By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

GIVEN the continued decline in COVID-19 numbers, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper says he expects a further ease to virus restrictions in the weeks ahead.

According to Mr Cooper, a meeting was expected to be held on the issue in Cabinet yesterday. While he was unable to say which measures are being considered for removal, Mr Cooper said the government is seeking to strike an economic and health balance.

This comes as some countries are doing away with restrictive measures, including social distancing guidelines and mask mandates.

“I think first of all, we acknowledge that there has been a significant level of COVID fatigue,” Mr Cooper said before going to a Cabinet meeting yesterday.

“People are very tired of wearing masks and we’re seeing a (reduction) of the protocols around the world. We are consistently looking at our protocols here in The Bahamas. We’re going to have ongoing discussion along with the Ministry of Health in relation to all of the protocols. We’re meeting in Cabinet today and this will be a subject for discussion.

“Where we go next will be really determined by the balance we’ve been trying to strike all along between the economy and tourism and public health and safety. I anticipate over the course of the next several weeks that you will consistently see a reduction of the COVID protocols, and this is going to be very positive for tourism. It’s going to be easier for persons to move about and go about their normal way of living and I think by and large, tourists in our source markets — particularly in the United States — are ready to move on.”

 Asked yesterday if the government was considering lifting current mask mandates, Mr Cooper said it’s a matter that was still under discussion.

 “Well, the mask mandate has always been a point of discussion. We’ve discussed it before. The Ministry of Health is looking at it closely and we are going to be monitoring it. That’s all I can say at this point. It is up for discussion and we’ll make formal announcements in due course,” he said.

 As of Sunday, there were 133 active COVID cases in the country, with five people in hospital with the virus.

 In view of low COVID numbers, Mr Cooper said many hotels are petitioning for the government to further scale back measures.

 “Hotels are generally fatigued by the protocols,” he said. “They listen to their customers. Their customers are saying enough and most of them are coming from the States and generally speaking, they want to see the back of the protocols quite frankly, the elimination of masks and making it easier to travel. They have gone as far as recommending no testing at the border, but, again you know, we have an interest and obligation to the Bahamian people and the stakeholders. Therefore, we are going to strike a balance and we are going to do what’s best for the industry and the people.”

 As it relates to the future of the travel health visa, Mr Cooper said: “It serves the purpose really of monitoring COVID and being able to contact trace, etc, and if there’s no need for it, there’s no need for it and so we will be monitoring it closely and we’re not going to be precipitous in the actions that we take recognising that it’s difficult to restart it if we eliminate it, but suffice to say that it’s always under active consideration. As for a specific date, I can’t tell you that at the moment. We’re monitoring trends and I want you to know there’s an appetite to see the end of it.”