Supermarkets given permission to open until 9:00pm!
Cabinet has agreed to allow supermarkets only to open until 9:00pm to cater for the large amount of shoppers to get their needed supplies ahead of the 14-day lockdown, which starts on the evening of Saturday, April 4, 2020.
The Territory is on curfew but it has been relaxed to allow persons with surnames beginning from A to I to shop today, April 2, 2020.
On Friday, persons with surnames from J to R will get their turn while on Saturday, persons with surnames from S to Z will be allowed.
Supermarkets will be allowed to open up to 9:00pm today as well as the remaining two days for shopping.
All other essential businesses will open from 6:00am to 6:00pm.
Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, in announcing the extended shopping time allowed to supermarkets this afternoon, April 2, 2020, emphasised that this will only apply to supermarkets, at their discretion.
Extra security to ensure compliance
He also said, tomorrow and Saturday, law enforcement will be checking to see if persons are adhering to the surname system in place, and reminded persons it is a necessity to have some form of identification.
Further, Governor Jaspert said only essential persons and those shopping for the most vulnerable should be shopping during 6:00am and 8:00am.
Meanwhile, Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), in a statement today, said all persons with surnames from A through I who did not get to shop today will be allowed to shop on Friday, April 3, 2020.
"Extra security at all supermarkets will be in place to ensure the rules and social spacing measures are adhered to.
"We’re in this together," Hon Fahie said.
