Mask mandate comes to an end in T&T
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The mask mandate that was implemented in the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago two years ago officially ends on Sunday.
This means the public can do away with masks while in public spaces, but the mandate still applies to visits to health clinics, dental clinics and hospitals.
Last week, during a press conference, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said individual businesses still have the final say on mask-wearing rules in their establishments.
He also encouraged the use of masks while in settings where the risk of COVID-19 spread is high, saying it is a “common sense approach”.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram also stressed that wearing a mask would be based on an individual’s level of risk in a particular setting.
In response to the lifting of the mask mandate, the president of the Supermarkets Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SATT), Rajiv Diptee advised that the measure is optional for customers entering its stores.
In a recent statement, SATT welcomed the lifting of the mask mandate but urged customers to be mindful of the risk of COVID-19 and wear masks during high traffic periods.
“We urge customers to carry a strong sense of personal responsibility for their own protection as they go about their shopping needs. We would like to remind you to measure your distance, ensure pocket sanitiser is in your possession and be mindful of your neighbour in the aisle and at the register,” the advisory noted.
Meanwhile, the Bankers Association of T&T in a statement on Saturday said it will be up to each bank to decide if they will allow customers into banks with or without masks.
The Association added that members of the public can visit their bank’s website and social media platforms for further details.
It further cautioned customers to continue practising other safety measures such as hand sanitisation.
The mandate to wear masks in public was implemented on August 31, 2020.