UPDATE: New Measures for Easter Weekend

In view of the COVID-19 Virus crisis, the Aruba government has issued a Ministerial Regulation to implement a daily curfew from 9 PM to 6 AM starting as of March 21st, 2020. Tentatively, this measure will apply until March 31st, 2020, provided no further measures would be required. The Minister-President has exercised the extraordinary power granted to her on the basis of Article 16 paragraph 1 of the Calamities Ordinance (AB 1989 no. 51) to implement certain measures to prevent imminent danger to persons and goods. The Ministerial Regulation succeeds several previous regulations issued to restrict the entry of persons into Aruba.

Update April 7th, 2020 | 7:00 PM  

 Prime Minister announced:

  • Measures for Easter Weekend: Good Friday & Easter Sunday everything is closed all day and night and everyone is to stay home. Exceptions: gas stations, doctor, pharmacy, and food take away/delivery.
  • Saturday and Easter Monday retain the current Shelter in Place and Curfew rules.
  • Gathering Ban (Samenschoolings verbod) will be in place throughout the weekend and there will be control at the beaches.
  • Number to complain if Shelter In place or Hygiene is not being complied with: Tel: 281-0404
  • Email for local residents stuck abroad to register: regresoaruba@crisis.aw (Instead of the phone numbers previously announced).

Minister of Justice:

  • The Justice Department has received 500 non-legal residents that wish to return to their country. Contact for voluntary return: Tel: 281-1010 | www.dimasaruba.aw
  • Military assistance has been honored, and will be used to reinforce Coast Guard services

UPDATE (March 28th, 2020)

UPDATE (March 28th, 2020)

All previous government decisions, including border closure and curfew are extended through April 19th. 

New ban for people to group together:

  • 4 or more people can not walk/stand together in public areas.

Shelter in Place info:

  • Effective this Sunday for 2 weeks. 
  • There is a list that describes what businesses are non-essential.
  • Non-essential establishments/activities have to be closed
  • Working at one of the non-essential businesses is not a reason to be out of the house.

Non-essential establishments/business that have to be closed all day and night:

  • Schools and childcare
  • Restaurants (except it is allowed to do takeaway, drive through, delivery)
  • Recreation (casinos, movies, gyms, etc).
  • Events/Meeting spaces
  • Church services
  • Shops (shopping centers, kiosks also)
  • Beauty Salons
  • Construction

(see image attached for list of non-essential activities).

Essential businesses that can remain open:

  • The government urges them to work with a skeleton crew. 
  • Ensure all employees and clients obey the 2-meter distancing rule. If it is violated, the establishment may be shut down. 
  • No specific permit is required for the Shelter-in-Place, but the employer letter is still required for the Curfew. 

Curfew:

  • Stays in place for those that have exemptions to be on the road: 9pm-6am.

An appeal: 

New decision:

No visits at hospital (some exceptions such as parents of small children).

Border:

As of tomorrow, there are no more flights departing or arriving our island until further notice. (AA stated they will start back up on May 6th).

Curfew remains applicable.

Shelter in Place:

  • As of Midnight tonight, more people are required to stay home 24/7.
  • Exceptions: trips to supermarket, doctor, pharmacy, or to exercise.
  • All establishments that are on the non-essential list (see attached) HAVE TO CLOSE for the public during this 2-week period. Employees of these establishment are not allowed to go to work, except for very few essential requirements, such as security and payroll manager. It is recommended that these individuals have a company ID or employer letter identifying their position). Police can shut down businesses completely if curfew is violated. 

Additional notes:

  • Anyone still out in public for supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant take-out or exercise, is required to remain at least 2 meters apart.
  • It is forbidden to be out with more than 3 people together.

Fines for violations of Curfew and Shelter in Place:

  1. Maximum fine is AFL 10,000 per person or business per violation.
  2. Minimum fines:
  3. AFL 1000 per individual
  4. AFL 1500 per small business
  5. AFL 3000 per medium business
  6. AFL 5000 per large business

UPDATE (March 26th, 2020):

New government decisions:

  • As of Sunday March 29th, all on Aruba will impose “shelter in place”.
  • No one is allowed to leave the house.
  • Exceptions are for trips to: supermarket, restaurant takeaway/drive thru, doctor, pharmacy, or for an exercise activity (while keeping 2 meter distance from others). 
  • Shelter in Place rule is for at least 2 weeks. 
  • Specific details of Shelter in Place will be announced tomorrow. 
  • Border will close again for local residents as of Sunday. 

Curfew: 

  • There will be new filters for exceptions to curfew, which are in process of being determined. This means they will reduce the type of jobs that can receive these exceptions. No details yet. 

UPDATE (March 24th, 2020):

The Minister-President has issued a new Ministerial Regulation AB 2020 no. 39 with a few amendments to the previous Ministerial Regulation mentioned below. The new Regulation went into effect as per March 24th, 2020.

