…vaccination requirement for gyms, concession stands allowed at cinemas
New updates to the COVID-19 Emergency Measures have offered additional instructions to the unvaccinated accessing Government services, medical practitioners issuing certificates of exemption from COVID-19 vaccination, and casinos, betting shops and cinemas.
The gazetted Measures were posted on August 31, 2021, and apply to the period of September 1 to September 30, 2021.
It was noted that, in general, when it comes to presenting one’s vaccination card in Guyana, this proof of vaccination must be presented in English or with a certified translation to English. Meanwhile, apart from the word “vaccinated” referring to seven of the known vaccines being used globally, the updated measures have indicated that “vaccinated” can also mean any other vaccine approved by the Ministry of Health.
The updated Measures have mandated that only vaccinated persons, including staff and patrons, will be allowed to visit gyms or fitness centres. For casinos, betting shops and cinemas, the capacity for operation has been increased from 40 percent to 60 percent. Also, the restriction for concession stands at cinemas has been removed.
Meanwhile, for food entities, buffet dining is no longer prohibited but self-service buffet dining is. Also, the capacity per table has been increased from four to no more than six.
The instructions under ‘Access to Services offered by a Ministry or Government Agency’ have also seen additions.
An appointment is now not the only means that an unvaccinated person can access a Government service but they can do so with a negative PCR test taken within 7 days of appointment. The same applies to any unvaccinated employee hoping to enter the aforementioned places.
The updated measures have included the recently announced vaccination exemption by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). It includes pregnant women, breastfeeding women six months from the date of delivery, persons who are COVID-19 positive, persons who have received a blood transfusion within two weeks, persons with clotting disorders such as haemophilia, patients receiving chemotherapy or dialysis, patients with an active infection, and patients with an acute cardiac event or an acute cerebrovascular event.
These persons must present a certification of exemption from a fully registered medical practitioner. The Measures noted, too, that any fully registered medical practitioner who falsifies an exemption is liable to disciplinary proceedings under the Medical Practitioners Act.
All other aspects of the Measures, including the 10:30 PM to 4 AM curfew, remain unchanged.
