Bars warned to control transmission or COVID will close you down

Health Minister Molwyn Joseph warned bars run the risk of being closed down if the operators do not control the spread of the coronavirus at their establishments.

Speaking at a recent press conference Joseph said, “bars and restaurants continue to be the highest risk environment for COVID in Antigua & Barbuda.”

Earlier this month, the Health Minister suggested that Cabinet reduce the hours that bars are allowed to operate in the country.

Joseph’s stance came after Chief Health Inspector Sharon Martin complained that the operators of these businesses were still not abiding by the set of COVID-19 protocols, which were put in place prior to their reopening.

“We still have not decided as a government to alter the opening hours of bars but it should be noted that in France, the United Kingdom and certain other countries in Europe, the overwhelming rate of transmission in those countries have resulted in closure of bars”, Joseph cautioned.

“This is not a threat, the point I would wish to make is this, if you don’t control the transmission of COVID, COVID will close you down and COVID has once again demonstrated its capacity in the United Kingdom, in London and Paris that it can close down business”, he said adding, ”We do not want to see business close down and that is why I want to join the appeal that was put out by the Chief Medical Officer that this requires a national effort and a commitment by every resident in Antigua & Barbuda”