Drive thru or take away food vendors will be allowed to open from 6am to 7.30pm; and construction companies carrying out any construction work will be allowed to do so from 6am to 7pm. Establishments that remain open are ordered to restrict the number of customers inside their place of business to allow for social distancing of at least three to six feet from any other person. The order also mandates every person in such establishments or businesses must maintain this distance themselves from any other such person. All other establishments or offices, inclusive of public service, shall maintain only essential staff for the performance of core functions while adhering at all times to social distancing with others working remotely.

Governor General CA Smith declared a public state of emergency Tuesday.

In Parliament Wednesday, the prime minister laid the emergency regulations, giving himself and government wide-sweeping powers related to mandatory detention, isolation, curfew, requisitions of building, and criminalizing the posting or sharing of fake news.

The order announced today mandates every person shall remain in the confines of their dwelling home, inclusive of their yard space.

It prohibits anyone from hosting or attending: a private party which includes any person from outside of the immediate household of the house occupant; a recreational or competitive sporting event; a wedding which hosts ten or more persons other than the bride, bridegroom, official witnesses and the marriage officer; a banquet, ball or reception; any social event; a funeral, except ten members of the immediate family and at least one officiant and essential mortuary staff; or a meeting of a fraternal society, private or social club or civic association or organization.

The order further stipulates that: “no person shall offer for hire or seek to travel on any public bus transportation; mail boat, sailing inter island, except for transport of freight; or inter island private commercial sea transport that is non- essential”.

Visitation to any place of quarantine or isolation station or correctional facility is prohibited; while hospital or residential care visits have been restricted to one person at a time.

The order does not apply to essential officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Fire Services, the Department of Correctional Services, the National Insurance Board, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Environmental Health Services, the Department of Immigration, the Customs Department, waste and sanitation workers, and staff within any hospital or health care or medical facility.

Minnis said trucks, personnel tankers and vehicles working with gas stations and gas facilities will be exempt from the curfew.

It also does not affect the function by essential officers of “any water, electricity or other sectors encompassing the provision of electronic communications including print and electronic media”.

The order does not prohibit religious or educational instruction, worship or other activity by electronic or virtual means; nor does it prohibit individual attendance at a church for private individual prayer while maintaining social distancing.

If convicted, anyone who is found in contravention of the order will face a fine up to $10,000, a prison term up to 18 months, or both.