People in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are still required to wear facemask in public places, including omnibuses, the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) said on Saturday.
This is despite the fact that Cabinet on Tuesday repealed a law under which the rules were made.
NEMO, citing the Public Health (COVID-19) (Gathering) (Repeal) Rules 2022 and Public Health (COVID-19) (Amendment) Rules 2022 informed the public of changes to the COVID-19 Rules with effect from March 29, 2022.
It said that the Public Health (COVID-19) (Gathering) (Repeal) Rules 2022: Statutory Rules and Orders 2022 NO.14 repealed the Public Health COVID-19 Gathering rules of 2021 and therefore there are no restrictions to gatherings of more than 10 persons in doors and 20 persons outdoors.
“Open air crusades, parties, funerals and other such gatherings can now take place without any restrictions on the number of persons, their vaccination status or the space occupied,” NEMO said.
It said that Public Health (COVID-19) (Amendment) Rules 2022: Statutory Rules and Orders 2022 NO.15 amended the Public Health (COVID-19) Rules of 2021.
Under these amendments, Rule 2 was amended by the deletion of the definition of “place of entertainment” in keeping with the repeal of the Gathering Rules, removing any restrictions on gatherings and any rules that apply.
Rule 4, which refers to restrictions on restaurants or food establishments, was revoked,
Rules 7, 7A and 7B, which impose the requirement for testing of drivers and conductors of public service vehicles, the requirement for sanitisation and restricting the loading capacity, were revoked.
“All of the other rules of the Public Health (COVID-19) Rules of 2021 remain, including rules 5&6 which require the use of masks in public spaces and private spaces to which the public has access, and by drivers and passengers of public service vehicles,” NEMO said.