Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley, says the country will now remain on lockdown until the end of the month.
This, as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths continued to climb.
On the same day that it was announced the island had recorded the first death of a healthcare worker due to the virus, Mottley said that the period of national pause which was to end on February 17 would continue until February 28.
The Prime Minister said there would be an estimated loss in economic activity of about 75 million US dollars as a result of the extended lockdown.
The 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew will remain in place until February 28.
The only changes are that the post office will reopen on Thursday to facilitate the cashing of pension cheques, remittance offices will also open.
Minimarts, which were not allowed to operate during the lockdown, will be allowed to open Mondays to Fridays, like the supermarkets.
Both minimarts and supermarkets will be closed on weekends.
Prime Minister Mottley’s announcement came after Minister of Health Lt. Colonel. Jeffrey Bostic disclosed in a statement that a Queen Elizabeth Hospital nursing assistant had died on Sunday, as a result of COVID-19.
The nursing assistant’s death brings to 25 the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 since the first case in March 2020.
Up to Saturday, Barbados had recorded 2,268 confirmed cases.
