Barbados’ commercial and retail sectors, including

restaurants and bars, are set to reopen from Monday, while the daily curfew has

been shortened.

Prime Minister Mia

Mottley also announced during an address to the nation Thursday, that from

March 21, churches will once again be able to welcome worshippers, though only

a limited number, while adhering to all physical distancing protocols.

The curfew will now

start at 9:00 pm instead of 7:00 pm and will run until 6:00 am.

“We are still

keeping Sunday as a day closed from supermarkets and commercial and other

retail stores, until further notice. But against that background, however, we

are agreeing that those persons, and those businesses that need to work, with

the exception of just a few, will be allowed to resume work from March 15,” the

prime minister said.

Those allowed to

reopen their doors include hairdressers; barbers; aestheticians; fast food

restaurants for drive-thru and pick-up only; restaurants for in-house dining,

with distancing protocols being observed; bars, but no congregating allowed; nurseries

and daycare centres, but all protocols must be followed.

To facilitate the

return to work by residents, the prime minister also announced that public

health officials had extended the 60 per cent restriction on public service

vehicles to 75 per cent, with the wearing of masks still being mandatory.

Meanwhile, the

number of those who may attend church, weddings and funerals now stands at a

maximum of 75, with persons maintaining a six-foot radius in accordance with

the social distancing protocols. Funerals and weddings being held at a venue

other than a church will be limited to 25.

However, wedding receptions are still prohibited,

and not everyone will be allowed to reopen on Monday.

Mottley outlined

that gyms; pleasure craft, whether chartered or privately owned; nightclubs;

cinemas and theatres were still not permitted to reopen.