By Sue-Ann Wayow
HEALTH Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says he will not bow to public pressure where the mandatory mask-wearing to prevent Covid-19 is concerned.
On Wednesday, the minister said while it was understandable that people may want that measure to be removed, out of an abundance of caution, it will remain in place until at least the end of July.
Deyalsingh was asked about the removal of the mask-wearing mandate during the Ministry of Health’s virtual media conference.
In his conversations with the public daily, he said, that was also a question he has been asked on a daily basis.
Deyalsingh said the removal of the mask mandate will be discussed with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and an announcement will be made by him or with his authorisation.
He said, “The last thing you want, is a Minister of Health recommending to do something because of public pressure and to be popular and because a question is asked in a press conference. When you do and you give in to public pressure, and then you have to reintroduce the mandate as other countries have had to do, you find that the public loses all faith in the government. They lose all faith in the measures because they don’t like the yo-yoing of positions.”
Deyalsingh added, “At this stage in the pandemic, for the public to really have faith in our response, the last thing you want to do is to make a popular decision because of public pressure and then three weeks later, you have to reverse that.”
Government has been operating cautiously but bravely and the discontinuation of the TTravel Pass system effective from Wednesday was another brave step, he said.
Deyalsingh said the evidence until the end of July will be monitored and as soon as there was comfort that the masks could be removed in certain settings, the recommendations will be made to the Prime Minister.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram also explained that the Omicron variant of the virus was the most transmissible variant observed to date as there was significant evidence that shows the virus is transmitted by both respiratory droplets and aerosolization.
“From an evidential scientific perspective, going back to basic principles, it is important that masking be maintained to decrease the likelihood of spread at the population level at this point in time,” Dr Parasram said.
He said in other countries, the mask mandate was removed and reintroduced weeks and months later based on the increase in cases.
With the removal of most restrictions in early April and the re-opening of physical schools on April 19, there was an increased movement which was reflected in increased positive Covid-19 cases, Dr Parasram said.
Now, there was a plateauing of cases with a slightly downward trend “which was very good sign” the CMO added.
He said, “To remove the masking mandate at this point would be contrary to the evidence we have before us.”
