Things have taken a serious turn for the worse with the COVID situation on CUR. Numbers way up. Island under lockdown. See from todays Curacao Chronicle
Premier Rhuggenaath announces new measures
MAIN | By
Correspondent March 31, 2021
WILLEMSTAD - According to Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath during the press conference today that this is a day of remarkable developments. “From the start, we wanted to avoid great pressure on medical care. The situation in the hospital has deteriorated in recent days and also today. More and more people are being admitted to hospital and more and more people are dying,” says the Premier.
The Premier also explains there are 16 intensive care areas. 14 beds have now been added. All beds are full. Locally and internationally, people have been called upon to assist the hospital. Rhuggenaath stresses that further action must now be taken.
The old hospital Sehos is now also on standby. The next few days are critical days for the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC). More healthcare workers need to come and help, says the Premier. “It is a serious situation. Unfortunately, there are still people who talk about conspiracy or that the government has a hidden agenda.” Rhuggenaath says there is only 1 agenda and that is saving human lives.
“Within the government, people also get sick, and someone's life has been taken away. Everyone suddenly calls themselves a nurse or reporter, but something serious is going on and that is that people keep dying and people still get sick.”
The British variant is much more contagious and much more dangerous than the earlier variant. The only solution to get rid of this is to vaccinate. The vaccination process is therefore being expanded further, says the Prime Minister.
The new measures that will apply as of today: The curfew starts at 7 p.m. The times for informal care will also be adjusted. All vital companies and institutions may remain open until 6 p.m. Truk di pan (BBQ stands) may be open between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
“The exemptions will have to decrease. In the meantime, 30,000 applications have been submitted. The government will review the exemptions granted. We must stay calm and use our common sense. Stay at home! Keep your distance and take good care of each other. Colleagues should also be careful. Wash your hands and do not shake hands. We must have maximum discipline. Do not leave home. You only leave
home if you really need to.”
“Semana Santa, the holy week, will have to become a staycation. We cannot allow people to come together. There can be no activities where people can infect each other. The majority of the infections is due to the British variant.”
Rhuggenaath is aware that it is difficult. Mainly because of the cultural customs during this period. Young people are also included. “Stay at home as much as possible to save human lives.” Rhuggenaath says he no longer dares to look at the figures. We need to try harder, and he knows we can.
Young people are now also being victims. Especially people between 40 and 60 years old are now victims. Everyone is now noticing the effects of the virus. The government will announce more vital professions that can be vaccinated. The Netherlands ensures that there is enough vaccine, says the Prime Minister.
506 new COVID-19 cases; 2 more deaths
MAIN | By
Curaçao government March 31, 2021
WILLEMSTAD - The epidemiology department reports that out of 1855 people who have been tested today for the COVID-19 virus, 506 of them were positive: a positivity rate of 27%. This brings the number of active infections to 3102. 53 active cases have recovered.
The situation at the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC): 104 people are now in the hospital. 32 of them are in the intensive care unit. This includes 1 person from Bonaire.
Unfortunately, 2 more have died making the total now 35 deaths.
Please stay safe!
