On April 8, Gov. Wanda Vazquez issued Executive Order 2020-032 to close all businesses during the weekend of April 10-12, 2020. This document amends Executive Order 2020-029 which establishes that supermarkets must remain closed to the public. The Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce (PRCC) warned of the danger of closing stores for three consecutive days, leaving the population without food. The regulation is already in effect.

The purpose is to “establish specific closing rules for April 10, 11, and 12”. The new rule states that on those dates “all shops will remain closed to the public.” It also clarifies that supermarkets may only carry out operations related to cleaning, disinfection and the handling of goods and states that finished food establishments may only operate with a “carry out” service or delivery.

The document explains that during the next few days, the resumption of “some commercial activities” will be analyzed and that this will be “notified in due course in order to take the necessary safety measures”. Accordingly, the CCPR has warned of the consequences that closing shops may have, leaving the population without access to buying food. In addition, they warned this could lead to crowds of customers panic buying right before closure and after opening again, “promoting contagion and problems”.