BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, June 29, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris said that the decision taken by the Government to exercise the Emergency Powers and institute a 24-hour lockdown in St. Kitts was not one that was made lightly, but it was one that his Cabinet felt was necessary in order to save lives and livelihoods across the Federation.
“Let us faithfully comply with the health protocols designed to keep us safe. Let us abide by the stay at home regulations. Let us comply with the curfew. The lockdown decision we took was not a decision taken lightly. But given the increase in COVID-19 cases, it was a decision that was necessary. Our priority throughout this pandemic has always been life first,” said Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris on this evening’s (Tuesday, June 29) edition of Leadership Matters.
Therehave been a total of 443 cases of the disease in St. Kitts and Nevis since the start of the pandemic, with most of those cases recorded in the last five weeks. At the end of day today, Tuesday, June 29, there were 263 active cases in the Federation.
PrimeMinister Harris stressed that his Team Unity-led Government will not allow a situation to occur where COVID-19 is allowed to go uncontrolled in the country, putting even more lives at risk.
“That is why we went to Parliament to enhance the legislative tool of State of Emergency powers to fight the battle against COVID-19. These strong measures now are a small price to pay to save the lives of many,” Dr. Harris added.
Theprime minister used his presentation on the interactive call-in programme to reiterate the importance of persons being inoculated against the COVID-19 disease, adding that increased vaccination rates are the best path out of lockdown.
Hesaid, “If you want to see a day when COVID-19 is behind us you can make that happen by being vaccinated. When you become vaccinated you are sending a message. You are saying to your family and friends that you value them and want to protect them. You are saying to your work colleagues that you want the economy to open up so everyone can get on with their jobs. When people are at work, they can do more for themselves. When you get vaccinated, you are saying that you have put country above self.”
Actingon the advice of health authorities, the Government instituted a complete 24-hour lockdown from 6:00 p.m Sunday, June 27, 2021, to 5:00 a.m.. Thursday, July 01, 2021.
OnFriday, July 02, 2021, there will be limited movement for limited operation of essential businesses from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and a return to full 24-hour lockdown from 6:00 p.m. Friday, July 03 to Thursday, July 08.
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