Friday at a press conference, less than 24 hours after the confirmation of the first two cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30310-haiti-flash-2-cases-of-covid-19-confirmed-in-the-country.html , Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe in the presence of Marie Greta Roy Clément Minister of Public Health gave an update on measures adopted by the Government in response to the Covid-19 pandemic

Jouthe recalled that all measures are taken to protect the population as much as possible, which he has encouraged to keep calm, limit travel, comply with hygienic instructions and prioritize reliable information.

He explained that the amounts allocated to certain projects will be decommissioned in order to allow the State to have the financial means necessary to assist the population and the hospitals. Adding that other financial sources have been identified in order to better cope with the emergency.

In addition, the Head of Government, insisted on the urgent strengthening of social assistance programs and announced the continuity of the activities of the Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) which will be reinforced by the distribution of food kits.

Regarding the care of patients of Covid-19, Jouthe affirms that 3 centers are open, respectively in Les Cayes, in Gonaïves and in Cap-Haitien to welcome the infected people and that he had instructed Lucmane Delile the Minister of Justice and Public Security to take measures to prevent these spaces from being the target of possible attacks...

Regarding the closure of ports and airports, the Prime Minister recalled that this measure did not concern aircraft and ships carrying goods. For the assembly industries, he clarified that the closure announced by President Moïse he clarified that it only concerns textile factories.

Others, however, said that the government was currently working on a special plan to alleviate the plight of workers.

Finally he confirmed having passed instructions to Michel Patrick Boivert the Minister of Economy and Finance in order to make the advance payment of the salaries of the employees of the public service for the month of March.

HL/ HaitiLibre