tourist industry.<\/div>\n
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He said the increased risk comes as a result of Antiguans and Barbudans arriving from the USA in recent days, for what would normally have been the carnival season.<\/div>\n
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“The tourists come to stay at accommodations which have been certified as bio-safe, and they are subject to a certain level of monitoring and control. The accommodations have protocols to follow, and the management of these establishments have a responsibility to ensure that their guests follow protocols also.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, returning nationals are mainly in self-quarantine, at residences which they describe to Health authorities, but which may not be inspected, because it would be very difficult to carry out such inspections,” Dr Knight warned.<\/p>

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Prime Minister Gaston Browne has appealed to residents to accept the closure of beaches today and tomorrow as an imperative to controlling the coroanavirus. Browne warns that “we have 21 active COVID cases.” “Our focus is to reduce the number of active cases. 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