The Government remains unwavering in its commitment to protect the safety and well being of all residents. Recognising recent developments, the following additional and new measures to those announced on Sunday 15th March were approved at a special meeting of the Executive Council held on 17 March at 1pm:
- The closure of all Anguilla’s ports – sea and air – for 14 days for all passenger movements.
This will come in to force from 11:59 pm on Friday 20th March (Anguilla time). This does not include the movement of goods. - All persons arriving in Anguilla who have traveled outside of the Caribbean Region within the last 14 days, will be quarantined for 14 days on their arrival. A judgement will be made on arrival by health professionals if this can be self-quarantine or in a government run health facility.
- Schools, which are already closed this week, will remain closed until and including Friday 3rd April 2020.
- Persons are encouraged not to congregate, this includes in church, at sports leagues, political meetings, youth gatherings, and at any sporting activities.
- Persons are encouraged to practice safe social distancing. The advice is to remain 3 – 6 feet apart from one another.
- We take this opportunity to reinforce the public that hygienic measures remain our best defence in protecting ourselves from contracting and spreading this virus.
These include:
? Ensuring that shared spaces and work surfaces are cleaned and disinfected frequently;
? Frequent hand washing;
? Covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue or in the crook of a flexed elbow;
? Avoiding contact with persons suffering from or exhibiting symptoms of acute respiratory;
? infections such as the flu, coughs, and colds;
? Limiting physical contact with others, including no handshakes or physical greeting and
to avoid crowds. - Elder care facilities are encouraged to take measures now to protect residents. This should include: limiting/restricting visitors, stepping up infection prevention and control through more frequent cleaning of shared surfaces.
We appreciate that these measures will impact everyone. They have not been taken lightly. The decision making behind them reflects the strong and clear advice of the Chief Medical Officer and colleagues in the Ministry of Health and Social Development and the Health Authority of Anguilla. We are acutely aware that keeping schools closed places a great deal of pressure on families, particularly those working. We encourage you to discuss alternative working patterns with your employers and managers, and ask that they act flexibly and with understanding.
The Ministry of Health will continue to provide timely updates through their media partners and their official Facebook page (Ministry of Health and Social Development) as it becomes available.
The Ministry of Health has established a hotline for the general public seeking information on COVID-19 and for persons who feel they have been exposed to COVID-19. The number is 1-264- 476-7627 or 476 SOAP.
- Press Release
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