Anguilla, which has been doing exceptionally well with its COVID-19 protocols, since March 20, 2020, when it closed its borders, is now on a two-week pause lockdown with immediate effect from Thursday, April 22, 2021.
This unfortunately followed the discovery of a COVID cluster on the island, with some three persons having been tested positive for the virus. They have now been placed in isolation and quarantine, Ministry of Health officials announced, to avoid further community spread. Thirty or more persons, who may have had contact with the affected persons, are being investigated, as well as the origin of the virus.
The Executive Council, of the Government of Anguilla met in an emergency session on Thursday morning to assess the situation and to put the island on what has been referred to as a 14 day pause shutdown.
Premier Dr. Ellis Lorenzo Webster, accompanied by his Permanent Secretary, Health, Mr. Foster Rogers, and the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Aisha Andrewin, held a hastily-convened press conference to address the matter. At the outset, Dr. Webster delivered a comprehensive statement regarding the steps being taken to stop the community spread of the virus.
Following are those strict measures and protocols:
1. All persons other than those providing essential services will be required to stay at home. You are permitted to leave your residence only to seek medical care, including vaccinations, to buy food or fuel. Please act responsibly and patriotically by staying at home;
2. Non-essential workplaces will close;
3. All public gatherings are prohibited. This includes the closure of churches, schools, nightclubs and bars.
4. Restaurants and other food establishments are restricted to take-out services only. When customers are collecting food they should practice safe social distancing.
5. Re-introduction of mandatory social distancing measures in spaces allowed to remain open including capacity limits and mask-wearing recommended in spaces where physical distancing is not possible.
6. Closure of ports to all incoming passengers with outgoing movements permitted.
7. Restriction on visitors to residential facilities e.g. elderly care homes, prison, Zenaida Haven.
For the avoidance of doubt, unless you are an essential worker you should stay at home except to:
• Visit your doctor or pharmacy or to get vaccinated;
• Buy food or fuel;
• Make use of banking services; and
• Exercise outdoors for a period not exceeding 90 minutes per day between the hours of 5:00 am and 6:00 pm.
These measures are under constant review. Should the Chief Medical Officer advise, and in line with our plan for escalating measures, they could be tightened.
Vaccination programme – The vaccination of the population remains critical, and as noted above, persons should continue to visit the vaccination sites to get their jabs. Further information will be released giving details of how we intend to increase capacity and ensure that persons are able to observe safe social distancing protocols.
Food and supplies – the shops remain open and are stocked. We ask you not to panic buy or hoard.
Playing your part – the steps we have all been taking will continue to keep us safe. So once again, we urge you all to take the simple steps that save lives:
• wash your hands frequently;
• cover coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, or in the crook of a flexed elbow;
• frequently clean and disinfect shared spaces and work surfaces; and
• avoid contact with persons suffering from or exhibiting symptoms of acute respiratory infections such as the flu, coughs, and colds.
Let us remind you again of the Ministry of Health hotline on COVID-19. The number is 1-264- 476- 7627 that is 476 SOAP, or 1-264- 584- 4263, that is 584-HAND.
The Ministry of Health will publish guidance and information at www.beatcovid19.ai
