After consultation with the private sector and business chambers in the country, the Barbados government has agreed to allow supermarkets and similar village shops, to open their business to conduct delivery services from tomorrow.

There was mass chaos at grocery stores across the island last Friday, as Barbadians rushed to stock up on supplies ahead of the start of a two week national shutdown.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw said the businesses have been given the green light to begin deliveries from 9 a.m. on April 8th. Supermarkets will be allowed to open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. She clarified that in-store shopping remains strictly prohibited. Instead, orders will be processed via various means, including email, WhatsApp and phone calls, or customers can use curbside delivery for pre-packaged baskets.

Last Friday, Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who is currently on medical leave, posted a video message on her page, urging Barbadians to order only their bare necessities for the duration of the current curfew, which comes to an end at midnight on April 14th.

Barbados now has 63 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The country recorded its third death early on Tuesday- a 95 year old man who had pre-existing medical conditions.