PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs announced on Tuesday evening that some banks on St. Maarten have agreed to open their doors on Tuesday to allow persons with checks to change those checks.
Those banks that will open are Windwards Island Bank (9 am to 3:30 pm) ORCO Bank, Republic Bank and BCEM (8:30 to 12 noon) and FCIB Bank (8:30 to 1 pm).
Chinese Supermarkets that opened in the various districts that opened their shops on Tuesday were helpful to the community who managed to purchase much-needed items.
The Department of Social Services was able to deliver the 1,500 boxes to the needy, deliveries of the other boxes that were requested will resume at a later date.
While the EOC has submitted a proposal to allow Supermarkets and Banks and gas stations to reopen so that persons in the community could conduct essential business. Based on the proposal movement for essential services will be allowed for 3 days per week as the shutdown continues. The movement will be done in two zones from East to West while Cole Bay will be the checkpoint for those persons wishing to go over the hill to Philipsburg.
The reopening of all supermarkets will go into effect as of Thursday, April 16th. Jacobs urged residents to only venture out for essential services. She said that it is important for people to remain at home in order for St. Maarten to flatten the curve on the spread of the coronavirus. The Prime Minister said the national decree will be adjusted to allow the opening of essential businesses and the movement of people.
CPS will also continue its community outreach program by testing persons in hotspots. Jacobs said on Tuesday CPS team spoke to 85 persons some of whom were tested, especially those with symptoms thus increasing the number of persons tested. She said there are still more test kits available on the island while the order was placed for more kits.
Persons that have to move around for medical appointments will be allowed to do so without a waiver but the persons must be able to show proof of their appointment. The use of the waivers will also be minimized as there are still some hiccups with the use of the waivers.
Currently, there are 53 persons that were tested positive for the COVID-19, 90 persons in self-quarantine. 161 in self-isolation, a total of 161 tests were conducted, 15 pending, 9 deceased while 5 persons have recovered, four persons are still hospitalized, 3 in stable conditions while one is critical and on ventillator.