Statement Island Governor Edison Rijna 31-3-2020
Good evening everyone,
I can inform you that we are still at 0 infections. Meanwhile, 16 tests were taken. The Public Health Department has broadened the criteria for testing. In case of doubt, testing will follow sooner.
Two weeks ago the last international flight with passengers landed. The chance of coronavirus on the island is continuously becoming slightly smaller. However, this does not mean that it is over just yet. There will be a time that the first infection manifests itself. Scientists roughly know how a viral epidemic unfolds, however it seems that coronavirus is novel and is defying all these rules. With this in mind, I would ask you to weigh my following words.
The EBT (Island Policy Team) intervened in a timely fashion and acted preventively. The airspace was closed, the hygiene measures and social distancing were introduced. Screening with quarantine was applied upon arrival of people. All these measures were taken to buy us some extra time. Time to expand the capacity of the healthcare. Time to set up respiratory consulting hours. But also time to make sure that the residents can be repatriated in a responsible and safe manner. We understand that it is hard to be far away from family and the familiar surroundings. I want to say to you that we are working very hard to let you travel back in a responsible and safe manner.
Our economy is mostly coming to a standstill. People are losing their job and, consequently, their income. We are, in good cooperation with the Central Government in The Hague, also working hard in this area in order to minimise the consequences as much as possible.
You, as a citizen, play an important role in all of this. If together we comply with the rules then it is possible to win that extra bit of time. Many people are complying with the measures, however this cannot be said of everyone. To those who think that the rules are not applicable to them, because they are healthy, or because they do not take social distancing seriously, the Public Entity, the police, the Public Prosecution Service and the Court agreed on enforcement arrangements. If so required, the Public Entity will issue an order subject to a fine.
I understand that it is not nice to be restricted in your freedom. You suddenly need to keep a distance from each other at the trusted pub. You can no longer simply go to the beach with a group and you are confronted with home-schooling. It is not easy, but we do all of this with one objective only. Namely, to protect you and each and every resident of Bonaire against coronavirus in the best way possible. I call upon your cooperation and the togetherness. Together we can do this. Together we put our shoulders to the wheel. Together against corona.