Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643210177.pdf (Antigua and Barbuda)
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA PUBLIC HEALTH ACT (DANGEROUS INFECTIOUS DISEASE) (AMENDMENT) (NO.

4) REGULATIONS, 2020 STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 2020, No.

29 [Published in the Official Gazette Vol.

XL No.

26 dated 22nd April, 2020] ________ Printed at the Government Printing Office, Antigua and Barbuda By Noel F. Abraham, Government Printer - By Authority, 2020 300 – 5.

20 [Price $4.35] Public Health Act (Dangerous Infectious Disease) (Amendment) (No.

4) Regulations 2020.

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2020, No.29 3 Public Health Act (Dangerous Infectious Disease) (Amendment) (No.

4) Regulations 2020.

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA PUBLIC HEALTH ACT (DANGEROUS INFECTIOUS DISEASE) (AMENDMENT) (NO.

4) REGULATIONS 2020 Regulation ARRANGEMENT 1.

Citation and commencement .................................................................................................... 4 2.
Interpretation ............................................................................................................................ 4 3.

Repeal and replacement of Regulation 5A ............................................................................... 4 Public Health Act (Dangerous Infectious Disease) (Amendment) (No.

4) Regulations 2020.

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29 ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA PUBLIC HEALTH ACT (DANGEROUS INFECTIOUS DISEASE) (AMENDMENT) (NO.
4) REGULATIONS 2020 STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 2020, No.

29 PUBLIC HEALTH ACT (DANGEROUS INFECTIOUS DISEASE) (AMENDMENT) (No.

4) REGULATIONS 2020, made by the Board pursuant to Section 102 of the Public Health Act, Cap.

353.

1.

Citation and commencement (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Public Health Act (Dangerous Infectious Disease) (Amendment) (No.

4) Regulations, 2020.

(2) This regulation shall come into effect at 12:01a.m.

on Thursday the 23rd day of April, 2020.

2.


Interpretation In these Regulations – “principal Regulations” means the Public Health Act (Dangerous Infectious Disease) Regulations 2020, Statutory Instrument No.

16 of 2020 3 Repeal and replacement of Regulation 5A The principal Regulations are amended by repealing and replacing Regulation 5A as follows – “5A.
Special measure applicable to the period 23rd April to 14th May, 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 23rd April 2020 until 12:00 midnight on Thursday 14th May, 2020.

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2.

Restriction on freedom of movement (1) Freedom of movement of every person in Antigua and Barbuda shall be exercised only in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations.

(2) Except as provided herein, every person shall remain confined to his or her place of residence (which includes the porch, gallery and yard space of his or her home) to avoid contact with others who do not form part of his or her immediate household occupant.

3.
3.

Mandatory Curfew (1) A mandatory 24-hour curfew shall take effect beginning 12:01a.m.

Thursday 23rd April, 2020 until 12:00 midnight on Thursday 14th May, 2020 (referred to herein as the “curfew period”).

(2) Subject to this 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, all businesses 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) (b) doctors and dentists offices; law offices (for the purpose of bail applications, Magistrate Court matters and commercial transactions including matters pertaining to interests in land); (c) clinics; (d) pharmacies; (e) provision of healthcare services and residential care services; (f) residential or elderly care facilities and establishments; (g) religious rites performed by church leaders and Chaplins of Faith-Based Organisations on the recommendation of the Ecclesiastical Commission.
(3) The following businesses are permitted to open and operate between the hours of 6:00a.m.

to 6:00p.m.

each day – (a) (b) fish and meat markets, abattoirs; vending of agricultural produce; (c) wholesale, retail, grocery stores, supermarkets and community shops; (d) gas stations; Public Health Act (Dangerous Infectious Disease) (Amendment) (No.

4) Regulations 2020.

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29 (e) critical cleaning services, sanitation workers; (f) authorised delivery services of necessities (food, groceries, medicine, water, fuel); (g) Banking Institutions licensed under the Banking Act 2015; (h) Credit Unions (i) All Money Services Businesses conducting money transfers pursuant to a Class A licence issued by the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (for the purpose of receiving moneys only); (j) Licensed Insurance businesses and Insurance Agents; (k) Hardware Stores, Contractors and Construction businesses and their workmen; (l) landscape businesses and businesses engaged in maintenance of the physical environment.
(m) Marine services (n) Auto mechanics (o) Auto Parts sales (on a delivery basis only) (4) Registered livestock and vegetable farmers are permitted to be at their farms between the hours of 4:00a.m.

and 6:00p.m.

(5) Licensed fishermen are permitted operate during the curfew period between the hours of 2:00a.m and 6:00p.m.

(6) Public transportation services are permitted 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 formation with one person in every row that would normally accommodate 2 persons and no more than 2 persons in the back seat.

(7) Churches and Faith-Based Organisations may conduct community outreach programmes, such as, soup kitchens and the distribution of food and care packages to members of the community between the hours of 6:00 a.m and 6:00p.m.
(8) The curfew period shall not apply to persons who are employees or officers of the following – (a) (b) The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda including the Fire Brigade; 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; S.I.

