Public Health Act (Dangerous Infectious Disease) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 (S.I. No. 24 of 2020)

1. Citation..................................................................................................................................... 4

2. Interpretation ............................................................................................................................ 4 3. Amendment of regulation 5 – Special measures that apply to persons in the community generally 5

4. Insertion of regulation 5A into the principal Regulations ....................................................... 5 ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA PUBLIC HEALTH ACT (DANGEROUS INFECTIOUS DISEASE) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2020 STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 2020, NO. 25 PUBLIC HEALTH ACT (DANGEROUS INFECTIOUS DISEASE) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2020, made by the Board pursuant to Section 102 of the Public Health Act, Cap. 353.

1. Citation (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Public Health Act (Dangerous Infectious Disease) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020.

2. Interpretation In these Regulations – “principal Regulations” means the Public Health Act (Dangerous Infectious Disease) Regulations 2020, Statutory Instrument No. 16 of 2020 4 April 1st, 2020 THE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA OFFICIAL GAZETTE - EXTRAORDINARY No. 19

3. Amendment of regulation 5 – Special measures that apply to persons in the community generally Regulation 5 of the principal Regulation is amended by inserting after subregulation (2) the following – “(3) The Board, may modify or adopt, with modifications, any special measure in subsection (1) as the circumstances caused by the spread or the threat of the spread of the dangerous infectious disease may from time to time require. (4) Where in the discretion of the Minister, it is necessary for any measure to be imposed under subregulation (1) to deal with a dangerous infectious disease, and it is not practicable to have a meeting of the Board, the Minister may, impose the appropriate measure. (5) The imposition of a special measure under this regulation shall be published by any means that the Board considers effective for notifying the general public.”

4. Insertion of regulation 5A into the principal Regulations The principal Regulations are amended by inserting after regulation 5 the following new regulation – “5A. Special measure applicable to the period 2nd April to 9th April, 2020 For the further control of the spread of the dangerous infectious disease COVID-19, the Board hereby issues and directs that the following special measures be observed throughout Antigua and Barbuda:

1. Duration These special measures shall take effect from 12:01a.m. on Thursday 2 nd April, 2020 to 6:00a.m. Thursday 9th April 2020;

2. Restriction on freedom of movement Freedom of movement of every person in Antigua and Barbuda shall be exercised only in accordance with the provisions of these regulations.

3. Mandatory Curfew (1) A mandatory 24-hour curfew shall be in effect from 12:01a.m. Thursday 2nd April, 2020 to 6:00a.m. Thursday 9th April, 2020 (referred to herein as the “curfew period”). (2) Subject to regulation the curfew period will not apply to individuals who are involved in a medical emergency

4. Closure of all businesses and exceptions (1) Except as provided in this regulation, every non-essential establishment or business shall remain closed for the duration of the curfew period. (2) The following services, whether provided in a private or public capacity may continue during the curfew period – (a) doctor’s offices; (b) clinics; (c) pharmacies; (d) provision of healthcare services and residential care services; (e) residential or elderly care facilities and establishments; (3) The following businesses are permitted to open and operate only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day – (a) fish and meat markets, abattoirs; (b) vegetable and livestock farming, vending of agricultural produce; (c) wholesale or retail grocery stores, supermarkets and community shops; (d) gas stations; (e) critical cleaning services, sanitation workers; (f) authorised delivery services of necessities (food, groceries, medicine, water, fuel); (4) Public transportation services are permittred to operate during the curfew period from 6:00a.m. to 7:00 p.m. provided the operator of the public transport and the passengers wear a face mask and the passengers are seated in a staggering 5 No. 19 THE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA OFFICIAL GAZETTE - EXTRAORDINARY April 1st, 2020 formation with one person in every row that would normally accommodate 2 persons and no more than 2 persons in the back seat. (5) The curfew period shall not apply to persons who are employees or officers of the following – (a) The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda including the Fire Brigade; (b) The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force; (c) Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP); (d) Customs and Excise Department; (e) Immigration Department; (f) Mount Saint John’s Medical Centre; (g) Emergency Medical Services and E-911 Services; (h) Media workers and other employees of a broadcasting service to the extent that they are traveling for work; (i) Her Majesty’s Prison; (j) Air Traffic Control Services; (k) Meteorological Services; (l) Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority; (m) Telecommunication Service providers; (n) Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority; (o) Businesses licensed to provide private security services; (p) Commercial Banks and Credit Unions to the extent required to facilitate ongoing automatic baking services. (q) all members of Parliament, (r) the Treasury Department, as determined by the Accountant General; (s) the Inland Revenue Department, as determined by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue; (t) National Solid Waste Management Authority.

5. Public Service, Statutory Bodies and state-owned enterprises (1) Subject to subparagraph (3), members of the public service who are not employed in the provision of services under paragraph 4(5) are permitted to work during the curfew period based on the instructions of the Permanent Secretary of the Department or Division. (2) Subject to paragraph (3) employees of statutory bodies are permitted to work during the curfew period based on the instructions of the Director or Chairman of the Board of the Statutory Body. (3) All Permanent Secretaries within the civil service, and the Directors and Chairmans of Board of the Statutory Bodies should encourage employees to work from home where this is possible.

6. Social Distancing Protocol (1) Every business permitted by this regulation to operate during the curfew period shall observe the social distancing protocols as follows – (a) ensure that all customers and staff maintain physical distancing of no less than six (6) feet in or around their business; (b) determine the number of persons that may be permitted in the establishment at any one time by permitting one person for every fifty square feet of store space; (c) place distance markers at six feet interval showing where persons are permitted to stand at a check out point; (d) place disctance markers at six feet interval to show where persons are permitted to stand while waiting outside of the establishment;

7. Education and religious instructions (1) Subject to subparagraph (2), all religious and educational places of instruction or worship shall remain closed. (2) Subparagraph (1) shall not prohibit any activity referred to therein if done by electronic or virtual means.

8. Restriction on social gathering (1) No person shall – 6 April 1st, 2020 THE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA OFFICIAL GAZETTE - EXTRAORDINARY No. 19 (a) host or attend at any private party wich includes any person from outside of his or her immediate household occupant; (b) attend or participate in any organised sporting event or any sports stadium; (c) hold any banquet, ball or reception; (d) any social event; (2) For the duration of the curfew period – (a) weddings; (b) funerals; (c) meeting of a fraternal society, social or private club, civic organisation or association, are banned

9. Restriction on Road Traffic (1) No person shall drive any vehicle on any public or private road except for the purpose of – (a) transporting someone who has a medical emergency; (b) going to the supermarket; (c) going to an automatic banking machine within the period 7:00a.m. to 1:00p.m; (2) Only the driver and one other person are allowd to be in a private vehicle.

10. Absolute restriction on the movement of children No person under the age of eighteen (18) years is permitted to be on any street or in any vehicle, whether a private or public transport, during the curfew period, except in the event of a medical emergency.

11. Approval of other measures Measures implemented by the Port Authority and Customs or Immigration division to control the Spread of the dangerous infectious disease in their scope of operations shall not be held to be in conflict with these Regulatiosn.

12. Extension of measures The Board may, by notice published in the State media and on Government website, extend the period of curfew, or in its discretion, modify or discontinue any measure.” Made the 1st day of April, 2020. 7