English translation of the Ministerial Regulation (AB 2020, no. 38):

THE MINISTER FOR GENERAL AFFAIRS, INTEGRITY, GOVERNMENT CARE, INNOVATION AND ENERGY

Having considered:

–         that according to the World Health Organization there is a pandemic of an infectious disease of a new sub-type of human influenza virus, named COVID 19 / SARS-CoV-2;

–         that this infectious disease has now been confirmed in many countries;

–         that on March 13, 2020 this infectious disease has affected two persons in Aruba who have traveled to Aruba from abroad;

–         that as a result of this and the general threat of COVID 19 / SARS-CoV-2 there is an event leading to such serious disturbance to general security that the life and health of many citizens are seriously threatened, or at least there is an imminent threat thereto;

–         that therefore, based on the Decree of 13 March 2020 no. 1 (SMR-W-41/2020), it has been decided that:

–         (i) there is a disaster event as defined in Article 1 of the Calamities Ordinance (AB 1989 no. 51) which makes it critical to apply the extraordinary powers set out in Articles 11 to 18 of said Ordinance, and

–         (ii) that the application of the provisions of Article 4, paragraph 3, of the Calamities Ordinance is done in accordance with the Aruba Crisis Management Plan, as adopted by decision of the Council of Ministers of 31 July 2018 (BE-51/18), as subsequently updated;

–         that in view of the current spreading of the COVID 19 / SARS-CoV-2 in a number of countries and the pressing interest to control and prevent further spreading of this infectious disease in Aruba, through various ministerial regulations based on Article 16, paragraph 1, of the Calamity Ordinance, far-reaching restrictions have been imposed on the entry of persons into Aruba and the closure of shops and localities in Aruba;

–         that it is because of the pressing interest to control and prevent further spreading of this infectious disease in Aruba, and to prevent danger to persons and goods, it is now prudent, by means of a ministerial regulation under Article 16, first paragraph, of the Calamities Ordinance, to introduce new restrictive measures regarding the presence of persons outside of their residences or accommodations during evening hours, and to consolidate and adapt, where necessary, restrictive measures on entry and closure of shops and premises through this Ministerial Regulation;

Considering:

Article 16, first paragraph, of the Calamities Ordinance (AB 1989 no. 51);

HAS DECIDED:

$ 1. Curfew

Article 1

1.

It is forbidden for anyone to leave their residence or accommodation between 9 pm and 6 am. The first paragraph does not apply to:

2.

a. police and other investigative officers and civil servants responsible for state security;

b. persons who work for medical care-institutions, pharmacies with evening and night shift, utility services W.E.B. N.V., ELMAR N.V. and SETAR N.V., as well as Aruba Airport Authority N.V., Aruba Ports Authority N.V. and ANSA N.V., only to the extent that they travel to or from their workplace and bear a certificate issued by the institution or company card, badge, sticker, statement, or other similar means which evidences their capacity, function and / or reason for their presence outside their residence or accommodation;

c. civil servants and private sector employees who are in continuous or shift work, only to the extent that they must work onsite during said period of time, or move to and from their workplace, and are in the possession of a company issued card, badge, sticker, statement or any other type of document which evidences their capacity, function and / or reason for their presence outside their residence or accommodation;

d. employees of the Department of Public Health appointed by the Director of said Department, employees of the Department of Aviation appointed by the Director of said Department, employees of the Shipping Department appointed by the Director of said Department, and employees of the Department of Social Affairs appointed by the Director of said Department, all for the sole purpose of traveling to and from their workplace and in the possession of a card, badge, sticker or statement issued by the institution or company or any other similar document evidencing their capacity, function or reason for their presence outside their home or residence;

d. ministers;

e. other persons solely for the purpose of a demonstrably urgent reason to or from a medical care center or pharmacy with evening and night shift.

$ 2. Early closing hours for shops and other locations

Article 2

1.

It is forbidden after 8 p.m. to:

a. have shops and other publicly accessible commercial premises or any other premises open to the public,

b. have or grant entrance to persons including personnel in said stores, premises and spaces.

2.

The prohibition, referred to in the first paragraph, is not applicable to hotels and lodgings insofar as their own guests and staff is concerned.

3.

The prohibition, referred to in the first paragraph, does not apply to:

a.      Restaurants, exclusively to the extent that takeaway food and drinks are sold from a thereto designated section of the premises;

b.      Commercial delivery of pre-ordered food and drinks;

c.      Tank stations, exclusively to the extent that there is self-service and the client pays through a thereto designated window counter.

d.      Pharmacies with evening and night shift.

4.

The prohibition, referred to in the first paragraph, does not apply to the premises and buildings of the airport and harbors.

$ 3. General closure of certain locations and spaces

Article 3

It is prohibited to have open or grant access to the public to cinemas, casinos, as well as places or spaces for sports and fitness, as well as buildings, spaces or places for the practice of religious believes.

$ 4. Limited attendance at funerals and cremations

Article 4

It is forbidden to hold or perform funeral or cremation services with more than 10 people present at any given time.

$ 5. Entry restrictions

Article 5

1.

It is forbidden to transport persons to Aruba by airplane.

2. The prohibition, referred to in the first paragraph, does not apply to foreign government officials and other categories of certain persons appointed by the Minister.

3. The prohibition referred to the in the first paragraph does not apply to the crew of an aircraft to the extent that they are operating a flight to and from Aruba.

4. The prohibition, referred to in the first paragraph, does not apply to transit flights and flights that carry persons to other destinations besides Aruba, it being understood that the transiting passengers are not allowed to disembark in Aruba.

Article 6

1.

It is forbidden to transport persons by ship or other vessel from abroad to Aruba.

2. The prohibition, referred to in the first paragraph, does not apply to foreign government officials and other categories of persons appointed by the Minister.

3. The prohibition referred to in the first paragraph does not apply to the crew of the ship or vessel to the extent that they work on the ship or vessel.

Article 7

(….)

Article 8

This ministerial regulation will enter into force on March 21, 2020.

The Minister Ms. E.C. Wever-Croes