Key points and live updates from the January 30, 2021 COVID management press conference featuring Attorney General Dale Marshall, Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Jerome Walcott and consultant psychiatrist Dr Joy Sue.
- Stay at home during the lockdown.
- However, essential services will be in operation.
- The current emergency directive continues on February 1 and 2, 2021.
- The new directive starts on February 3, 2021.
During the lockdown …
- Bakeries 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for sales.
- Bakeries 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for baking.
- Banks and credit unions February 3-10 for back office services.
- No face-to-face operations.
- Abattoirs, hatcheries and poultry processors 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- Farms 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- Bill payment services 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Cleaning services 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- Delivery services for food and medical supplies 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- Fuel manufacturers, fuel storage facilities and fuel distributors all day.
- Gas stations for the sale of products relating to vehicles, fuel and top-ups
- 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Gas stations closes for the sale of food, liquor and so on.
- Hotels, villas and other rental accommodation all day
- Manufacturing companies for the production of goods for export 8 a.m. and 5 m.;
- Pharmaceutical, beverage and food manufacturers 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.;
- Pharmacies 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Minimarts that are exempted 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Private veterinary services as needed
- Sugar factories, for the entire day;
- Supermarkets 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Friday only.
- Swimming pool services, as needed
- Tyre shops, wrecker services and emergency personnel for vehicle response only
- Wholesalers of food items and filling orders to essential services
- 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Wear a mask as long as you are leaving home.
- The wearing of masks in public is mandatory.
Head of the Cabinet COVID sub-committee Senator Jerome Walcott
The other members of the COVID-19 Cabinet Sub-Committee are:
- Attorney General Dale Marshall
- Minster of Health Jeffrey Bostic
- Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw
- Minister of Labour Colin Jordan
- Minister of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology Kay McConney
- Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams
- COVID-19 Communications coordinator Ambassador Liz Thompson
House-to-house testing
- A COVID-19 Community Evaluation Survey entitled Seek and Save is to be conducted over a period of 12 to 14 days.
- The initiative is in partnership with the University of the West Indies.
- More than 300 volunteers were recruited to conduct the survey.
- The COVID-19 Community Evaluation Survey will be conducted using smart phone technology.
- There will be a link connected to the UWI cloud system.
- Each survey should last about seven minutes.
- The information is transmitted in real time to UWI.
- Information from the COVID-19 Community Evaluation Survey will be churned out approximately every two hours indicating where hot spots are and persons with symptoms.
- Medical teams trained in swabbing will go the individuals.
- Two tests will be offered – rapid antigen test and PCR.
- If the rapid antigen test is positive, the person will remain at the location until confirmation of the result of the PCR.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Joy Sue
During last year’s lockdown, persons experienced mental issues, including anxiety, insomnia and depression.
Coping mechanisms
- Everyone should have a communication plan – someone they can talk to.
- Communication can be in-person, via Zoom or WhatsApp.
- If persons are not comfortable talking, they can write down their feelings in a journal.
- You can write what is helping you in coping.
- Communication does not have to be at the individual level, you can rely on a group or social club.
- Church Zoom meetings are also helpful.
- Do not be embarrassed to express your feelings.
- Do not be embarrassed if you are having trouble coping.
- Different people will cope at different levels.
- Forming a routine for children is important.
- Try to maintain as much normalcy as can obtain.
- Kids need to feel there is some kind of stability.
- Try to exercise – at least 30 minutes a day and three days a week.
- Walking, skipping and riding are useful options.
- Maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Overeating can lead to problems.
- Take medication as prescribed.
- Get enough rest – maintain your sleep/wake cycle.
- Meditation and yoga are also useful.
- This is an opportunity to work on a creative project – art, dance, playing a musical instrument.
- Listening to music is relaxing.
- It is important to get sunlight.
- Focus on the positives.