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(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) LIAT (1974) Ltd. (m) Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority; (n) APUA (Electricity and Water and Telecommunications), other Water services, and Telecommunications Service Providers; (o) Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority; (p) Businesses licensed to provide private security services; (q) Commercial Banks and Credit Unions to the extent required to facilitate ongoing automatic banking services.
(r) all members of Parliament, (s) the Treasury Department, as determined by the Accountant General; (t) the Inland Revenue Department, as determined by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue; (u) National Solid Waste Management Authority; (v) healthcare workers and employees of allied health care services; (w) critical construction workers approved by the Cabinet to include BHM, Meridian Construction Company, CCECC and WIOC; (x) Brokers and Shipping agents; (y) businesses involving logistics; (z) fuel manufacturers and distributors (WIOC and RUBIS); (aa) Hotels/Villas and ancillary staff operating on a limited scale (no gaming rooms, spas, gyms, tennis courts, and other recreational services are allowed; in room dining only.
(9) Every businessowner, staff, customer, officer and any other person falling within the exceptions outlined at subparagaphs (2) to (8) hereof shall observe the social distancing protocol and wear a face mask during the period for which they are allowed to operate.

Public Health Act (Dangerous Infectious Disease) (Amendment) (No.

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Public Service, Statutory Bodies, State-owned enterprises and the Magistrates Court (1) Subject to subparagraph (3), members of the public service who are not employed in the provision of services under paragraph 4(8) are permitted to work during the curfew period based on the instructions of the Permanent Secretary of the Department or Division.
(2) Subject to subparagraph (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 Chairmen of Board of the Statutory Bodies shall encourage and support employees in working from home to the extent that this is possible.

(4) The Magistrates’ Court shall continue to function as advised by the Chief Magistrate.
(5) The Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping shall operate as authorised by the Director.

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) (b) ensure that all customers and staff maintain physical distancing of no less than six (6) feet in or around their business; 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 distance markers at six feet interval to show where persons are permitted to stand while waiting outside of the establishment; (2) In addition to observing the social distancing protocols, owners of businesses and providers of any service permitted to operate during the curfew period shall ensure that workers and customers observe proper sanitation practices and that a sanitizing station is available at the entry to the business and sanitary procedures are observed by all customers.
7.

Wearing of face mask in public (1) Every person who is permitted to leave his or her residence for any portion of the curfew period must wear a face mask which completely covers both the nose and the mouth of that person.

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(2) No person is permitted to be in any motor vehicle, supermarket, market, or in any street or in any public place without wearing a face mask.
(3) A person shall not be permitted to wear dark glasses and head covering when entering any business and such person must be prepared to show a government issued identification upon the request of any security or management personnel of the business.

8.

Education and religious instructions (1) Subject to subparagraphs (2) and (3), 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.

(3) The electronic or virtual broadcast of any religious instruction or worship may be produced from within a church or other establishment, provided no more than ten (10) persons are gathered therein, to include the Pastor and the production team.

9.
9.

Restriction on social gathering (1) No person shall – (a) (b) (c) (d) host or attend at any private party which includes any person from outside of his or her immediate household occupant; attend or participate in any organised sporting event or any sports stadium; hold any banquet, ball or reception; any social event.

(2) For the duration of the curfew period – (a) weddings; (b) meeting of a fraternal society, social or private club, civic organisation or association, are banned.
(3) Funerals, if held during the curfew period, must be conducted in the cemetery with no more than ten (10) mourners, the officiant, two (2) representatives from the funeral home and two (2) persons employed to work in the graveyard, all of whom shall practice social distancing and wear a face mask.

(4) This paragraph shall not apply to gathering within a church or other religious establishment that is in accordance with paragraph 8(3).

10.
10.

Restriction on Road Traffic Public Health Act (Dangerous Infectious Disease) (Amendment) (No.

4) Regulations 2020.

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29 (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 or any of the businesses permitted to open pursuant to this regulation; (c) going to an automatic banking machine within the period 6:00a.m.
to 6:00p.m; (2) Only the driver and one other person are allowed to be in a private vehicle.

11.

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 company of a parent or a legal guardian.

12.

Closure of Beaches All beaches are closed for the duration of the curfew period.

13.
13.

Physical exercise (1) A person may, during the period 6:00a.m to 6:00p.m.

each day, walk, jog, run, cycle or perform any other physical activity, which may lawfully be carried on, provided such a person complies with the requirements of subparagraph (2).
(2) A person performing physical activity – (a) (b) shall do so in an open field or on the side of a public road; may do so in the company of one other person whilst observing social distancing protocol; (c) shall wear a face mask or other face covering in accordance with paragraph 7; and (d) shall not use the occasion as an occasion for social gathering.

14.
14.

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, but subject to the modification or discontinuance being published in the official Gazette as soon as possible thereafter.” 15.

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A person who fails to comply with these special measures commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of five thousand ($5,000.00) dollars or to imprisonment for six (6) months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

16.
16.

Approval of other measures Measures implemented by the Port Authority, 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 Regulations.

Made the 22nd day of April, 2020.

Eustace Lake, Chairman of the Central Board of Health.