Dr Irving McIntyre Minister for Health, Wellness & New Health Investment

DOMINICANS ORDERED STAY INDOORS

The extreme measures are being introduced, according to, the Minister for Health, Wellness and New Health Investments, Hon. Dr. Irving McIntyre “to protect the nation and its residents” The minister, during a televised address, also available on social media cited, ” Sadly, some of our people have not heeded the calls for cooperation and the exercise of personal and collective responsibility and have been failing and/or refusing to adhere to the guidelines, protocols and pleas of the health authorities.”

McIntyre said that the Curfew exercised under the COVID-19 Regulations “are limited to those determined to be necessary to improve the effectiveness of the State, in protecting the people of Dominica from the ravages of the pandemic.” He added that, “new Regulations in the form of the Environmental Health Services (COVID-19) Regulations 2020, will take effect from 10pm today, Saturday 28th March 2020 and the general provisions will remain in force until Saturday 18th April 2020, unless the Minister, by Order notifies otherwise.”

“However, the provision providing for a curfew will only have effect from 10 pm,Saturday 28th March 2020 until 8 am Tuesday 31st March 2020, unless the Minister by Order published in the Gazette extends this.”

The following are provided for under the Regulation:

•Isolation of person infected or suspected to be infectedwith COVID-19

•Special restrictions and requirements on persons arriving from outside Dominica

•Closure of the air and seaports •Closure of the air and seaports •Requirement for Provision of truthful information

•Requirement to notify the authorities of symptoms •Prohibition of gatherings of more than ten (10) persons

•Curfew

•Closure of schools

Failure to comply with any of the provisions of the Environmental Health Services Act and Regulations is an offence and under the provisions of the Environmental Health Services Act 1997 a person guilty of an offence under these provisions may receive a fine of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and imprisonment for twelve (12) months.

CUBA ANSWERS DOMINICA’S REQUEST

Meantime, a team of 35 Cuban, medical professionals has arrived in Dominica as per Dominica’s request. Macintyre, accompanied Dominica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations, Hon. Kenneth Darroux, who were among the Dominican delegation welcoming their counterparts, at a short ceremony at the airport told them, “I know the sacrifices you have made, to leave home, to leave friends, leave family just to come over here in Dominica to assist us to help us so that we can fight, and combat this the COVID-19.”

The Health Minister said, that the team’s deployment in Dominica would help the island become more prepared to respond to COVID-19.

“IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL PANDEMIC THAT WE KNOW ABOUT NO ONE IS BEING SPARED…ABSOLUTELY NO ONE IS BEING SPARED

Dr Irving McIntyre Minister for Health, Wellness & New Health Investment

The Cubans are in Dominica at the request of the Prime Minister, Hon Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit. The government of the Commonwealth of Dominica and the Republic of Cuba established diplomatic relations in 1996.

SOURCE: GOVERNMENT OF DOMINICA SOURCE: GOVERNMENT OF DOMINICA