Barbados’ COVID-19 curfew will be suspended for two hours at the start of 2022.
The latest COVID-19 Curfew Directive – Emergency Management (COVID-19) (Curfew) (No. 24) Directive, 2021 – issued on Saturday, states no curfew shall be in place from midnight December 31, 2021 to 2 a.m. on January 1, 2022.
This follows a relaxing of the restrictions from midnight on Christmas Eve to 5 a.m. Christmas Day. On all other days, the curfew shall remain in place from midnight to 5 a.m.
The usual exceptions remain in place, including special applications to the CVID-19 Monitoring Unit and the office of the Attorney General.
However, there are also provisions in place for “any person who wishes to host an event at which members of the public may be entertained for payment, of money directly or indirectly”, through the Monitoring Unit and the National Cultural Foundation. Those bodies will approve the venue as well as the number of patrons.
These conditions will be in place:
- all service providers, staff and performers shall produce evidence that they are fully vaccinated;
- and have had a Rapid Antigen administered no more than 24 hours before seeking to enter the event venue and that the result of that test was negative;
- all patrons shall produce evidence that they are fully vaccinated;
- or have had a Rapid Antigen test administered no more than 24 hours before seeking to enter the event venue and that the result of that test was negative;
- and the duration of the event shall not exceed 3 hours where the event is held at an indoor venue.
“For the purposes of this Directive, a person is fully vaccinated if that person has completed, at least 14 days or more prior to seeking to enter or remain within the precincts of a venue for the event, a full regimen of COVID-19 vaccinations approved by the Ministry of Health and Wellness,” the Directive explained.
In addition to the above, where “at least 70 per cent of those persons attending are fully vaccinated, the host, staff and persons attending the event may remain in the venue without the requirement to wear face masks”, but masks must be worn if the vaccination rate falls below this number.
The conditions remain in place for the operators of bars, restaurants, rum shops, churches, cinemas, funerals and weddings.
Meanwhile, all indoor, contact and team sports – including practice sessions – are prohibited, but non-contact outdoor sporting activities are permitted.
Those who wish to stage organised competitive sporting events outdoors, may do so “only with the prior permission of the Unit”. The following protocols shall apply:
- all participants, coaches and ancillary staff shall be fully vaccinated
- and submit a negative Rapid Antigen test administered no more than 24 hours prior to seeking to enter the event venue; and
- all spectators shall be fully vaccinated or submit a negative Rapid Antigen test administered one day before entering the event venue and shall wear face masks. (PR/SAT)
