Health minister supports Taste of Carnival events but urges caution

THERE will always be risks to re-opening any part of any economy anywhere in the world amid the covid19 pandemic.

But these are risks that TT and the rest of the world must confront as they chart a course towards a post-covid19 future.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh made this point at the virtual health news conference on Saturday while expressing confidence that effective safeguards are in place to prevent any infection or transmission of covid19 at any of the Taste of Carnival events.

"We are in full support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts to start to reopen the entertainment sector as carefully as possible as they are doing." Deyalsingh said, "Whatever risks, they are will be mitigated by the fact that patrons coming into these events are going to be fully vaccinated."

He reiterated that since last year, the government has been emphasising that the response to combating covid19 has shifted from government action and intervention to personal responsibility, vaccination and adherence to public health protocols.

Deyalsingh could not say whether the success of Taste of Carnival could lead to a resumption of other large scale public entertainment events. "Let's wait until we reach that bridge. I can't predict what the future will bring at this point time." He said, "We are taking very brave measures to open up as many sectors in society as possible, especially to those (people) who are vaccinated."

Asked for an update on public sector covid19 safe zones, Deyalsingh said that matter remains in Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi's hands.

Last December, the Prime Minister said public sector workers who chose not to be vaccinated against covid19, for non-medical reasons, would be furloughed when the covid19 public sector safe zone initiative become effective, On January, 15, Dr Rowley announced that public sector workers would be given until February 17, to become fully vaccinated and Al-Rawi was still working on the public sector safe zone legislation.

Deyalsingh also said cinemas, which have been designated as covid19 safe zones, have been very flexible when it came to dealing with children under 12 years, who do not have any identification cards, being allowed to see movies. A vaccination card and a legitimate form of national id are required to enter covid19 safe zones. He reiterated that anyone with information about fake vaccination cards should report it to the police.

Deyalsingh said government continues to monitor regional and international developments where other countries are lifting covid19 restrictions. This was not a race as to which country opens up first or fastest. He added that government will make decisions regarding covid19 restrictions in TT based on the best information which is available to it.

On February 3, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announced the lifting of covid19 restrictions in that country. There is now no limit on how many people can gather at restaurants, sports stadiums, and other events in Sweden. Travel restrictions between Sweden to other Nordic countries such as Denmark and Norway, which have also eased covid19 restrictions in their jurisdictions, have also been eased.

Andersson said, "The pandemic is not over, but we are headed into a new phase.”

While he could not comment about the ongoing police investigation into a woman who first brought the omicron covid19 variant into TT last December, Deyalsingh said she had been released from quarantine for some time now. He also said work is ongoing between the Health and Digital Transformation Ministries on an initiative to develop quick response codes that allow people to access their vaccination records on their cellphones.