Surge ahead of curfew

Barbadians have officially hit the panic button! With Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley making the announcement on Thursday night that the island's COVID-19 Preparedness Plan was elevated to Stage 3, locals took to the streets from the early hours yesterday to snap up whatever they could.

With grocery stores, pharmacies and financial institutions already sporting long lines all week long, things were dialed up to 11 with lines tripled in some instances as organisations continue to limit the number of persons inside their plants at any given time.

During Prime Minister Mottley's address on Thursday night, she revealed that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had reached 24 after an absence of information, since one case earlier in the week brought the number to 18. With the projected national plan stating that the response would be ramped up to Stage 3 once the tally reached 25 persons, the government took pre-emptive action and implemented a curfew, which takes effect from tonight at 8 p.m. and is expected to run until April 14th in the first instance.

However, many Barbadians have taken this to mean that there will be a shutdown of all business and flocked in droves to stock up their homes with food and supplies. During the course of the day yesterday, the information was reiterated and clarified, stating that the curfew will hold between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. each day with several essential services exempted.
What was also communicated is that during the daylight hours there would be a contraction of business on the island with only grocery stores and other food providers, pharmacies, banks and credit unions and restaurants providing take-out among others being able to operate.
The island has not yet reached a stage where such a reaction that was exhibited yesterday is warranted or necessary and, as such, the rest of the population will be able to do what shopping is needed in the coming weeks unless there is a change made.