The government is trying to strike a balance with the opening of certain sectors, according to Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, who says that activities that can pose public health hazards are still prohibited.
Anthony sought to explain the government’s approach during his COVID-19 update last Wednesday.
The opening of certain establishments for operations, Anthony said, comes as the government is trying to strike a balance between the public health measures that are imposed and to also ensure that persons can earn. Anthony mentioned that it would be easy for authorities to lockdown the country and have persons stay home but that would result in lost jobs and persons not being able to provide for themselves and family.
“So you need to have a balance, and that’s why we have been working to have work spaces opened safely,” Anthony added.
The recent decision to allow the reopening of bars up to 40% capacity from this month raised eyebrows when it was gazetted, with many questioning the move.
When asked about the possibility of reopening cinemas, Anthony stated, “Indoor environments in a pandemic is a very risky place to be, and if you are going to be in indoor environments that are crowded, then it can pose a public health hazard.”
The minister further stated that authorities have had specific conversations with cinema owners and even had teams assess the cinemas and their indoor spaces. Recommendations were made to cinema owners to install HEPA filters, which is a type of mechanical air filter usually found in air purifiers. “That team that went in made recommendations to the cinema owners to install HEPA filters, which means that if somebody comes to the cinema, and they have been infected and they are asymptomatic and they cough, these HEPA filters would be able to clear out the viral particles,” he explained.
Following those recommendations, Anthony stated that he was not aware if any of the cinemas had installed such filters, and mentioned that they may need to have another engagement with the operators. “If you’re going to reopen cinemas then the preference would be not to have people eat or drink, because eating and drinking requires that you take off your mask and, again, as we know, transmission occurs as people’s nose and mouths are exposed and are in close proximity or in an enclosed space,” he noted.
