From midnight on Monday, a slew of new Covid-19 Public Health Restrictions will come into effect, as government races against time to prevent a collapse of the parallel healthcare system. 

The measures, announced by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley on Monday afternoon, are as follows: 

-All non essential retail services will remain closed.

-All food services will be closed,  reversing a decision last week to permit street food vendors to operate while restaurants were ordered shut.

-Essential services (groceries, pharmacies, hardwares) must operate within the hours of 6am and 8pm only.

The new restrictions were announced on the backdrop of sobering statistics and projections about the trend of new infections based on activity in the past week.

Principal Medical Officer Dr. Maryam Richards warned that if  the trend of new Covid-19 infections continues as it has over the past few weeks, there are only 10 days left before the parallel health system becomes overwhelmed with patients.

Currently, there are 260 covid positive patients in hospital, representing a 48% capacity.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsignh said that at this time, there are no plans to house Covid-19 patients in the traditional healthcare system.

Minister Deyalsingh noted that while it was possible to add physical beds in the parallel system, the solution is not that simple, as medical personnel are already under “tremendous pressure”.

As leader of the government , Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley said he was aware the decisions would not be welcomed by all, but said he had no qualms about acting now to save lives. 

“It is not that I love you any less. It is not that the doctors have become ogres It is because being responsible for your wellbeing this medicine is bitter and if you don’t take it, the wages of this is death for some people,” the PM said.

“For all those who put the economy out front…what kind of economy are we going to preserve if the outcome of not intervening now with economic disruption results in economic destruction in the face of a calamitous healthcare system and a large number of people sick and dead or dying?” he asked.