GOVERNMENT DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY

A state of emergency is now in effect in Antigua and Barbuda for an initial period of 14 days.
It comes the government intensifies the effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Prime Minister Hon. Gaston Browne made the announcement during a news conference this afternoon.
He also announced a nightly curfew to begin on Saturday.

According to Section 20, Subsection 1 of the constitution, The Governor-General may, by Proclamation which shall be published in the Official Gazette, declare that a state of public emergency exists.
In a statutory instrument published in the Extraordinary Gazette Wednesday, Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams declared a state of public emergency exists for the purposes of Chapter II of the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda.
Meanwhile, in accordance with Section 21, Subsection five of the constitution, Sir Rodney says he is satisfied a public emergency has arisen as a result of the occurrence of the Coronavirus 2019 more commonly known as COVID-19, which has been declared as a dangerous infectious disease.

In the same statutory instrument and in accordance with the Quarantine Act, Sir Rodney appointed Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronda Sealey Thomas as the Quarantine Authority with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, Chief Health Inspector, Sharon Martin, Chief Immigration Officer, Katrina Yearwood, Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Oritta Zachariah and Director of the National Officer of Disaster Services, Philmore Mullin were all appointed as Health Officers under the Quarantine Act.