As a segment of the general population of the BVI prepares for the 14-day extended curfew, tensions are running high. Multiple reports along with footage reaching our news room confirmed shoppers fighting in supermarkets. If the spread of the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 wasn’t enough to deal with, the territory is now dealing with the rise of hysteria among residents.
At many supermarkets, persons crowded the parking lots waiting for their turn to do their shopping for the next 14 days. Some shoppers were worried that the day would pass without them being able to secure the necessary items for the upcoming lockdown.
Persons were seen grabbing, shoving and pushing their way through large crowds. A sight which resembled the immediate aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
One social media user via Facebook asked “Have the people gone mad?”
On April 1st 2020, The Premier of the Virgin Islands announced that last name shift system, which allows persons to access essential services on a respective day based on their last names. This evening, Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert announced an extension of shopping days for persons with the last name A-I and an extension of operation hours for supermarkets.
See article here: https://www.284media.com/local/2020/04/02/breaking-news-supermarket-curfew-extended/
Persons are asked to be considerate and to please abide by the necessary measures being put in place to assure the safety of the population.
The imposed curfew is governed by the Curfew Act 2017.