NASSAU, Bahamas, April 8, 2020 – Having imposed a five-day national lockdown beginning Wednesday night (April 8), the government of The Bahamas has ordered that everyone in The Bahamas must wear a mask when leaving their homes and that exempted businesses may deny entry to patrons who do not wear masks.
“Every person who leaves his residence in accordance with the provisions of this order and any exemption granted hereunder shall wear a mask covering his nose and mouth while away from his residence,” according to the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No. 2) (Amendment) (No. 7) Order, 2020,” the Nassau Guardian reported. “An exempted business or undertaking may deny entry to any person not wearing a mask covering his nose and mouth.”
On Monday, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced a five-day national lockdown, that will end at 5 a.m. next Tuesday, when The Bahamas will return to a previously implemented 24-hour curfew, according to the prime minister.
The Bahamas, like the rest of the world, is battling the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, there have been seven deaths and 40 confirmed cases in the country.
According to The Guardian, the government has implemented several measures in an effort to curb the transmission of the disease. The most recent government order notes that gas stations on Abaco and Andros are permitted to open between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the curfew.
Construction companies that are carrying out Hurricane Dorian relief efforts on Grand Bahama and Abaco, construction of a sea wall in Mangrove Cay, Andros, and construction of a quarantine building in South Eleuthera are exempted from curfew, according to the order.
