NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville said yesterday that the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) made the recommendation to limit the requirement of face masks in certain spaces in resorts, noting that more than 90 percent of visitors to The Bahamas are “fully vaccinated and tested”.
According to the latest Health Services Rules, a person is not required to wear a mask while in a lobby, corridor or casino of a hotel or while in an outdoor setting where there are at least three feet of space between persons who are not of the same household.
Darville was asked whether the removal of the mask-wearing policy was a case study before the mask requirement would fall away in other settings for the general public.
“Not really,” he told Eyewitness News.
“[Ninety]-plus percent of visitors entering the country are fully vaccinated and tested.”
He continued: “The EOC made the recommendations and yes we will be monitoring and watching the COVID-19 cases.”
It remains unclear if and when the mask wearing requirement will be removed in other spaces, such as business establishments.
Individuals found in contravention of the rules can still be liable to a fine of $250, one month imprisonment or both.
Asked whether it could be a while before the wider public can go without masks given the relatively low vaccination coverage, Darville sidestepped the question.
Instead, the minister said the government must “focus on vaccinations”.
In response to the changes, Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association President Robert ‘Sandy’ Sands said the move aptly illustrates the government’s commitment to continuing to “enable the full and sustained recovery of our tourism economy.
“As competing, destinations and key source markets shed their respective COVID-related restrictions as rates of infection continue to fall, we fully appreciate the government’s efforts to ensure we are on the cutting edge as it pertains to removing impediments to travel; while maintaining the safety of our citizenry, residents and visitors,” he said.
The Bahamas continues to record low, single-digit cases.
There were just four new infections on Saturday.
A total of 101 cases remain active in the nation.
During the Office of the Prime Minister briefing last Friday, OPM Press Secretary Clint Watson said health officials advised that it was important for the public to continue wearing facial masks to mitigate the virus, especially as the government eases restrictions.
At the time, Watson, who was responding to a question from Eyewitness News said this policy could change.
“The government meets; and of course, you know the emergency operations committee meet regularly to determine whether there should be a loosening of certain protocols or what those protocols are and so nothing is etched in stone.
“Today, there may be a mask mandate.
“Next month, there may not.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday it was relaxing its mask guidance for communities considered to be low or medium risk.
As a part of the change, the CDC also dropped its recommendation for universal school mask wearing and instead recommended masking in communities at a high level of risk.
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