Govt relaxes restrictions as COVID-19 cases trend down

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Tribune Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

SEVERAL COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed yesterday, signalling a closer return to normal for the country as virus cases continue to trend downward.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis announced the changes as he underscored his administration’s commitment to reopening the economy that was nearly crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Press secretary Clint Watson confirmed to The Tribune the new rules took effect yesterday.

While the government had previously announced it had reduced testing requirements for visitors — ending the day five post-travel antigen test requirement and replacing it with a departure test only - Mr Davis said cruise ships now no longer need to present a passenger and crew manifest disclosing vaccination status.

He also said residential care establishments are now able to set their own parameters for visitors and salons and barber shops and spas will now be allowed to operate at 50 percent of seating capacity.

Restrictions on recitals, regattas, in-person conferences, seminars, workshops, and drive-through cookouts have also been relaxed.

Mr Davis said these events will not require submissions for review and approval by the Advisory Committee and restrictions surrounding large events also will be eased.

He said the Ministry of Health was expected to provide more comprehensive details regarding the loosening of restrictions.

The Prime Minister said his administration had taken a different approach to navigating the pandemic when compared with the previous Minnis administration. He pointed to the removal of the curfew, ending Emergency Powers Orders and opening schools among other changes since his administration was elected to government last September.

“Our administration has taken a very different approach than the previous one,” he said in Parliament. “We immediately ended the curfew, because the data to justify it just didn’t exist. Businesses were able to open for longer hours – this had a significant impact for certain sectors of our economy, as well as restoring important civil liberties to our people.

“And, by ending the Emergency Orders and using regular legislation, we brought the decision-making back to a deliberative, representative body, instead of having all that power reside with a single individual. We have conducted tens of thousands of free COVID tests and we are distributing medical grade masks; both of these are important tools in limiting COVID transmissions.

“We hired more nurses to help us prepare for (the) crisis. By rationalising the travel sector requirements, and eliminating the travel health visa for Bahamians, obstacles to international and domestic tourism were removed.

“By working closely with health professionals and relying on scientific advice, we have been able to safely re-open schools. And by maximising all available resources to repair and refurbish those school buildings which had fallen into a terrible state, we were able to open schools without delay.”

He also said: “Our hotels are filling up. Our businesses are open. Many Bahamians are back at work and our children are back in school.

“This is progress, and indeed our economy has already begun to show promising signs of revival. We are proud that our country has made such significant progress over the last few months despite the Delta and Omicron variants, and we are grateful to the thousands of Bahamians who worked hard to get our country back on track again,” Mr Davis said.

Comments

DDK says...

Does this lovely photo of smiling faces mean forced mask wearing is finally over? I don't see any masks, medical grade or otherwise!

Posted 10 March 2022, 3:11 p.m. Suggest removal

tribanon says...

And to think they want us to thank them for restoring our constitutionally guaranteed civil rights, liberties and freedoms that should have never been taken away from us to begin with.

Our entire economy was needlessly destroyed by the previous lot led by tyrannical Minnis and this new lot are absolutely clueless what to do to about our country's perilous financial condition in the face of supply chain issues, exorbitant fuel and gasoline costs, and the effects of rampant and soaring inflation across the board, especially on food costs. It seems Davis would rather talk about what Minnis did instead of telling us how 'his' government intends to address these most pressing issues.

Posted 10 March 2022, 3:47 p.m. Suggest removal

baclarke says...

Now, i'm not the biggest fan of this administration, but I do know that they were the better choice over the last administration and their clueless leader. However, this administration can do almost nothing about any of those things you mentioned since we produce almost none of those things and must import almost all of it. Sure we can try to source from different places, but if everywhere is being hit with the same issues at the same time and is seeing massive inflation, what do you think is the way out of it? We are going to have to ride that wave like everyone else, and hopefully learn to produce at least a bit more food while we ride it.

Posted 10 March 2022, 4:11 p.m. Suggest removal

tribanon says...

To sit back, throw your hands up in the air and say, "I can't do anything about this because it's not of my making," is about the surest way to suffer greater economic harm than you might have otherwise suffered had you taken steps to mitigate the harm headed your way. Governing is not just about the easy governing in good times or times of plenty, but also about the much more challenging governing for the better in the worst of times.

Posted 10 March 2022, 5:01 p.m. Suggest removal

carltonr61 says...

https://m.theepochtimes.com/united-airl…

Unvaccinated allowed to return to work that threat has receeded.

Posted 10 March 2022, 4:54 p.m. Suggest removal

carltonr61 says...

Brave is on the right path.

Posted 10 March 2022, 4:55 p.m. Suggest removal

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