FOLLOWING the mandate set out by the Ministry of Public Health and the Region 10 Regional Health Emergency Committee, many restaurants in the mining town of Linden have ceased dine-in services but in its bid to continue serving the public, have implemented delivery and take out services. Some of the restaurants that have implemented this are Tropical Reflection, Kingdom Style, Bamboo Rhythm and Church’s Restaurant.

Church’s Restaurant has outsourced the delivery service which reaches Amelia’s Ward, Wismar and Mackenzie communities. The delivery price is even lower than regular taxi fares to these various communities.

Tropical Reflection, which is located in Mackenzie, has also ceased all dine-in services and has made available free delivery services in Central Mackenzie. “We are only doing take-out right now, following protocol of the Ministry of Health to encourage social distancing and we are now offering a delivery service,” one manager said. The restaurant has also installed a sink in its compound, to encourage hand washing from both staff and customers. The Linden Fire Station was also recruited to wash down not only their premises but that of other business places at the popular ‘Five-Corner’ location.

Kingdom Style Entertainment, which is located in Amelia’s Ward, has also implemented measures to tackle the spread of COVID-19. General Manager, Michael Bonds, said that the restaurant has taken the step to scale down significantly, its staff rotation and is only allowing about two staff per day in the restaurant. While dine-in services are still allowed, it is only for couples at a given time. He said several other measures have been taken to ensure the surroundings are sanitised and customers and staff are safe.

In addition, restaurants are implementing the stipulation of the mandatory curfew, to close their business by 18:00hrs. Other businesses are continuing to adhere to the mandatory curfew as well as citizens. This stipulates that all business should be closed at 18:00hrs, except for supermarkets and pharmacies, which are to be closed at 19:00hrs. Citizens are to be indoors by 20:00hrs.

Regional Officials and the police have been commending residents and the business community for adhering and cooperating, particularly with the police.
Residents however, have been calling on the officials to close the borders of town, not allowing neither ingress nor egress, especially since the rapid increase in persons that have been tested positive for the coronavirus in Region Four. Taxis and buses continue to ply the Linden to Georgetown route, while goods continue to be transported into the region daily. Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell, said to implement such a move will cause for dialogue and permission on a national level, since Region 10 is the gateway to several other regions.
The Health Committee continues to make strides in keeping citizens informed about the global pandemic and for them to practise social distancing and cleanliness. On Sunday, the Linden Mayor and Town Council, in collaboration with the Linden Fire Station, washed the main thoroughfare in Mackenzie, the municipal bus and car parks and the market. Arrindell said this will be followed by the washing down of cross streets in Mackenzie, Burnham Drive and the Wismar Municipal Market, as soon as funds are made available.