ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – The Antigua and Barbuda government says it will revoke the liquor licenses of bars that fail to adhere to the protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as it announced plans to have bar and clubs re-open on Wednesday next week.
After the weekly Cabinet meeting, a statement noted that the re-opening is taking place after the bars and clubs assured the Ministry of Health, the Chief Health Inspector, and other enforcement agencies that “all the protocols agreed-to are in place and obeyed.”
The statement said that several meetings had been held with the owners of the bars, and they have put forward acceptable arrangements, the basis of which provides them the opportunity to open.
“The owners and their employees have all been vaccinated; patrons must obey the protocols… Those bars found to violate the rules will have their liquor licenses revoked and will be compelled to shut down for long periods,” the government warned.
It said that Carnival fete promoters and “other kinds of large group entertainment events” were invited to the Cabinet meeting… to seek approval for the conducting of the large public gatherings in the months ahead, especially at Carnival.
“The promoters agreed that vaccination of the promoters, their patrons, and their guest artistes is a prerequisite to holding those parties and fetes during the Carnival holiday period and beyond,” the statement said, adding that “it is agreed that COVID -19 will still be a challenge to Caribbean civilization and tourism economies until, and even after, herd immunity is achieved”.
The statement also noted that tickets are to be purchased in advance of the events, and the names of the purchasers and the date of their vaccination must be provided to buy the tickets.
“There will be no switching, and the patrons will be provided collared bracelets upon entry to ensure that they can mingle freely while obeying the protocols established. If all the systems are put in place, the first of these events will take place on July 16, 2021, the start of the Carnival season,” the statement noted.
Meanwhile, the government said that it had been updated on plans to address the changed policy of allowing a seven-day quarantine for those who, upon entering Antigua and Barbuda, can show that they have been fully vaccinated.
“The Cabinet was advised that many of the systems that would allow the process to be implemented are not yet fully in place,” the statement said, adding that these processes are being put in place and will be organized shortly.
“The quarantined men and women who test on the fifth day of quarantine will receive their negative test result within 48 hours (or two days later) and will be allowed to vacate quarantine and to join their family or to move about beginning seven, and not 14 days later, in the community masked, socially distanced, and continue to wash and sanitize their hands.,” the statement said.
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