A Rise in Cases Causes to Bonaire to Tighten Measures

As the COVID-19 cases rise, Bonaire tightens measures.

Lieutenant Governor Edison Rijna announced additional measures during a recent press conference and made an appeal to the public and visitors to keep our island safe. As of January 4, 2022, Bonaire tightens measures through February 4, 2022.

Below is a transcript of the latest press release from Lieutenant-Governor Edison Rijna.

At the turn of the year, it is my tradition to wish everyone a year full of happiness and prosperity. This year I still have one wish: That all of us who live or visit Bonaire remain in good health.

I express this wish because, at the end of the year 2021, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has reached Bonaire. The Public Health Department stated last week that we must take into account that the number of infections with the Omicron variant is rising rapidly. In recent days we have seen a clear increase in the number of people in isolation.

Today, 262 people are in isolation due to a corona infection. The amount of active cases is much more than the past few weeks. Over the past few days, the number of new infections has clearly increased, and four people have been hospitalized with COVID-19. Out of every ten people who became infected over the past week, five to six people were infected with the Omicron variant. We expect the number of infections with the Omicron variant is already higher.

Public Health takes into account that we will have a peak in the number of infections again. More infections could mean that more people are hospitalized on our island. The pressure on the hospital and other parts of the care will then increase.

That is why Public Health has been working since December 2021 to give as many people as possible the opportunity to get the booster shot quickly to be better protected. Public Health also offers people who have not yet received the first or second vaccination the chance to do so. With the booster and two vaccination shots, the department wants to protect citizens better so that they do not become seriously ill if they become infected with the Omicron variant.

This month, the vaccination times will be extended for people who have not yet received the booster shot or the first set of vaccinations. The extension of the vaccination times will be announced later this week. For more information: www.bonairecrisis.com

At the turn of the year, many people gathered in the city center and on public beaches. Now that the Omicron variant is on Bonaire, it is even more important that people do not gather in large groups. It is essential that everyone takes responsibility and adheres to the rules. In the situation we are in now, we need to take new measures to reduce contact between people and reduce the chance of the virus spreading quickly. Therefore, the following measures will take effect from January 4, 2022, 00:00, and are valid until February 4, 2022.

• A maximum of 10 people from two households for private gatherings.
• All catering establishments must close at midnight. A maximum of four adults are allowed in a fixed place at each table.
• Outdoor events are allowed with a maximum of 50 people. The audience is not allowed to sing or dance, and the people have fixed seats.
• Only one person from a household or group is allowed in all stores. This means that you cannot, for example, go to the supermarket in a group, not even with two or more people. There are exceptions for people for whom it is difficult to do the shopping independently. For example, single parents or citizens with a physical disability that need help when shopping.
• At funerals or weddings, a maximum of 50 people is allowed during the official ceremony. Everyone must keep a distance of 1.5 meters. All other activities related to funerals or weddings are considered private gatherings. A maximum of 10 adults from two households are therefore allowed.
• No spectators are allowed at indoor sports activities or events. A maximum of 50% of the total capacity of people may be present outside. Everyone must keep a distance of 1.5 meters.
• It is still allowed to practice sports. The urgent advice is to exercise outside. Gyms can remain open as long as all attendees keep 1.5 meters away. The urgent advice to gyms is to regularly air out all rooms well.
• Casinos must close at midnight.
• Sex establishments are closing.
• There are some measures that were already in place. I therefore make a serious appeal to all employers to let their staff work from home as much as possible. At the day care for our elderly, everyone must adhere to the basic rules. All practitioners of contact professions such as hairdressers, masseurs and physiotherapists must wear a face mask at work. All churches are strongly advised not to sing during mass or service and follow the basic rules.
• All discos remain closed.

We will continue to monitor the situation and relax or tighten the measures if necessary. Recently, we adjusted the travel conditions for arrivals to Bonaire to delay the arrival of the Omicron variant to our island. Now that the Omicron variant is on the island, we will again look at the travel conditions to come to Bonaire. You will hear more about that soon.

Many visitors come to our island to escape a lockdown or other heavy measures in their country. I am making a serious appeal to all visitors to please help keep our island safe. Compared to a country in lockdown, it may seem that the situation on Bonaire is calm. But that is not the case! As I said, the Omicron variant is on Bonaire. And this variant threatens us all. Make sure you are not the visitor endangering our health. Please! Adhere to the rules and measures.

The new measures and measures we already had in place help us to keep the island as safe as possible. I am aware of our people’s sacrifices to keep to the mandatory measures.

I want to ask each of you to go the extra mile with us. It is not easy, but it is necessary. And if everyone makes sacrifices and contributes, we can adjust the measures over time as soon as the situation allows.

If you have not yet received the booster shot or the first set of vaccinations, do so! Call the free number 0800 0900 to make an appointment. Do you have any complaints? Then stay at home and get tested as soon as possible. Call the free number 0800-0800 for a test appointment.

The health of all residents and visitors of Bonaire is close to my heart. We all have a responsibility to keep dushi Bonaire safe and sound. Adhere to the new measures and the basic rules such as avoiding group formation, washing hands regularly, and keeping a distance of 1.5 meters away. It is up to you and me to ensure that residents and visitors of Bonaire are healthy and stay healthy. Once again Bon Aña!

(Source:  OLB)