Friday, Civil Protection held a press conference at the Prime Minister's residence on the behaviors to be adopted during the solar eclipse announced for Monday, August 21, 2017.

"At the level of the Government arrangements have been made to accompany the population," said Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant stating, "The interdiction brings attraction. Do not be tempted by the desire to watch the sun. Sunglasses can not protect your eyes from infrared intensity and infraviolet at the time of the eclipse," adding that Monday, August 21, 2017 was not a day off, but caution was up and it was better to follow the eclipse on TNH which will rebroadcast it.

The Directorate of Civil Protection announced that its brigadiers will go door-to-door to raise awareness and the town halls will also mobilize their teams.

The United States Aerospace Agency (NASA) says that this solar eclipse will be seen by about 300 million people. The whole continent of the Americas according to their geographical positions, will see the total or partial eclipse, which will last in total between 2 and 3 hours. The total eclipse can be observed for 2 minutes and 40 seconds.

In Haiti the eclipse will not be total, but at 75%. It will start at 1h59 p.m. and reach its maximum at 3h25 p.m. and end at 4h40 p.m

Observation Schedule of phenomenon for different cities in Haiti :

• Port-au-Prince the eclipse will begin to 1:59:23 p.m. and will reach its maximum to 3:25:17 p.m. to end to 4:40:23 p.m ;

• Port-de-Paix the eclipse will begin to 1:55:23 p.m. and will reach its maximum to 3:22:14 p.m. to end to 4:38:19 p.m ;

• Jérémie the eclipse will begin to 1:55:34 p.m. and will reach its maximum to 3:22:11 p.m. to end to 4:38:06 p.m

• Gonaïves the eclipse will begin to 1:56:37 p.m. and will reach its maximum to 3:23:14 p.m. to end to 4:38:58 p.m ;

• Cap-Haïtien the eclipse will begin to 1:56:56 p.m. and will reach its maximum to 3:23:30 p.m. to end to 4:39:10 p.m ;

• Cayes the eclipse will begin to 1:57:12 p.m. and will reach its maximum to 3:23:25 p.m. to end to 4:38:55 p.m

• Miragoâne the eclipse will begin to 1:58:11 p.m. and will reach its maximum to 3:24:16 p.m. to end to 4:38:33 p.m

• Hinche the eclipse will begin to 1:58:36 p.m. and will reach its maximum to 3:24:46 p.m. to end to 4:40:04 p.m

• Jacmel the eclipse will begin to 1:59:35 p.m. and will reach its maximum to 3:25:25 p.m. to end to 4:40:25 p.m

Precautionary measures to be taken :

It is necessary to take precautions, the sun never having to be seen directly with the naked eye, the observation of an eclipse of the sun can cause severe and irreversible eye damage it takes only a few minutes to cause irreversible damage to the eye, although it may take a few hours before it occurs on the person. Note that the eyes of children under the age of 12 because of a still very transparent lens have eyes much more sensitive than those of adults which multiplies the risk of serious lesions.

Special glasses are required to stop 100% of ultraviolet and infrared rays. If you kept glasses dating from the last eclipse especially do not reuse them. They are for single use because the rays damage their coating.

Sun glasses do not offer adequate protection and should not be used. Do not use alternative eye protection such as: blackened glass, X-ray films, a CD or other optical instruments without special filters, that will not protect your eyes because they are ineffective.

Even equipped with special eclipse glasses, take breaks between the observation phases to allow your eyes to rest. Children should not be left unattended while observing the phenomenon.

The Digital Observatory in Haiti expresses its deep concern about the urgent need to sensitize rural populations, especially in the remotest parts of the country. It considers that the relevant State bodies and CONATEL should intervene with mobile operators in order to ensure that appropriate awareness messages are sent on all networks.

S/ HaitiLibre