Governor Rijna announces ‘lockdown light’

Strong percentage growth in contaminations

Tonight, on Saturday, September 19, Bonaire’s governor Edison Rijna and Dr Marian Luinstra-Passchier from Public Health, announced in a press conference that a total of 16 new cases of contamination on Bonaire have been identified.
Although the majority of infections show no to mild symptoms and health issues, this still means that Bonaire has entered a phase where stricter measures are necessary.
This is to prevent further spread of the virus on our island.

A new set of precautions

All measures will take effect on Monday, September 21 at 00:00 am, and it is what mr. Rijna called, a ‘light version of a lockdown’.
These measures apply for 10 days, so until September 30 at 11:59 pm.

The current and new measures are:

• Stay at home as much as possible
• Working at home is encouraged
• The construction sector remains to function
• All restaurants and other food and beverage outlets will be closed. Delivery and take-away is allowed until 10 pm at the latest.
• All companies that practice so-called ‘contact professions’ in the field of personal care will be closed (eg hairdressers, nail stylists, etc.)
• All gyms will be closed, outdoor sports with low contact, without public, is allowed.
• Casinos will be closed.
• Funerals are allowed with a maximum of 10 people in the farewell room
• Marriage ceremonies at the registry office are allowed without any invitees
• Elderly care can remain open, but with guidelines from Public Health.
• All shops, companies and institutions will be closed with the exception of: vital sectors such as healthcare (including informal care), government, financial institutions, organizations such as Selibon, BIA and WEB.
• The drug stores, supermarkets, petrol stations and building material shops will remain open, until 8 pm at the latest. Visitors are asked to adhere to the door policy and the maximum capacity of the stores.
• The schools and childcare will remain open, under strict conditions of Public Health. If people test positive, the necessary measures will be taken to prevent spread.
• Transport of people with essential professions in vans, can be done, but only if passengers and driver wear face masks.
• Religious activities are allowed, but with a maximum of 10 people.
• All events (APK permit required) and meetings will be canceled with the exception of meetings in connection with crisis consultations. Gatherings may consist of a maximum of 10 people.
• Mr. Rijna has submitted a request to call Bonaire a code orange travel destination for the Netherlands. If this is granted, flights from the Netherlands are still allowed, but it is advised to only make necessary trips.
• Inter-island flights remain allowed only for returnees and essential professions.

Tough measures, just to relieve again as soon as possible

These are tough measures for the next 10 days. But these are important to ensure that the virus has minimal chance of spreading. Mr. Rijna therefore emphasized that if we take a step back now, we will soon be able to relieve the measures again.

According to our governor, following the worldwide scientific consensus, the most effective way to contain this virus is:

• Keep five feet away from each other,
• Wash your hands regularly and
• Stay at home as much as possible.