#TurksandCaicos, February 13, 2021 – Turks and Caicos is having a very, very hard time of managing a unrelenting spike in Covid-19 cases. In an attempt to curb spread of the virus which on Thursday saw its deadliest day since the outbreak, with three people dying in 24 hours, there has been a curfew which kicks in daily from 6pm.
It has caused frustrating lines at grocery
stores and water depots. Residents have
sent in their own videos of the madness as people getting off at 5pm try to
make it home before the curfew takes effect.
Terrible traffic delays are reported across Providenciales.
This all happens as the country counts down
to a General Election on Friday February 19.
The protocols have extended voting hours
from 7am to 9pm and have categorised voters who will turn up at the polls in
one of three slots including top of the day for the elderly and last in the day
for Covid-19 and quarantined registered voters.
So far three agencies have agreed to come
on board as election observers including the Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association, which will do so virtually and CARICOM which will send in a team.
The new regulations, which also prohibit
dine-in services and promote curbside or takeaway services mandates business be
closed by 5pm across the country.
The rules were all instituted days after
the UK informed the territory there would be 23,400 more Covid-19 vaccines sent
in before the end of the month.
For the first time positive cases h hit
Middle Caicos and Ambergris Cay.
From January 16 to now, six people have
died; doubling the total number of people who passed away over nine months of
2020.
The current restrictions expire on Tuesday
February 16.
