Curfew continues: Manning

THE 10pm to 5am curfew in the National Capital District will continue, says National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning.
Manning, who is also the Police Commissioner, made this known on Monday to clarify misinformation being spread within the nation’s capital.
“There was no uplifting of the curfew,” Manning said in a statement.
“It remained in force and continues today under the new measures as well.
“We have been getting many criticisms from members of the public about this. People spread the virus when they move from place to place so when you stop people from moving you stop the virus from spreading as well.
“But this is also a security issue as well. Good law abiding citizens are usually at home during those curfew hours. Essential workers request for and have been given curfew passes to travel during these hours,” Manning said.
Manning had also written to the chief executive officer of the National Gaming Control Board, Imelda Agon to refrain from misinforming the general public with regards to gaming (pokies) operations.
The operations of gaming facilities should take heed of the curfew hours and operate within the measures issued by his office.
Manning said a formal criminal investigation would be initiated into the issuance of contradictory information given by the NGCB.
Manning added that the National Control Centre (NCC) was looking at securing locations to be used as contingency isolation centres should the existing facilities become overwhelmed by the increasing demand for quarantine.
Meanwhile, St John Ambulance chief executive officer Matthew Cannon said it was important for people to self-quarantine for 14 days when they had direct contact with a person who tested positive to the Covid-19.
“Your symptoms (and a positive test result) can take 14 days to develop from the time you had direct contact with a person confirmed to have the Covid-19,” Cannon said.
“This is why it is so important that people self-quarantine for the full 14 days from the last time they had direct contact with a person confirmed to have the Covid-19.”
He said the Taurama Aquatic Centre drive-through sampling centre was swabbing people who had symptoms of Covid-19 such as a sore throat, fever, cough, shortness of breath and runny nose.
He said the National Capital District health authority operated swabbing centres at Rita Flynn and clinics (Koki-Wanigela, Morata, 9-Mile, 6-Mile, Gordon, Pari, Lawes Road and Badili) which people could go to get swabbed.