By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Abaco’s Chamber of Commerce president yesterday backed the Prime Minister's decision to extend the island's curfew via an 8pm start due to a recent spike in the island's COVID-19 cases.

Ken Hutton said he wants to “err on the side of caution” as Dr Hubert Minnis announced that the island's curfew will now start two hours earlier with effect from Sunday in response to the increase.

"We have survived this entire COVID pandemic because of strict rules we have introduced on each given island, and we tried to minimise the spread to all the other islands," Dr Minnis said.

“I understand that Abaco is experiencing a slight increase and that concerns us. The medical team has already mobilised and made all the necessary adjustments, and their recommendation is that at this particular point in time Abaco’s curfew should be readjusted from 8pm to 5am.”

The Prime Minister added that the increase in cases appears to be concentrated on Marsh Harbour, and the northern and central parts of Abaco are not affected.

In response, Mr Hutton said how Abaconians will react to the imposition of an earlier curfew will “depend” on how much tighter COVID-19 restrictions become.

Mr Hutton also said: “In terms of locking down from 8pm as opposed to 10pm on the mainland, it’s disappointing. However, we do see that the cases have begun a slight uptick. So at this point I would prefer to err on the side of caution with the Prime Minister.”