(CMC) – President Irfaan Ali says that his administration is in the process of looking at new ways to increase vaccinations while taking a cautious approach to reopening the country.
Ali says among the proposals being examined is that of only allowing fully vaccinated individuals at social gatherings and special venues.
“So, if you want to go to Palm Court, you want to go to the movies, you want to go to these places, then you have to be vaccinated. If you are not vaccinated, then you will have to wait a bit,” he said.
He stressed that the pandemic is not a joke and that at times, necessary decisions must be made to ensure that citizens are protected.
Ali added that the measures that are being put in place are as balanced as possible, to ensure protection and to bring some form of normality.
He noted that some Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states are already putting vaccine requirements in place for visitors and Guyana is also likely to move in that direction.
“This is one of the consequences of vaccine inequality. Because if you are to say that only vaccinated people can now travel then those developing countries that have never had the opportunity to get access to the vaccine are automatically left out of the equation. So that is why the PCR test has to remain in place for some time until there is some level of equity.”
Guyana has not put a vaccination requirement in place for visitors, but all incoming passengers are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result.
