Within recent weeks, many countries around the world and even some of our neighbouring Caribbean islands have signalled their intent to “live with COVID-19”.
Many have dropped or modified their travel protocols while others have ditched all COVID-19 restrictions they would have implemented over the last two or more years.
Internationally, Britain days ago announced that all remaining COVID-19 travel measures will be scrapped. It means that passengers who are not fully vaccinated will no longer have to take COVID tests before and after travelling to the UK. The passenger locator form will no longer be necessary either. A BBC report stated that Scotland and Wales have agreed to follow England in scrapping the remaining COVID-19 border measures.
Over in New Zealand, where restrictions were at their tightest in the past two years, there are plans to reopen the borders to international travellers.
Australians will be allowed to enter the country without needing to quarantine or isolate from April 13. Fully-vaccinated travellers from about 60 countries on a visa-waiver list will be able to arrive from May 2 although all arrivals will have to show a negative COVID test. People from outside the visa waiver list will be eligible to enter the country from May 1.
On Thursday, the Italian government announced plans to phase out its own restrictions by May 1.
Apart from significant changes to travel which will benefit the airline and cruise sectors, some territories have seemingly made an about-turn as it relates to the unvaccinated in their societies.
France lifted most COVID-19 restrictions on Monday, abolishing the need to wear face masks in most settings and allowing people who aren’t vaccinated back into restaurants, sports arenas and other venues. The French aren’t required anymore to show proof of vaccination to enter places like restaurants and bars, cinemas, theatres, fairs, and to use interregional transport, albeit those changes coming less than a month before the first round of the presidential election scheduled for April 10.
At the end of February, New York City, the first US metropolis to require vaccinations for persons at indoor public facilities, lifted its mandate for indoor businesses, dining and events. New York City first announced the mandate in August, requiring patrons to show proof of vaccination. That requirement applied to restaurants, bars, nightclubs, coffee shops, fast food eateries, indoor fitness locations, movie theatres, music and concert venues, museums, sports arenas and stadiums, theatres and billiard halls, among other places. Every New Yorker is now free to enjoy their city without fear or favour.
One of the major casualties and national talking points about the New York mandate is NBA superstar Kyrie Irving who plays for the Brooklyn Nets.
Irving, who refused to take the vaccine, was not allowed to play, practise or enter the facility in New York where his team is based, because of the mandate. He could only play in games away in other states, and as a result, he lost about $10 million in salary. Yet he still would not take the jab.
On Sunday, the Black player, who is of native Indian heritage, was a spectator at a game between the New York Knicks and the Nets, given the lift in the ban against the unvaccinated. However, he still can’t play in New York since the city’s private sector mandate is still in effect. Maybe, someone somewhere believes he adds more value to the city as a spectator than a player.
Closer home, our neighbour St Vincent and the Grenadines, which was adamant last year that all public sector workers be vaccinated, allowed some unvaccinated permanent sanitation workers to return to work, after being off the job for three months as a result of the government’s COVID-19 vaccine policy. The move to include the unvaccinated is heartening, given the bloody divide the issue caused in St Vincent and across the world.
On Wednesday, Antigua and Barbuda dropped their mask-wearing mandate and are now allowing unvaccinated citizens to come home. On Thursday, Jamaica announced that all COVID-19 measures will be dropped on Friday.
Here in Barbados, there has been much talk about the mask-less Brits attending the Test Match at Kensington Oval. Our country’s protocols state clearly that mask-wearing in public spaces is mandatory. Yet, this is the second occasion that the Barmy Army has descended and ignored our COVID-19 measures. It is then understandable why the average Bajan and the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners are speaking out in condemnation.
The Barbados Cricket Association urged all who are attending the games to comply. But given what is happening globally and even regionally, it may just be a matter of time before the Ministry of Health decides to do away with mask-wearing and other measures.
While we profess to “follow the science” it is no secret that each country has to get on with the business of rebuilding lives and restoring economies. We cannot pretend that tourism is an option. We all know it is the most vital sector for most countries in our region.
Ironically, in recent times, no tourist has been brought before the law courts for breach of the protocols. The authorities have to be wary of the mixed messages.
Sooner rather than later, some tough decisions will have to be made. We cannot have Bajans, for the most part, complying with the COVID-19 protocols while allowing cricket fans at Kensington, tourists gathered at Oistins Fish Market, and visitors shopping at Limegrove Lifestyle Centre
to continually flout our laws.
Hopefully, this situation will come to a head in time for the expected thousands who will come to our shores for the summer period. Or, it might simply be a case of when money talks, protocols walk.
