Authorities tighten curfew in Curacao November 18

Event

Authorities announced that they will tighten the curfew in Curacao from Wednesday, November 18, following a rise in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases. The nightly curfew will be in effect between 21:00 and 04:30 (local time). Face masks are also going to be mandatory in several businesses, salons and barbers, on public transport, in health centers and hospitals, and at funerals.

Gatherings of up to four people are permitted in public places, while all non-essential businesses have been ordered to close by 20:00 and may only operate at 50 percent capacity.

Food trucks may operate between 18:00 and 20:00 and hotels are only permitted to open bars and restaurants for hotel guests until 21:00, unless they have a permit that allows opening beyond those hours. Sports events are permitted without spectators while gyms and sports facilities are limited to 15 people at a time.

International tourists permitted entry from approved locations is limited to 20,000 per month and international travel options are still limited. Travelers from several countries and territories in the Caribbean and Europe, as well as the US states of Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and Canada, French Guiana, Guyana, Uruguay, China, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Morocco, are permitted to enter Curacao without quarantine.

As of November 18, there have been 1,415 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Curacao with two associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay. To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.