Stricter enforcement of COVID-19 measures to come - Hon Malone
"Mister Speaker, one need only to look and examine the statistics from our neighbours in the region, North America, South America, Europe, throughout the world, to become all too familiar that hospitals there, beds, equipment are becoming overwhelmed."
"We can either call it... the end of the first wave or the beginning of the second wave," Hon Malone said at the Twelfth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duffs Bottom, Tortola, on today, July 10, 2020.
He said establishments that were opened are now beginning to close again; however, the Territory would not have to go down that route if strict monitoring and adherence to the protocols are in place.
Enforcement necessary - Hon Malone
Hon Malone said enforcement, therefore, is necessary if citizens are to continue enjoying the freedoms of internal re-opening, economic re-booting, and opening of borders to international travellers.
"It is little to ask for the safety of the lives and for the protection of livelihoods."
Hon Malone's comments came after the announcement of Cabinet backed penalties and at the same HoA sitting where Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) had called on the people of the Territory to 'bear with the government,' during the pandemic.
The Premier affirmed that his administration is continuously working to develop and implement measures to further stabilise the economy and future-proof it from other pandemics and catastrophic natural disasters that may come.
Second wave?
Global health experts have been warning countries of a second wave following decisions to ease restrictions.
The second phase of Spanish flu a century ago was deadlier than the first and persons have been wary of a similar trend with the Novel Coronavirus.
Lifting lockdown restrictions too far is one of the things health officials believe could trigger a second wave of infections in some countries.
According to the BBC, lockdowns have caused massive disruption around the world - destroying jobs, affecting people's health and taking children out of school - but they have controlled the virus.
That is why measures are being lifted in stages and new ways of controlling coronavirus are being introduced, such as contact tracing or face coverings.
One argument against a deadly second wave is that viruses become less dangerous as they evolve, to better infect people.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
27 Responses to “Stricter enforcement of COVID-19 measures to come - Hon Malone”
I think the government is doing an excellent job so far to keep the COVID-19 under control. I wonder if some people take into consideration the events in the United states where we have some daily increase in some states such as Texas and California where as much as over thirty thousand daily cases. That amount is about the size of the BVI population. Do we have the capacity to handle that amount of cases. Should we open the border and allow whosever to visit. I would hope that we will adjust our social behaviour and prioritise our expenditure in order keep afloat in times like these.
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-52153145/coronavirus-we-do-not-recommend-face-masks-for-general-wearing
Then we will have to be careful and look after our vulnerable.
If this is not the case then further regulations are asinine!
We cannot stay locked down.
Not even a Case face mask or the said temperature machine ?
The big picture is to keep the people focus on the virus and fear of it. While the Government Officials use the playbook which will eventually collapse the economy. Eventually when businesses can not operate to sustain the economy there will be food supply shortages and that will be the beginning. The Government officials like the media are following the play book exactly. Because at the end of the day the people will be happy to accept the vaccine and not starve. So as mentioned the laws will get stricter. So be on the look out more LOCK DOWNS coming to a district near yours.