ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
PUBLIC HEALTH ACT (DANGEROUS INFECTIOUS DISEASE) (AMENDMENT)
(NO. 11) REGULATIONS 2021
STATUTORY INSTRUMENT
2021, NO. 62
ARRANGEMENT
Regulation
1. Citation………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4
2. Interpretation…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4
3. Amendment of regulation 5A of the principal Regulations ……………………………………………..4
4. Commencement …………………………………………………………………………………………………………5
PUBLIC HEALTH ACT (DANGEROUS INFECTIOUS DISEASE) (AMENDMENT) (No. 11)
REGULATIONS 2021, made by the Board pursuant to Section 102 of the Public Health Act, Cap. 353.
1. Citation
These Regulations may be cited as the Public Health Act (Dangerous Infectious Disease) (Amendment) (No. 11) Regulations, 2021.
2. Interpretation
In these Regulations –
“principal Regulations” means the Public Health Act (Dangerous Infectious Disease) Regulations
2020, Statutory Instrument No. 16 of 2020
3. Amendment of regulation 5A of the principal Regulations
Regulation 5A of the principal Regulations is amended –
(a) in paragraph 4A (Opening of Bars and Clubs), by repealing the paragraph and substituting it as follows:
“4A. Opening of Bars and Nightclubs
(1) The owner or operator of a Bar or Nightclub shall only permit access thereto by vaccinated patrons in accordance with the protocols agreed to with the Board and the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda.
(2) An owner or operator of a Bar or Nightclub shall-
(a) ensure that all patrons observe the protocols for physical or social distancing and the wearing of facemasks; and
(b) in any event, the maximum number of patrons inside the Bar or Nightclub, at any one time, does not exceed a maximum of 100 patrons properly physically or socially distanced.
(3) The owner or operator of a Bar or Nightclub who opens, operates, or permits the operation of a Bar or Nightclub contrary to the provisions of this paragraph commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $5,000.00 or to the suspension of the Bar’s liquor licence for up to 12 months or to both such fine and suspension of liquor licence.”
(b) by inserting after paragraph 19 the following new paragraph:
“20. COVID-19 Testing requirements for unvaccinated frontline workers and tourism
stakeholders
(1) All unvaccinated frontline workers and stakeholders who provide direct services to arriving passengers and tourists, including but not limited to immigration employees, customs employees, airline employees, baggage handlers or redcaps, vendors, tour operators, hotel workers, healthcare workers and persons providing national security services are required to be tested for COVID-19 at least once in every 14-day period.
(2) The cost of the fortnightly COVID-19 testing shall be borne by the worker or stakeholder.
(3) Every frontline worker or stakeholder being tested pursuant to this paragraph shall submit the results of each test to the Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health Headquarters or her designee.
(4) An unvaccinated frontline worker or stakeholder shall be permitted to work between testings unless otherwise notified by the Chief Medical Officer or her designee.
(5) An unvaccinated frontline worker or stakeholder who fails to comply with these
COVID-19 testing requirements shall be prevented from trading or may be sent
home without pay.”
4. Commencement
These regulations go into effect from the 1st day of August, 2021.
Made the 28th day of July, 2021
Eustace Lake
Chairman of the Central Board of Health