COVID-19 led to discovery VI’s borders ‘quite porous’– Hon Malone
The minister revealed the information while addressing residents of Jost van Dyke at a community meeting held there on Thursday, October 22, 2020.
He said only after the spike of 53 COVID-19 cases in August of 2020, that the administration got a clear picture of the border situation in the territory.
“We found out that our south-west and our north-west borders were quite porous in terms of what we've done for years,” he said.
Incoming boats were bypassing immigration – Hon Malone
Hon Malone continued, “boats would come over from St John and from St Thomas, some of them will check-in and some will not,” the Minister revealed.
The discovery of the breach resulted in the channelling of resources to beef up border security through the use of barges, also to contact trace smuggled individuals.
According to the Minister, the territory was able to contain the spread due to successful contact tracing, where those individuals were tracked and placed in quarantine.
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The Suppression Order has been extended to 30 November, 2020 unless extended by the Minister.
Face masks or face shield to be worn in public.
7. (1) Subject to this section, every person shall wear a face mask, at all times when in a public place, including at any establishment, gatherings and on public transportation.
(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply where a person is
(a) in open air settings and maintains a physical distance of no less than six feet from any other person who may be nearby;
(b) driving alone, or is with members of his or her household;
(c) obtaining services at a healthcare facility, including hospitals, medical or dental clinics, pharmacies, elderly facilities, facilities providing veterinary care or similar services for animals, and is directed by an employee at the healthcare facility to remove his or her face mask or face shield;
(d) is consuming food or drinks;
(e) in an assigned office, which consists of an enclosed room and is not shared by other persons;
(f) at an assigned office space and physical distancing protocols specified to in section 6 are being adhered to; or
(g)
(3) A face shield may be worn instead of a face mask by the following
persons:
(a) a child twelve years and under, who may have difficulty wearing a face mask for a prolonged period;
(b) a person who has a health conditions which may cause breathing or medical difficulties if the person wears a face mask for a prolonged period;
(c) a person who has intellectual and developmental disabilities;
(d) a person who care for those who rely on lip reading to communicate; required to remove the mask or face shield in order to ascertain his or her identity or for security purposes.
Penalties.
9. (1) A police officer or an Environmental Health Officer may visit any establishment or public place to ensure compliance with these Orders or any guidelines issued pursuant to section 8 and shall enforce these Orders in accordance with subsection (2).
(2) Where a police officer or an Environmental Health Officer reasonably believes that a person or an establishment is contravening or has contravened these Orders, the officer shall
(a) in the case of an individual,
(i) for the first breach, issue a fixed penalty notice requiring the person to pay a fine of one hundred dollars and to attend such mandatory training as may be specified in the notice; and
(ii) for any subsequent breach, issue a fixed penalty notice requiring the person to pay a fine of two hundred dollars;
(b) in the case of an establishment,
(i) for the first breach,
(A) issue a fixed penalty notice requiring the owner or operators to pay a fine of one thousand dollars, and
(B) a notice for temporary closure, subject to such mandatory training and to implementation of such corrective measures as may be specified in the notice;
for a second breach,
(A) issue a fixed penalty notice requiring the owner or operators to pay a fine of two thousand dollars; and
(B) order the immediate closure of the establishment and the revocation of the Environmental Health Certificate.
(3) A fixed penalty imposed under this section shall be paid to the Magistrate’s Court.
(4) A fixed penalty notice issued under this section shall
(a) set out the particulars of the offence;
(b) specify the period within which the penalty it to be paid;
(c) specify the amount of the fine;
(d) specify that payments shall be made to the Magistrate’s Court.
(5) If the fine is paid, no proceedings shall be brought against the person served with the notice.
10. This Order shall cease to apply on the 30th day of November 2020 unless extended by the Minister for such further period as may be specified.
11. The Public Health (Covid-19 Control and Suppression Measures) (No. 8) Order, 2020 is revoked.
Made by the Minister this 21st day of October, 2020.