Essential services will be available during lockdown

Despite strict restrictions being rolled out for the approaching 15-day lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19, Government is making provisions to ensure Barbadians have access to essential services during this period.

Giving an insight into what essential services providers will be allowed to operate, during a COVID-19 update this evening, Attorney General Dale Marshall said bakeries and bread depots will be opened for the sale of bread from 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., with the actual baking of bread allowed to start at 7 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.

He said from February 3 to February 10, banks and credit unions will be allowed to provide back-office supporting services, but there must be no face-to-face banking. He said retail banking will resume from February 11 until the end of the 15-day lockdown.

Marshall said Western Union or other money services that involve face-to-face interactions will not be allowed. However, he said SurePay locations will be opened between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Monday to Friday to allow Barbadians to pay their bills.

Cleaning services will also be allowed to operate to meet the needs of supermarkets, health facilities, and other exempt businesses.

However, he made it clear that maids, nannies, gardeners, and other personal service providers for residential properties, will not be permitted to report to work.

“We will be allowing deliveries for the purposes of delivering groceries, fruit and vegetables, and medical supplies and they will be able to operate between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Obviously if supermarkets and so on are going to be allowed to open, then distribution channels are also going to have to be facilitated and we are therefore going to allow the distributive traders for the supply of goods to essential services and businesses that are exempt to do deliveries between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Farms will be allowed to continue to operate between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Fuel manufacturers, fuel storage facilities and fuel distributors will be allowed to operate for the entire day, and when we say for the entire day we are really talking about 24/7,” Marshall said.

He added that gas stations will be allowed to open for the sale of products relating to motor vehicles, sale of top-ups for mobile phones, bottle gas, and pharmaceutical items, but will not be allowed to sell food items, including liquor.

Hotels, villas, and other rental accommodations will be allowed to operate, but must stop their gaming rooms, spas, and other entertainment services, Marshall said.

The Attorney General also made it clear that restaurants at hotels will be allowed to open for room service only, but there must be no dining.

Manufacturing companies producing goods for export purposes, those manufacturing animal feed, beverages, pharmaceuticals, dairy products, and food processors will be allowed to operate between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pharmacies will be opened between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. for the purpose of personal use and the filling of prescriptions.

Marshall indicated that while a decision has been made not to allow rum shops, village shops, and corner shops to be opened; only minimarts in rural Barbados will be allowed to operate, and noted that those allowed will be published on an approved list.

“Private veterinary services will be allowed to operate as needed. Sugar factories will be allowed to operate for the entire day. Supermarkets will be allowed to operate between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. And I should make it clear here that those minimarts that are allowed to open will operate on the same terms as the supermarkets.”

He said, mindful of the significant threat of dengue fever, swimming pool services will be allowed to continue to prevent the stagnation of water, and not for the benefit of owners. The decision has also been taken to allow tyre shops, wrecker services, and emergency personnel for vehicles only, to be allowed to operate as needed.

Marshall said wholesalers of food items and associated supplies for the limited purpose of fulfilling orders will be able to operate between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“What I want to make clear is even though the Government has taken the decision to give certain exemptions, we will be expecting every enterprise that has been given the benefit or the privilege of an exemption, we will be expecting them to operate on skeleton staff to the smallest amount that is safe. So if we have given you an opportunity to operate and you normally have 200 members of staff, we are not going to agree that you can bring out all 200. But if you can operate your business safely on 50 at a time like this, we are expecting that you will oblige us and you will cooperate with us by bringing out the smallest number of people that can run your business safely,” he said.

“Let me make it clear that while we are closing businesses, any enterprise that is able to have its staff members work from home will be allowed to function. So lawyers, accountants, other service providers, if you can operate from home without having to interface with the public, without having to leave your home, you will be able to operate,” he added.

While churches will be allowed to stream their regular services, only 10 worshippers will be allowed to gather from the church building. Ten mourners will be allowed to attend funerals along with the funeral director, officiate, and staff will be allowed to attend funerals.

The bride, groom, two witnesses, and the officiate; will be allowed to attend weddings.

Beaches and parks will be opened between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., to allow for the purpose of exercise only. Groups of no more than two persons will also be allowed to jog, also between the 6 a.m. to 9 a.m window.

Seeking to put to rest the notion that there is going to be “the wild west” in Barbados next Monday and Tuesday, because the lockdown officially starts on February 3, the Attorney Marshall said on February 1 and 2, the existing 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. curfew will continue. (AH)