By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE wearing of masks will no longer be law in Trinidad and Tobago come July 17.
This was announced by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh on Wednesday during the Ministry of Health’s virtual media conference.
“All things being equal and barring any unforeseen circumstances, from Sunday 17th July, the masking mandate will be lifted,” he said.
However, the mask mandate will still be required while attending all healthcare facilities including hospitals and clinics.
The thrust would be now for citizens to practice personal responsibility.
He also said that risk-based recommendations were being made for four groups of persons to wear masks in certain settings.
These include:
- The unvaccinated:
- The immuno-compromised:
- The elderly; and
- Pregnant women.
Also, should members of such groups choose not to wear a mask, Deyalsingh said, “There will be no penalty for not wearing a mask,” adding that it has served its useful purpose.
He advised that in closely crowded places such as public transportation, persons still wear masks as an added precaution.
Deyalsingh also said with reference to the mask-wearing in the workplace, that arrangement would be between employer and employee.
“The decision was made based on hospitalisation rate,” Deyalsingh said as hospitals become more manageable with the decreasing number of cases requiring public healthcare.
Full details and guidelines should be expected to be issued soon he said.
With 49% of the population still not vaccinated against Covid-19 and the pending dropping of the mask mandate, Deyalsingh said, “You are really putting yourself in jeopardy by not being vaccinated.”
He continued to advocate for the administering of the vaccine including additional shots.
“The best protection now especially without a mask is to get vaccinated,” the minister said.
