P.U.P. Supports Extended State of Emergency for 30 Days

This Monday, a House meeting will be held to get approval for an extension of sixty days to the State of Emergency. But it does not mean that the shutdown will continue until then; it means that during that period, relaxation of certain measures will take place until there is all clear. In fact, the extension will not require the government to go back to the House within that period. Today, the People’s United Party says it supports a thirty-day state of emergency.  The last reported positive case was on April thirteenth, so the P.U.P. states it has consulted medical experts who have advised that if there are no new positive cases for the next thirty days, it would be safe to lift the State of Emergency and therefore supports a thirty-day S.O.E.  The P.U.P. continues to support social distancing measures and good hygiene in general.  The party also supports increased testing across the country and that the healthcare infrastructure be strengthened to meet any new wave of the virus. According to the P.U.P., during the S.O.E., the land borders and airports must remain closed.  As to the food assistance programmes, the P.U.P. says it needs to be strengthened and distribution should be according to need and not political affiliation. In respect of the economy, the P.U.P. recommends a measured ‘opening up’ so as to spur economic activities.