MoH: Business owners can refuse customers without masks

FILE PHOTO: Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh was pleased to see a sign that refuses entry without mask, while doing visits to food businesses in Port of Spain on May 12. - JEFF K MAYERS
FILE PHOTO: Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh was pleased to see a sign that refuses entry without mask, while doing visits to food businesses in Port of Spain on May 12. - JEFF K MAYERS

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said business owners, including store owners and fast food restaurants, have the right to refuse service to people without masks. He said that was built into the law.

He said the habit of wearing of masks within the population can be reinforced with the assistance of the private and public sectors through strong policies and strong moral suasion. He said Government could not legislate everything into law and lock people up for not physically distancing or washing hands, for example. He said, however, the Attorney General is exploring legislation for wearing masks in public.

Deyalsingh said there were some people who could not wear masks because of chronic conditions such as asthma. He said it was important for those who could wear masks do so in order to protect those who could not.

CMO Dr Roshan Parasram said people with asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases should communicate with their doctor to see if they could wear masks. He said they could possibly get a letter from their doctor exempting them from wearing the mask. He also said, if possible, they should get someone else to do their shopping for them or explore using delivery and pickup apps.

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"MoH: Business owners can refuse customers without masks"

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