Should we say that the government is easing everything in half for the total opening of our borders? And more open access to the doubly vaccinated? This seems to have been Dr Jagutpal’s announcements at the National Communications Committee on Friday 24 September. In short, the 50-person groupings will be expanded to 100 people with ‘fully vaccination’ recommendations. These places will have to ensure good ventilation and people, respect for barrier gestures and physical distancing. Beaches and picnics will now be possible in groups of 30.
Ventilation and distancing and according to size
Sports centres, gyms and sports complexes will be open to vaccinated staff and subscribers. But the limit of 50 persons will change and will be according to the size of the space. The new limit is 4m2 for one person and the establishment will have to display its capacity at the door.
As for cinemas and theatres, they will be able to open with vaccinated staff but will have to accommodate only 50% of their capacity. They must also display their capacity at the entrance.
Bars, casinos and gaming houses, on the other hand, will only be allowed to operate with vaccinated staff and only with vaccinated adult customers, with sanitary measures for ventilation and distancing.
50 to 100 people allowed
For places of worship, religious ceremonies, socio-cultural events, weddings and funerals, the number of people allowed will be increased to 100. Access will have to be open to vaccinated persons, physical distance and good ventilation of the premises must be insured.
Restaurants, food courts and fast food outlets are now free to remove the 2m distance between tables. They can operate ‘normally’ from 1st of October onwards, while preferring access to vaccinated people, keeping physical distance and ensuring good ventilation.
Unchanged Rules
No change for access to social centres, village hall, municipal hall, social welfare centre, youth centre and community centres and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, it will still be done in alphabetical order.
Same for access to markets, no change, control at entrance will be maintained to avoid crowds
For horse races, the rules will remain the same, that is, on screens. Discotheques will not be allowed to operate.
On the other hand, the restriction is lifted on the beaches. Apart from sports activities, picnics will be allowed but in groups of 30 people.
The Minister of Health has made it clear that ‘Surprise Checks’ will be provided by health inspectors.
Deaths and active cases
This press conference was not short of emotions. The sad but serious part was the announcement of the 146 Covid deaths since 5 March 2021. “65 deaths are directly related where 12 were fully vaccinated or 18%, 1 with a single dose or 1.5% and 52, or 80% unvaccinated. The deaths of 81 of these patients are not directly attributed to the virus. 10 were vaccinated, i.e. 12%, two received one dose, i.e. 2.5%, and 61 were not vaccinated, i.e. 85%,” announced the Minister, recalling the importance of the vaccine.
Since March 5, 2021, the country has recorded 14,567 positive cases of Covid 19. 12,517 have been cured. Currently 3,753 people are in quarantine, including 3,204 in self-isolation, 417 passengers and 128 future travellers. Another 1,638 positive but vaccinated are in home isolation.
As of 24th September evening, the Ministry of Health count is 108 positive. At ENT Hospital, 45 patients are admitted where 21 are under observation, 21 on oxygen and 4 on artificial respirators.
Vaccination on the rise –
The youth vaccination campaign starts Tuesday next
849,326 people or 67.1% of the population have been vaccinated with one dose and 793,269 or 62.7% are fully vaccinated. And in Rodrigues, 24,453 for the first dose or 53.9% and 20,227, the second, or 46.5%.
For the third dose, which started on Thursday 23, the Ministry registered only 59 people. It’s a long shot, but the minister defends himself by saying “we’ll have to wait a month or even two before drawing such conclusions” he said.
The ministry has finally received the shipment of 76050 Pfizer doses as of Tuesday 23. Vaccination for 15-, 16- and 17-year-old students admitted to Grade 10, 11 and 12 will start from this Tuesday 28 September and an interval of 21 to 28 days is recommended between the two doses. Ten Mobile Teams will visit 10 schools each day. They will have cover 67 public colleges, 100 private colleges and 19 MITD schools. It is estimated that the first inoculation of 3,032,500 doses will be completed on 20 October. And on the 21st the administration of the second dose will start. Consenting parents can sign the consent form now.
Parents can fill in their children’s Consent Forms beforehand and accompany them on the day of the vaccination. They can also accompany their kids on the days of the administrations.
