(Loop SLU) As coronavirus cases in Dominica continue to spike, the government has imposed a weekend lockdown to curb new infections.
The island recorded 29 new infections in 407 rapid antigen tests carried out over the last few days.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit addressed the nation last evening where he stated that the President has approved an amendment to the Emergency Powers Order to impose a curfew from 6 pm on Friday to 5 am on Monday.
Only essential workers, taxi drivers, people seeking medical attention and persons travelling in and out of the country are free to operate during curfew ours.
Gas stations at High Street, Portsmouth, Canfield and Marigot are open, until 1:00 pm. Only taxi operators and essential workers will be served.
Pharmacies are opened from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Supermarkets and shops open from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. But the government has urged Dominicans to “only shop where you reside.”
The prime minister placed the blame for the spike in cases squarely on the shoulders of people who refused to adhere to the COVID-19 restrictions.
“We as a country let our guard down. Some people came in illegally; we dropped our guard with the parties, fetes, limes; too many of us have not been wearing our masks and too many of us are not vaccinated,” he stated.
Skerrit appealed with unvaccinated Dominicans to take a jab of the Oxford-AstraZeneca or Sinopharm vaccines available on island.
“Vaccination reduces the likelihood of contracting and transmitting the virus; and also reduces the likelihood of becoming seriously ill, if you become infected with the virus,” he said.
Around 14,000 COVID-19 antigen tests will be imported into Dominica to test the population to determine virus spread.
Testing will continue over the weekend at the following locations:
1. The Windsor Park Sports Stadium on Saturday August 7, 2021 and Sunday August 8, 2021 from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm for people in the Roseau Health District.
2. Esprit Murphy Health and Wellness Centre in Mahaut on Saturday August 7, 2021 from 9:30 am.
3. Morne Prosper Health Centre on Saturday August 7, 2021 from 1:00 pm.
4. Pointe Michel Health Centre on Sunday August 8, 2021 from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm.
5. Campbell Health Centre on Sunday August 8, 2021 from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm.
6. Wotten Waven/Trafalgar on Sunday August 8, 2021 from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm.
