Businesses breaching COVID-19 guidelines to face “full brunt of the law” – Health Minister

Businesses are continuously violating the national measures intended to protect against COVID-19 and now, the National COVID-19 Task Force is on a mission to ensure compliance by enforcing full penalties.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Friday explained that non-compliant businesses have been on the radar of the Task Force for frequently breaching the established measures.

“I think we have seen flagrant breaches of the guidelines. We have a number of business entities that have not been complying with these guidelines and the task force have those entities under their radar and I’m sure that they would go out and enforce those measures because it is important.”
Now, if business owners are found guilty of such practices, authorities are prepared to enforce the full brunt of the law. The Minister said repeated warnings have been issued, all of which have fallen on deaf ears.
“The task force is going to go out there and trying to reiterate with business owners, the need to make sure that they’re in compliance. If they’re not, then they’ll enforce the guidelines and some people will be charged. We don’t want to use that route but everybody needs to understand the seriousness. After repeated warnings and you’re not going to abide by those warnings, then you’ll leave us no other alternative but to feel the full brunt of the law.”
It was recognised that within recent weeks, cases and deaths from the virus have been on the rise. Consequently, active cases have surpassed 800. For Thursday, four persons succumbed to the virus.
“People not wearing masks in close proximity is a recipe for more infections…Over the last couple of weeks, we would have had an increasing trend of more cases. We need people to stop being complacent because if you’re complacent, you’ll get infected and we don’t want that to happen.”
Last November, some 42 businesses were issued warnings for breaching the national measures. A final warning, the Secretariat said, was also issued to 20 other businesses that were operating outside the requisite guidelines.
The national COVID-19 emergency measures warrant full compliance. The national curfew remains in place from 22:30h to 04:00h (04:00 am to 10:30 pm) for the month of March.
Restrictions remain in place on visiting, hosting, or attending private parties, wakes, clubs, receptions, and any other social activity, including going to the cinema.
From 04:00h to 21:30h, stakeholders can access services at banks, markets, supermarkets, grocery shops, gas stations, postal or shipping services, beauty salons, barbershops, hardware stores, clothing or stores; or other maintenance services.
The guidelines facilitate the opening of bars and restaurants from 04:00h to 21:30h and the order restricts indoor dining to 40 per cent of the capacity of the building, with tables placed six feet apart and no more than four persons allowed at one table.
Further, staff at the restaurants and bars are required to wear their masks properly and sanitise tables, chairs and bar countertops after each use. Buffet dining remains prohibited.