Mixed views on safe zones

Reactions to the Government’s proposed COVID-19 safe zones appear mixed but few appeared opposed outright to the latest attempt to control the pandemic’s latest and deadliest surge.

Supporting the measure, Lawrence Moore told Barbados TODAY: “I believe it is a wonderful idea because everyone has to protect themselves and their families. For me, if I am vaccinated, I would want someone working with me to be vaccinated as well. This is the route to go.”

A man who identified himself as Davis said: “I get vaccinated so I don’t feel that I should be at risk with people that decide that they don’t want to take the vaccine, they have a choice so I have the choice not to be around them.”

But Davis said that he doesn’t support mandatory vaccination.

“It’s a matter of choice; [it] is still up to you, you decide if you want it or not,” he said.

One woman who wished to remain anonymous but identified her as unvaccinated said she wasn’t fazed by the move.

“It makes sense to me because you have to think about the people that are not vaccinated, so if they don’t want to get vaccinated they would just stay indoors,” she said.

Although she told Barbados TODAY she is not ready to take the vaccine, she said that if it becomes a requirement, she will have no choice.

“And if it gets to point where you cannot go to the supermarket, do activities or go outdoors then you would have do the necessary things, but I am not opposed to it [ vaccine] but when I am ready I will get vaccinated but I’m not ready as yet.”

Businessman Angus said he believes that the safe zones will spark some more commercial activity.

He said: “I think it will give other sectors a chance to get some business and allow people to free up themselves a little and go into an environment that they feel comfortable in.”

Meantime a healthcare worker who asked not to be identified said the move did not come as a surprise to her.

“I had expected something of this sort to be announced. I never expected the Prime minister to mandate vaccines for everyone, but I certainly expected that they would be certain categories of persons based on where they were working to become vaccinated.”  kobiebroomes@barbadostoday.bb