Summary of Effect of Statutory Instrument No. 52 of 2020

Belmopan. April 9, 2020. 10:15 a.m.

As announced by the Prime Minister on April 6, 2020, additional measures including a lockdown for the Cayo District have been implemented in response to COVID-19 through a Statutory Instrument effective Tuesday, April 7, 2020.

The Statutory Instrument provides for further amendment to the Emergency Powers regulations and offers additional measures to protect the citizens of Belize.  The two main changes include specific restrictions on movement in the Cayo District and further reduced hours of operation for some businesses.

Below is a summary of Statutory Instrument No. 52 of 2020:

CAYO DISTRICT ONLY

The entire district of Cayo is on lockdown for 14 days in the first instance.

“Cayo District” means the whole[e1] of the area described by electoral divisions namely Belmopan Electoral Division, Cayo Central Electoral Division, Cayo North-East Electoral Division, Cayo North Electoral Division, Cayo South Electoral Division and Cayo West Electoral Division. 

The curfew remains in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 4:59 a.m. and for children from 6:00 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.

Movements which are allowed in the Cayo District including operations of businesses 

People are permitted to move between the hours indicated and for the sole purposes of: 

1.     Food and medicine (essential needs) –
2. Convenience stores, food stores, supermarkets, meat shops, butchers, (excluding potable water) and food can operate from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (movement is for purchase of food and essentials)
3. Markets: 6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
4. Pharmacies: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
5. Bakeries and tortilla factories: 5:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
6. Fuel (fuel stations, depots, including LPG suppliers, depots and distributors) 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
7. Financial institutions (banks, credit unions, ATMs) 8:00 a.m. – 12 noon
8. Exercise (jogging, walking or running, only, during hours of 5:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.) (no cycling)
9. Veterinary and medical attention 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
10. If you are a caregiver or an essential worker (allowed to move in the Cayo District) going to and from work
11. Services by waste disposal and sanitation companies and auxiliary personnel
12. Maintenance and housekeeping by hotel, villa or other accommodation service personnel

Operations which cannot operate in the Cayo District for a period of 14 days: 

1. Distributors and factories of carbonated and other beverages including spirits (excluding potable water)
2. Mechanic shops, garages and other auto parts stores are closed to the public, but available for essential services upon request
3. Construction and construction sites
4. Hardware stores
5. Storefront outlets for essential businesses (public utility companies)
6. Service of delivery, take out or drive-thru facilities at restaurants, diners, saloons and other similar establishments

Domestic Food Security

1. Farms continue to operate – agricultural and aquaculture operations between 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
2. Fishers can continue to fish for livelihood during 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
3. Agro-processors, food manufacturers only, can operate for a period of 14 days during 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.  (but carbonated and other beverage manufacturers cannot operate for a period of 14 days).
4. Productive sector industries, personnel and auxiliary workers (potable water production, agricultural workers) during 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Transportation

1. No public bus transportation in or out of the Cayo District.
2. No busitos shall run in the Cayo District.
3. Taxis are allowed if they are called. No taxi should be waiting at a taxi stand for passengers in the Cayo District.
4. Buses to and from the south can transit through the Cayo District via Hummingbird Highway to and from George Price Highway.  No entry into Belmopan and no stops along the route. Buses must be “express” through the Cayo District.

Government Offices

Government offices will be closed in the Cayo District for a period of 14 days. Where e-services are offered, there will be an acknowledgement of receipt; the request will be recorded, and the necessary accompanying action will be effected when business resumes.

Restriction on movement

1. No one permitted to move into nor outside of the Cayo District.
2. The food and essential goods supply chain will, however, remain open for cargo and delivery of food and medicines and will be allowed to enter and exit the Cayo District for those purposes only (international and domestic delivery services and wholesalers of goods and services).

Sundays in the Cayo District:

1.  Complete shutdown of businesses (except as in 4 below).
2.  Movement by essential workers only
3.  Movement for emergencies only
4. Entities that are designated as 24-hour and seven days a week are allowed to operate. These include food mills, oil production, sugar, citrus and approved food factories, port operations, public utilities.

ALL OTHER DISTRICTS IN BELIZE

The curfew remains in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 4:59 a.m. and for children from 6:00 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.

Movements which are allowed including operations of businesses

People are permitted to move between the hours indicated and for the sole purposes of:

1. Food and medicine (essential needs) –
2. Convenience stores, food stores, supermarkets, meat shops, butchers, distributors and factories of carbonated and other beverages, including spirits (excluding potable water) and food can operate from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (movement is for purchase of food or essentials only, not to buy a coke or fonto, those are not essentials)
3.     Markets: 6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
4.     Pharmacies: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
5.     Bakeries and tortilla factories 5:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
6.   Fuel (fuel stations, depots, including LPG suppliers, depots and distributors) 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
7. Financial institutions (banks, credit unions, ATMs) 8:00 a.m. – 12 noon
8. Exercise (jogging, walking or running, only, during hours of 5:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.) (no cycling)
9. Medical and veterinary attention 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
10. If you are a caregiver or an essential worker (allowed to move in the Cayo District) going to and from work
11. Services by waste disposal and sanitation companies and auxiliary personnel
12. Maintenance and housekeeping by hotel, villa or other accommodation service personnel
13. Public transportation
14. Farms continue to operate – agricultural and aquaculture operations during 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
15. Fishers can continue to fish for livelihood during 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (licensed fishers only)
16. Agro-processors, food and carbonated and other beverage manufacturers during 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
17. Productive sector industries, personnel and auxiliary workers (potable water production, agricultural workers) during 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
18. Entities that are designated as 24-hour and seven days a week are allowed to operate and move. These are food mills, oil production, sugar, citrus and approved food factories, port operations, public utilities.
19. The food and essential goods supply chain remains open for cargo and delivery of food and medicines (international and domestic delivery services and wholesalers of goods and services)
20. Storefront outlets for essential businesses (public utility companies) during 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
21. Service of delivery, take out or drive-thru facilities only at restaurants, diners, saloons and other similar establishments.
22. Construction and construction sites cannot operate, and hardware stores are closed countrywide for the next 14 days.

ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND SERVICES UNDER THE LAW

1. Security forces
2. Medical personnel and auxiliary services (includes ambulance services)
3. Immigration and Customs
4. Private security services
5.  Public utilities, workers and auxiliary staff
6.  Social workers authorized to respond to emergencies
7.  Sanitation workers and auxiliary staff
8. Productive sector industries, personnel and auxiliary workers (potable water production, agricultural workers)
9. Media (workers supporting television, radio, newspapers and online media services)
10. Belize Port Authority
11. Office of the Governor General
12. National Fire Service
13. Belize Electricity Limited
14. Belize Water Services Limited
15. Belize Telemedia Limited
16. Speednet Communication Limited (Smart)