And if you're still feeling a bit confused about the new regulations, today, the Commissioner of Police cleared some things up. First he spoke about the new regulations that state that grocery stores won't be opened on Sunday and the possible reasoning behind it. He also discussed the vax-or-test regulation that applies to government offices.
And if you think that the no grocery stores on Sunday is a bad idea because it leads to crowded stores on Saturday, well, the ComPol says the customers just have to abide by the safety protocols.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"So people will not be able to move around on Sundays to say that they are going to the stores because the stores are going to be open. They will only be allowed to move around if you are seeking the services offered at any of the institutions that will be allowed to be open. I would want to think that the reason for that is because people were complaining that with the no movement Sundays when you allow stores to be open, that people still find reasons to be at these stores in large numbers and so it does not help to contain the virus. So with a view to mitigate that, the stores are now being closed."
"The main feature from the current SI that came out yesterday, we have where now business establishments, those that offers government services like for example you may have statutory bodies offices, public office, public medical institutions - those are place now that in order for one to enter, they must produce proof of immunization or a negative PCR or rapid test. In the case of persons who have not been vaccinated, the PCD rapid test will be valid for 2 weeks, so every 2 weeks you have to produce that PCR rapid test in order to enter any such establishments. People do have needs and the fact they know that they will not be able to move around on Sunday, they will seek to complete their businesses on Saturday or Friday and so yes it is going to increase the number of persons out, but so long as these persons are adhering to the regulations - wearing their face mask, practicing social distancing, I think that everything should be okay and that is where the police comes in as well as the owners of these establishments to ensure that whoever comes to the establishment that they adhere to these protocols."
Another change that came in the SI was about masks. The use of the fisherman mask that covers the entire face is now disallowed, even for specialized officers who want to keep from being recognized.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"As well as the prohibition now on the use of ski mask, fishermen mask and other similar type mask that covers the entire head or face. So based on the new SI I would want to think that the only type of mask you can use would be the surgical mask ot the mask that people would make that they would normally use made of cloth. But the law also makes provisions for business establishments to determine what type mask they will allow on their premises. While the law do give the business establishment that authority, they would still not be able to allow mask that have now been outlawed by the new regulations."
Reporter
"In relation to those masks and the new prohibitions, for instance fishermen who are going out at sea, I think they use that for a specific purpose to cover more of themselves, I don't know. Would be that out there once they are out at sea, that won't be enforced."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well I am not going to say its not going to be enforced, because you do have coast guards in our waters patrolling and coast guard do have law enforcement powers, so they too can enforce the regulations out there and we cannot be naive to think that crimes only occur on mainland, they do have the issue of piracy out at sea. And so it is important that we adhere to the provisions of the SI, whether we are mainland or out at sea."
And to clarify, those who have medical emergencies can enter the hospital but they will be subjected to a test from MOH. The same goes for persons who are arrested and detained at the police station.
