COVID-19: New Amsterdam Town Council orders immediate lock-down

Riot Police in front of the New Amsterdam Market on Saturday

By Royan Abrams

The New Amsterdam Town Council on Sunday ordered an immediate closure to businesses in its main shopping hubs via a notice to all bars, rum shops, beauty parlors to close immediately in light of coronavirus developments in the town and that all churches be closed until further notice. Added to that, the man roads in New Amsterdam are to be cleared of pedestrians by 19:00. The moves come even as Linden and Corriverton Towns have taken measures to restrict movements in their respective districts.

BIG Smith News Watch was informed that the decision in New Amsterdam stems from a development on Saturday where a woman was taken into isolation after displaying signs of the COVID-19 virus. This was confirmed by the Regional Health Services Director who said her test results are expected back later today, Sunday.

We were advised that the woman recently traveled from the United States was reportedly feeling unwell and was being cared for by another person at home, however after her condition deteriorated contact was made with the COVID-19 hotline but those calls were futile.

The New Amsterdam Hospital was then contacted and a medical team arrived with an ambulance and law enforcement officers who escorted the woman to a location where she is now isolated.

BIG Smith News Watch was also told that during her time at home, the woman also had contact with at least one taxi driver and also visited several locations and persons in the township before she became ill. This publication was able to confirm that a taxi driver and at least one member of the joint services is among those who have since been isolated based on contact tracing information which health workers in Berbice have thus far conducted.

Restaurants owners have been instructed that they should close their doors at 16:00hrs and opened supermarkets must monitor the intake of persons depending on the size of the purchasing crowd. They, however, are expected to close their doors at 16:30hrs.

Pitt Street, one of the shopping hubs in New Amsterdam is to be closed with immediate effect while the Mayor and Town Council prepares to effect a sanitization exercise there and in other shopping hubs which will that will commence on Tuesday of this week.

As it relates to the New Amsterdam Market, the closure will be at midday on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. On Wednesdays and Sundays, the market will be closed completely but exceptions would be given to those who vend greens, meat and vegetables. The Town Council has since advised the population the build their immune systems by using the necessary vitamins.

It also made it clear that should anyone fail to comply with the directives being announced by the council, the police will be called in to ensure enforcement and to take the necessary actions.