NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday suggested that once all individuals are vaccinated against COVID-19, there will no longer be a need for restrictive protocols such as limited dining at restaurants, wearing masks or socializing.
Minnis was responding in Parliament to a question from House Speaker Halson Moultrie over the first COVID-19 vaccine guidelines announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In its new guidelines on Monday, the CDC said individuals who have been fully vaccinated can do “some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic”, related to quarantine and social gatherings, including gathering without a mask with other vaccinated individuals.
However, it maintained that precautions should be followed in public places even after full vaccination, including wearing a mask in public; staying six feet apart from others; and avoiding crowds, poorly ventilated spaces and medium to large gatherings.
The prime minister yesterday noted that the study is ongoing and health officials worldwide are still looking at the way forward.
“The recommendation is once all individuals are vaccinated, for example, if all of us here in Cabinet and Parliament have been vaccinated, then we can behave normally. No mask, no social distancing, nothing; we’re normal, provided all of us are [vaccinated],” Minnis said.
“In terms of restaurants, once there is evidence that all have been vaccinated, then they don’t need any mask; they can socialize. There is no social distancing. They can laugh, they can dance, they can do whatever.”
The Bahamas received its first 20,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines — which were a donation from the government of India — on Wednesday.
The country is expected to receive 33,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine before the end of March from WHO/PAHO.
Those doses are part of the 100,000 doses secured through The Bahamas’ pre-payment to the COVAX facility, which were expected to arrive by the end of last month.
The remaining doses through COVAX are expected to arrive in the country by the end of May 2021.
Director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme Dr Nikkiah Forbes has told Eyewitness News that she expects local coronavirus measures to soon reflect the level of “flexibility” offered by the CDC’s new guidelines.
The government has announced legislation is being drafted to do away with the emergency orders and legislate certain health restrictions and provisions.
The government has repeatedly said vaccination will be voluntary.
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