By Prior Beharry
IN early October once a sufficient number of people get vaccinated, bars, cinemas, casinos, gyms and in-house dining will resume in Trinidad and Tobago.
This was the announcement of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at a press conference in Tobago on Friday.
He said the intention was to open back these businesses but he said he was looking at the number of Covid-19 cases and the vaccination rate.
The prime minister said in four weeks, if projections remain on course and the vaccination rate increased certain aspects of businesses could become “safe zones” as vaccinated people would be able to patronise gyms, cinemas, casinos and bars.
Dr Rowley also noted that places of worship will be opened from Monday and asked religious leaders to encouraged their congregation to get vaccinated. He said services should be only one-hour long.
He also announced that 50,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be made available to the wider public. That vaccine is currently being used for children over 12 years, frontline workers and teachers.
Dr Rowley noted a high level of vaccine hesitancy in Tobago saying that its eligible population of 45,000 could have been fully vaccinated by now and that the island could have been marketed as a safe zone.
He said spikes in Covid-19 were associated to the opening of beaches and it was unfair for Tobagonians to demand that beaches open when they were not operating at a level to show cooperation in getting the vaccine.
Dr Rowley said the sea bridge will now be allowed to operate at 75% capacity from 50% and that discussions were ongoing with Caribbean Airlines to increase flights to Tobago.
