Saint Lucia to Continue Under Existing Covid-19 Prevention and Control Protocols

In an effort to continue to manage the Covid-19 pandemic in Saint Lucia the existing protocols will continue until Wednesday 3rd February 2021. On January 22nd 2021, the Government of Saint Lucia rolled out a series of Covid-19 prevention and control protocols for a ten-day period in order to curtail non-essential movement to limit the spread of Covid-19.

A meeting of the National Emergency Management Advisory Committee (NEMAC) and stakeholders will take place on Tuesday 2nd February 2021 to further review the existing protocols and chart the way forward. Following which, the Prime Minister will update the nation with regard to the implementation of any new measures.

The announced decisions which still stand are as follows:

• WORK FROM HOME AND REDUCED CONTACT MEETINGS
  • All organizations and businesses should continue to implement a Blended
    Service/Operations Approach where possible for all operations and
    employees. Additionally, where possible, there should be a complete move
    to staff and board meetings being held virtually/online platform.

• BUSINESS OPERATING HOURS (COVID19 ACT, SECTION 17)
  • All Business Operations And Commercial Activities Must End By 9:00PM
    Daily, as guided by The COVID19 (Prevention & Control) Act, Section
    17(2)(b). This requires all businesses – including supermarkets and
    restaurants – to completely shut its doors and dismiss staff by 9:00PM.
    Separate provisions apply for Essential Service, Manufacturing and
    Agricultural, Call Centres and the Hotel sector.
• ESSENTIAL AND NON-ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES
  • ACTIVITIES ALLOWED TO OPEN: gas stations, supermarkets, financial
    services (inclusive of insurance, all with a blended approach), restaurants
    (take out service only), manufacturing, exports, hardware stores, public
    transportation, vendors on rotation with protocols, agricultural sector, call
    centers, hotels for international tourists, doctor’s offices, Diagnostic and lab
    services and other health support services, pharmacies, law offices and
    accounting offices with blended approach, utility companies, media services,
    customs clearance and brokerage services, postal/courier services, auto
    garage services, auto parts and auto tire repair services.

    Essential Government services include – critical government
    agencies/ministries, hospitals, fire station, police and immigration, Air and
    sea ports, infrastructure department, NEMO, public utility companies.

• PROHIBITION OF ALL SOCIAL GATHERINGS
  • NO Social Gatherings at this point. In public and private settings,
    individuals are to limit their contact to their immediate households. NO
    allowance is given for mass gatherings, social events (of any kind), or loud
    music permits.
• PROHIBITION OF ALL SOCIAL GATHERINGS – Faith based Organizations
  • All Daily, Regular Church and Religious Services may operate using a
    blended approach of physical and online services. Where there is such
    physical service, such an assembly is limited to Twenty-five (25) persons
    inclusive of Religious leaders and other service officials. Separate provisions
    apply for special religious rites, including Christenings, Weddings and
    Funerals. Those services may operate using a blended approach of physical
    and online, but where there is physical service such assembly is limited to
    ten (10) persons.

• RESTRICTIONS ON ALCOHOL SALES
  • Liquor License suspension at Supermarkets, Minimarts, community grocery
    shops, Gas Station, Restaurants and Bars. Liquor licenses remain suspended
    until February 10th 2021.

• RESTRICTIONS ON IN-DINING RESTAURANT SERVICES
  • Restaurants and Food Vendors are to restrict services to “Take-Away” only,
    as “In-Dining” Services are strictly prohibited. Alcohol-licensed restaurants
    and vendors must abide with the updated policy for Liquor suspension.

• PROHIBITION OF ALL SPORTING ACTIVITY, GYMS INCLUDED
  • All Non-Contact and Contact Sporting Activities, Inclusive of In-Door and
    outdoor trainings, local competitions, gym workouts or social activities are
    prohibited. Special provisions apply for individual or immediate family
    households to exercise in a safe, open-air space. These activities may include
    running or walking, cycling, home-gyms, yoga etc. Special permission
    granted for training athletes requiring one-on-one coaching/training for noncontact
    sports. Special permission granted for 1-on-1 personal training.

• SUSPENSION OF FACE-TO-FACE CLASSROOM TEACHING
  • All schools (public and private) are to remain physically closed and
    exclusively operational via virtual instruction/teaching. The exceptions are
    or separate requirements apply for (public and private) education systems to
    facilitate in person teaching for the following categories: Students of Medical
    schools, Grade 6, Tertiary Educational Institutions, Secondary Schools
    (Forms 4 and 5), NELU, Students who are sitting CSEC, other exams and
    preparing for practical evaluations.

For more information on Saint Lucia’s COVID-19 response visit covid19response.lc.