Government lifts mask mandate from today

The mask mandate has been lifted.

From Friday, the wearing of masks will be optional except in schools, in healthcare facilities, in penal institutions, and on public transportation where they will still be required.

Additionally, all COVID-19 travel restrictions have been removed.

Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw made the announcement during a COVID-19 update press conference at Ilaro Court on Thursday, following a meeting of Cabinet at which the decision was made.

“The wearing of masks generally will now be optional. However, mask wearing remains mandatory for persons in nursing homes, private hospitals, and senior citizens’ homes; persons in healthcare institutions including staff, visitors, clients, and patients; all institutions where medical and dental services are provided; persons in prison including staff, prisoners and visitors; staff and students at all educational institutions; all nurseries and daycare facilities for both children and adults and, of course, persons who have COVID-19 as well as persons who are travelling on public transportation,” Bradshaw said.

She added that COVID-19 travel protocols will also be removed.

“Conscious of the direction in which the rest of the world is going, effective tomorrow, [Friday], we will also discontinue all COVID-19-related travel protocols for Barbados. This means that we will be joining 95 per cent of the countries in the Western Hemisphere [that] preceded Barbados in going in that direction. There will, therefore, be no testing requirements for entering Barbados whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated,” the Acting Prime Minister said.

Despite the lifting of these COVID restrictions, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Dale Marshall stressed that the island was still under a State of Emergency, and the Government could therefore reintroduce the protocols if needed.

“The State of Emergency still continues. Parliament, when it last met earlier this month, agreed to extend the State of Emergency until the 21st of December….

“That gives us a legal and regulatory framework to make adjustments. We have been adjusting downwards in terms of the level of restrictions on Barbadians but if necessary, all of the legal powers that were here from March of 2020, those are still available to us,” Marshall said. (SB)