Guyana ‘lowering its guard’ on COVID but citizens should still be careful – AG

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC says the new COVID-19 regulations, which remove long-standing restrictions and some vaccine rules, signal that Guyana is returning to a semblance of normalcy.

The Attorney General told the state-controlled Department of Public Information (DPI) on Monday that Guyana is removing its COVID-19 restrictions as many other countries have already done.

New regulations were approved by President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Monday, after he told the News Room on Sunday that he planned to revoke all the measures that were implemented in March 2020 to curb the spread of the disease.

And Nandlall commented, “Those guidelines are now far less in number because we are moving many of the regulations, many of the restrictions and many of the stipulations.”

He, however, pointed out that despite the reduction in the regulations, people are still encouraged to adhere to key guidelines for their own safety.

Mask wearing, for example, is no longer mandatory but Nandlall said that people are still encouraged to wear their masks in public. He also emphasised that people must continue to get vaccinated to protect themselves from experiencing the more serious or life-threatening symptoms of the deadly disease.

He noted too that workplaces and places of worship have been asked to maintain some COVID-19 protocols to keep employees and worshippers safe.

“Whilst we are lowering the guard, so to speak, everyone is encouraged to be careful, to be careful and practice the normal rules of hygiene and to continue to wear your face masks if you feel the need to do so,” Nandlall stressed.

Nandlall, much like the President, indicated that the removal of the COVID rules will allow Guyana to return to some semblance of normalcy.

Focusing particularly on the removal of restrictions for restaurants and other public places, Nandlall highlighted that businesses will, once again, be able to open and operate freely.