COVID-19 actions gazetted

Georgetown: COVID-19 measures were on Thursday published in the official gazette.

These emergency measures are made pursuant to the paragraphs (1) and(2) (b) of the Direction by the President, given under the Public Health Ordinance, Cap. 145, and published in the Gazette, Legal Supplement-B, 16th March 2020.

The measures shall take effect from the 9th April, 2020 and last until 3rd May, 2020 unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.

Restriction to home

Except as otherwise provided in this Notice every person shall remain in the confines of his or her home and its yard space.

Restriction on social activities

No person shall host, attend or visit –
A private party
A recreational or competitive sporting event;
A wedding, other than the bride, the bridegroom, official witness and the marriage officer;
A banquet, ball or reception’
A bar or rum shop;
The seawall;
A pool;
A creek, beach or river except if the person is residing or working there;
A wake or vigil;
A gym;
A beauty salon or spa;
A club or discotheque;
A meeting of a fraternal society, private or social club or civic association or organisation; or
Any other social activity.
No water sports or recreational activities shall be allowed on any river, creek, beach and internal waters
No more than ten mourners, one officiant and the funeral director and the necessary staff shall attend a funeral

Restriction on visitation

No person shall visit or be permitted to visit –

Any place of quarantine or an isolation facility;
A prison or correctional facility;
A patient in a hospital, nursing home, senior citizen’s home or any other care facility.

Curfew

A curfew is hereby imposed throughout Guyana from the 9th April, 2020 to 3rd May, 2020 between the hours of 06:00pm and 06:00am.

Public Service, Statutory Bodies and State-owned Enterprises

All persons employed within the Public Service, a statutory body or a State-owned enterprise shall work remotely from home, except as may otherwise be directed by the Minister of Public Health acting on the advice of the responsible Minister or Head of Agency.

Essential Services

Subject to subparagraphs (2) and (3), all services shall remain closed except for the following essential services which may carry on operations for 24 hours each day –
Hospitals, healthcare and medical services including pharmacies, drug stores and private veterinary services
Nursing homes, orphanages, shelters and other related care centers;
Immigration
The Judiciary;
The Parliament
The Diplomatic Corps;
The Revenue Authority;
The Maritime Administration Department;
The National Emergency Operations Centre;
Water supply services including the collection, storage, purification and distribution of water for public use;
The disciplined forces;
Prison services
Solid waste management, sewerage and janitorial services including live-in domestic workers;
Air traffic control;
Demerara Harbour Bridge and Berbice River Bridge;
Hotels and accommodation;
Electricity and energy services including oil and gas sector and those who provide services to the oil and gas sector;
Businesses that ensure global continuity of supply of mining and petroleum materials and products (e.g metals and minerals such as bauxite, gold and diamonds);
Mining and petroleum development operations, production and processing;
Mineral and petroleum exploration;
Mining and petroleum supply and services that support supply chains in the mining and petroleum industries;
Businesses and operations that engage in the cutting, processing and preparation of trees into lumber and ensure continuity of supply of forestry products;
Security services including private security;
Telecommunication providers including internet, telephone and call centre operators, media houses, broadcasting and the Guyana National Printers Ltd;
Port operations limited to bulk marking operations and loading and offloading only, of marine vessels, petroleum vessels, ships, bulk and containerized vessels;
Port service logistics and freight services, including transportation and delivery services to and from wharves, terminal and ports;
Transportation of dry goods and beverages for wholesale delivery;
Construction services where their workers are engaged in the construction of healthcare facilities;
Factories, manufacturers or distributors of food supplies (particularly producers or processors of rice, sugar, poultry and fish) and essential medical supplies where the Minister of Public Health has determined that the continuation of these operations do not pose a risk to public health;
Workers necessary to keep furnaces and kilns operating safely in manufacturing operations that are not listed as essentials.

The following services may be open between 06:00am and 5:00pm each day-
Banks and other financial institutions defined in the Financial Institutions Act, Cap. 85:03, remittance services, and their support services;
Markets, supermarkets, fruit and vegetable stalls, bulk food stores and neighbourhood grocery shops;
Food services and restaurants only for delivery, drive-thru and take away services;
Gas stations;
Postal and shipping services;
Funeral homes;
Operations, inspection, repair and maintenance of essential services including vehicles, vessels and aircraft and traffic signal maintenance;
Automotive repair and maintenance facilities that provide direct support to essential businesses;
Services necessary for the maintenance of residences including plumbing, electrical and extermination services.

Any service not listed in subparagraphs (1) and (2) shall close their operations unless employees can work exclusively from home.
Where a Village Council, as defined in the Amerindian Act, Cap. 29:01, has determined that a public health threat exists in relation to any mining or forestry operation conducted in accordance with subparagraph (1), the Village Council shall recommend to the Minister of Public Health that the operation be discontinued.

Social distancing and physical distancing protocols

Any service mentioned under paragraphs 5 and 6 shall make the necessary arrangement to facilitate social and physical distancing and shall –

Require persons to wear a mask when inside of the establishment;
Ensure that all staff and other persons maintain a physical distance of at least six feet in or outside of their establishment, if in a line to enter the establishment;
Determine the number of persons that may be permitted in the establishment at any one time in order to comply with subparagraph (b).

Religious Worship

Except for the conduct of funeral services and weddings, all churches and places of religious worship including mosques and temples shall be closed.
Subparagraph (1) does not prohibit any religious worship by virtual or electronic means provided that if virtual or electronic worship is being carried on in the place of worship the number of persons in that place shall not exceed five persons and the social distancing of six feet between persons shall apply

Domestic Travel

Any person who provides transport within Guyana whether by land, water or air shall not carry in that transport more than half the number of passengers which the motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft is licensed to carry and the operators and passengers of any motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft shall have personal protective equipment.
A motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft shall not be used for a purpose other than a purpose related to a service under paragraphs 5 and 6.
Medical evacuation flights shall be allowed with only the patient, one health official and, where necessary, one family member.
The Kurupukari Crossing shall be closed except for during the hours of 6am to 5pm and only to facilitate the passage of essential services and supplies.
The Police Force shall have powers to stop any motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft and inquire as to the purposes for which that motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft is being utilized and may arrest anyone found in violation of this paragraph

International Air Travel

The Cheddi Jagan International and Eugene F. Correia International Airports shall remain closed to all international flights except for outgoing flights, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights, technical stops for fuel only and special authorized flights.

Offence

Any person who fails to comply with any of these measures commits an offence under section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance and is liable on summary conviction to the penalty provided under that section.

Measures taken by certain Ministers

All other measures taken under any law or administratively by the Ministers responsible for Education, Civil Aviation, Maritime, Immigrations and Finance shall remain effective and in full force.