Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced additional measures to include a 24-hour curfew to fight against COVID-19 in Antigua & Barbuda.
“We notice that the limited curfew is not working,” Browne told parliament which met virtually for the first time in the country’s history.
He said the curfew is extended from 10 to 24 hours for next seven days commencing “one second after midnight on Thursday 2nd April, 2020.”
This means that “no one will be allowed to be on the streets on Antigua & Barbuda.”
Browne predicted that Antigua could end up with over 1000 cases within the next two weeks based on how the virus is being spread as a result of irresponsible practices.
“I cannot over emphasize how deadly COVID-19 is” the prime minister told parliament.
He said the response to COVID requires additional action but hastened to add “we do not take comfort in curtailing the civil liberties of people.”
Antigua & Barbuda has seven confirmed cases on COVID-19
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Who won’t hear will feel.
Difficult times calls for strong action and I am fully supportive of the Prime Minister. At times, you have to be hard to protect people from themselves and these measures are intended to help everyone. The virus cannot be spread by itself, its people who continues to spread it.
For the record my suggestion or wish is only to aid this 24 hour curfew efforts.
Good but tough governance will use this ‘summary data’ to manipulate, in a good way, the psyche of the people for the good of the country.
People like to say Antiguans are not a reading public but they hardly say we love numbers or we count very well.
I am hoping that when our people see the number broken down the way I suggest, they would naturally improve their efforts to follow the health officials’ advisories
All of these COVID19 related efforts are because we need the number of new cases to slowly increase so we don’t overwhelm the health care system.
By the question of the day is how many ventilators does our local hospital or the country in general, has?
I thought I heard that the virus is airborne. Is it true or not?
Why would cant talk JP know his place. Does he oppose just for opposing sake. To use two words he would have used last week wrongly as possible..I “did heard” him sounding so comical today.
JP better get with the program right NOW. Get serious man.
I applaud the Prime Minister !!! He’s simply attempting to save lives..!
May seem like harsh action to many – But, trust me it’s the only measure to keep people alive…Here in the UK we are now having approximately 450 deaths per day…Now that’s real in a country with a strong National Health …So it’s the right action & I so wish here in the UK had acted sooner.!!!
One Love !
I’m in the UK. It’s dreadful but we’ve never had 450 deaths on any day – let alone each day. Let’s get it right out there.
This is happening because ignorant people, including that foolish church on Sunday, are not obeying the law or using common sense. Stupid people need some heavy manners. This is unfortunate, but true. Look up the offenders and fine them thousands of dollars. We’ll need it in the treasury of this country. Gaston Browne is doing the right thing.
There is no propane… People lined up at stores… Things will run out soon….
He said that essential businesses will be open!
They only knew they needed propane today? Listen.
People filling their tanks with gas. WHERE ARE YOU GOING WHEN YOU ARE ON LOCK DOWN??
I’m blame u Gaston, for you had ample opportunity to close our borders at an early stage , but no u chose to open it up so people can bring the virus in to now cause havoc and now u a gwan like u k bout people now and trying to do so much because all u cared about was the economy… money over life .. just gee me a break ,, its clear now that u and ur cabinet full of buffoons have no idea how to run a country ur incompetence is now showing even more … and Molwyn u need to go pronto ur age is showing , u have not a clue in how to run a ministry
It is needed, the lock down, people need to take this very serious.
Mr Prime Minister. Gaston Browne.
I’m blame u Gaston, for you had ample opportunity to close our borders at an early stage , but no u chose to open it up so people can bring the virus in to now cause havoc and now u a gwan like u k bout people now and trying to do so much because all u cared about was the economy… money over life .. just gee me a break ,, its clear now that u and ur cabinet full of buffoons have no idea how to run a country ur incompetence is now showing even more … and Molwyn u need to go pronto ur age is showing , u have not a clue in how to run a ministry
I agree…couldn’t want a better leader in such a time.
With proactive leadership, we could have been ahead of the curve on this one. The longer term view of the economy would have been to shut down the island prior to any cases being here, and then invoking strict quarantine on anyone coming in. That way we would have been able to roam free and await the end of this virus. We had enough time to do this, as we were given the information and could see the global picture of how this was affecting everyone else – Alas… We are where we are!
We do not have the medical facilities to curb this if we do not act now, so yes we need to stay in and self-isolate. No one wants to live in a society where a curfew is enforced, but if it’s the only way to get people to understand the seriousness of the situation, then so be it! To be honest, 7 days will not be enough, and the amount of key workers too vast. This needs to be ridden out so that those that have it, can get over it without spreading it on further, else it will continue to fuel itself in waves.
The UK situation was reported at 381 deaths yesterday… 31/3/20
Does one seriously think that these figures are accurate??
Of course not. This only includes those who died in hospitals and not including home or care home deaths. Much is filtered so that we are controlled…
Think about it, initially the old and those with ill health were vulnerable .. Now what are we told ??? Every single one of us can be wiped out regardless.. 450 is real ..!
One Love
If you’re going to quote random numbers, why not say it’s 1000, or 10,000 or some other random number!?!
The statistics initially showed those that were elderley, or of ill health were more vulnerable to death from Covid-19. You have to have a static parameter for the number of deaths, and how they are reported so that it’s consistent. In your own words… ‘think about it’! before commenting.
The figures dem correct what Fox say.
England today news reported 563 new deaths including one 13 year old boy and one 18 year old.
Not random. Fox know what he’s talking about. If you can get Sky news in Antigua take a look.
Don’t think he’s trying to get you scared but the truth is we all are at risk in England or wherever we are young and old sick or not. Obviously healthy have a better chance a survival.
The figures quoted AT THE TIME were not correct. This is important as those numbers will rise, plateau, and then hopefully fall. I can say Antigua currently has 20 cases, and although that might be the case in a few days/next week, it does no good to throw out a random number without facts.
Comments are closed.