Party promoters are being urged to seek guidance from the National COVID-19 Task Force when planning for events for the upcoming Mashramani season. Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony reminded that while the curfew has been lifted, all other COVID protocols remain in place.
The Health Minister warned that if persons are complacent, there can be another spike in cases.
“I do hope that any person who is promoting activities or involved in these types of entertainment arrangements they first seek guidance from the Task Force before proceeding to organise any such gathering,” Dr Anthony said during his daily COVID Update.
While there has been a decrease in active cases, Dr Anthony said there are still positive cases being recorded.
After two years, the annual Mashramani Soca, Chutney and Calypso competitions are making a return to the physical stage.
The competitions are slated to be held at the National Stadium Tarmac between February 18 and 20; it is the first public activity that the government will be hosting since the start of the pandemic here in March 2020.
This year, only 3000 persons will be allowed to attend each event and they must be fully vaccinated.
Vaccination
As of Friday, 83.8 per cent of the adult population received their first dose vaccine and 63.2 per cent received their second dose.
The vaccine rollout in children aged 12 to 17 is now at 45.3 per cent for the first dose and 32.8 per cent for the second dose.
Booster dose has increased to 47, 974.
However, a few regions are recording low rates for the booster shots such as; Region One (970), Region Seven (481), Region Eight (389) and Region Ten (454).
“As we keep saying it is very important that people who would have received their primary shot, that’s a first and second dose that they now come back for their booster dose,” Dr Anthony stated.