ROSEAU, Dominica– Dominica is exploring the possibility of removing the mandatory wearing of masks to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has killed 68 people and infected 14 852 since the first case was detected in March 2020.
Health Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre said that the authorities are examining the data, locally and internationally, before making a decision.
Several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have, in the past few months, implemented measures to stop the spread of the virus that has killed and infected thousands of people in the region. Last weekend, the Trinidad and Tobago government said it would decide on mandatory mask-wearing by mid-July.
“We have been looking at the data both locally and internationally, and we are moving in the direction that very soon we shall be removing the mask mandate in the open spaces,” Dr. McIntyre said, adding, “as for closed spaces, we might have to keep it still.
“But as for open spaces, spaces that are not shared, not a closed environment and the risk is not as much…(such) as on the roads, the savannah, people just walking. There is no scientific evidence that, at this point, you should be wearing a mask in open spaces regarding infection control and the spread of the virus.
“We are looking into this; many countries, regionally and internationally, have looked into it already, and we are just in that process as well,” said the Health Minister, urging people to vaccinate against the virus.
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