Health Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre has announced that the mask mandate remains in effect in Dominica as the fight against Covid-19 continues.
“It’s something we have been investigating; we are getting all the data put together. We have actually discussed it at a very high level and we are moving in the direction,” he said. “But at present, the mask mandate remains and we are asking people to take responsibility.”
He continued, “You are not in a safe environment, you are in a closed area, you don’t feel comfortable in that closed space, you should wear your mask.”
However, according to the health minister, the government is looking into it and some changes will be announced soon.
“But at present, it remains and we should wear our masks, particularly in closed spaces, shared spaces…” he reiterated…someone might at their discretion, if you are walking on the streets, in the park, or in your garden, then that is understandable, but if you are in a closed, shared environment space, you should wear a mask.”
Furthermore, Dr. McIntyre stated that his ministry noticed a slight increase in the positivity rate. However, he said the overall positivity rate remains at 7.1%, “but we have seen a few more cases as compared to last week.”
“What we saw last week was a little more than the previous week,” he revealed. “What this says is that we still must act responsibly.”
He warned people not to let down their guard and encouraged alertness, vigilance, and adherence to all the protocols in view of the fact that Covid-19 is going to be here for some time.
According to Dr. McIntyre, a total of six people are at present hospitalized as a result of Covid-19. They are three males and three females, ages ranging between 20 and 86 and the median age is 66 years.
“Five out of the six have comorbid conditions and one is in critical condition; that’s a 53-year-old female,” Dr. McIntyre revealed.
In terms of related deaths, the total remains at 68.
“No new deaths and in terms of recoveries, 102 new recoveries, so the total active cases stands at 73 presently,” the Minister revealed.
He went on to state that the country’s full vaccination population is 44%, while the partially vaccinated population is 3.4%.
“Basically we have to continue our measures and we also have to continue getting as many people vaccinated as possible,” McIntyre noted.*
Covid and Monkeypox are serious illnesses we are told. Although the mask gives NIL protection from either and causes wearers to breathe in recyled CO2 and expelled bacteria, iit seems these are really small prices to pay for the security and well-being of Dominicans. By the way, the N95 mask protects from 95% of “viruses”, but they don’t say which ones – you simply could not make this up!! :).
Again, the earth is overpopulated. So, if mask-wearing contributes to increased mortality of wearers, they will be “taking it for the team”.
Well done Dr Mac I say!
Absolute rubbish. DOminica only has 55-65,000 people. Countries that have 10’s of millions of people have realized that masks are a waste of time. Why push for nationwide vaccination, but act like the vaccine is useless by enforcing mask mandates? we are really follow fashion without any common sense or thinking. Whats worse is we always late in the fashion.
The recent carnival festivities in Grenada which attracted thousands of people in close proximity to each other and maskless, should give us an indication of whether it is time to abandon this mask mandate, if we can get the data re. Covid from the Grenadians. All the more developed countries (apart from China), has adopted a more relaxed approach to mask wearing and has downgraded covid from a pandemic which means people can go about their business normally but still exercise common sense caution. Maybe it is time that we accept that we will live with covid just as the normal flu. However, people should still be encouraged to continue taking the jab for extra protection.
Do not fool yourself and believe there is a more relaxed approach to the utilization of mask in the more developed world. For your information, millions of people are still getting infected from the original virus, and as much from the many variances!
Even people who had the two shots of vaccination, and boosted twice have become infected, in some cases more than once, in otherwards they got infected more than once.
Even the President of the United States suffered that fate!
McIntyre, in my book is nothing than what seems to be a cigarette smoking puppet; but as for now he is right to suggest the protocol remain the status quo!
At least he has enough commonsense to recognize that Dominica is a small place, with a handful of people that can be wipe out by this virus, overnight, and although I will never support him and the likes of Roosevelt Skerrit, I must support his idea of letting the status quo remain.
Control….masks, lockdowns, school closings…all a way for the government to see how easily than can totally control the sheep. Like good little sheep many still hide behind a piece of paper, sit inside in fear. Wake up
The regime and their closest supporters love to wear these face masks. It’s more difficult to be recognised with a mask on. Over the years gangsters also practiced this behaviour.
A simple fact is that whether you are vaccinated or not if the virus ENTERS your body it WILL cause some DAMAGE. So let those who want to fight the mask do so to their detriment. The sensible one will know what to do.
Anyone who has had the flu, which is considered less dangerous than COVID, knows that it damages your nervous system. The long-term scenario for COVID is still not known. Everyone is responsible for their personal health. I only wish and hope that we should consider the risk we put each other through. You do not have a right to infect me You have a responsibility to support the health of the nation.
You’re such an azzzzz. Do you know that there are number of people that wear masks and still got COVID?
I have noticed blood in my mucus since I started wearing the mask. I wonder if anyone else has that same experience.
OK Mr/Ms genius, you did not affirm that those who wore the mask and were infected with COVID were wearing it in the prescribed/recommended way. I see many people “carrying” the mask as opposed to wearing it. Here, for me, wearing means the prescribed way. I see many people “carrying” the mask as a talisman; these are candidates for infection. The nostrils MUST be covered to provide protection. All other protocols would have to be observed to complete your assessment.
BTW, you would not be practicing the culture if you did not resort to denigrating or insulting; after all, what’s it worth without the spice? Congratulations!!!
The previous variants of covid 19 up to last summer’s delta affected the lower respiratory tract, which was what made it so dangerous. This year’s Omicron variant, which has replaced and displaced all the earlier variants, affects only the upper respiratory tract, much like the traditional flue. I therefore no longer regard covid 19 as a pandemic. Denmark was the first to recognize this several months ago at which time it abandoned all the safety protocols, since when most of the western world has followed suit. I am weary of the mask mandate and believe it is time we all returned to a normal life. Even the government website has not provided a video update since last year and has not updated its covid statistics since 22nd June this year, a lapse of almost 2 months.
Dominica is not the only country who still wants her people to adhere to the mask-wearing rule. Imagine that the building where I live in Toronto, is still asking to continue wearing the mask.
To tell you the truth, I am fed-up with that mask-wearing, especially that I need to read people’s lips to understand what they are saying to me. People like me have suffered a lot because of this devil, Corvid-19. I now believe that I suffered the side effect of taking those vaccines’. Good Lord
I so agree..de mask wearing alas it saves me alot from people qwashar so I doh mind it..I put down my guards and guess what they tell me I have covid…I think we all need to boost our immune system eh…I know for sure covid teach us to care ourselves because alot of children had running nose, because we didnt realize de amount of qwarshar that comes from ones mouth whilst speaking. Now we know social distancing.. let’s care our selves and boost de system. In crowds wearing de mask..trust me it’s safer…
Just stop that foolishness already.All other country put away that nonsense but Dominica still looking for noticing .all fete over the place without mask but me the regular person has to wear mask ?make that make sense
One thing MC Intyre did not mentioned is that today marks the first anniversary since the first corona death was recorded in Dominica. A death that could have been avoided If only they were not negligent.
So, the Honourable Minister for Health has resurfaced with his quick-fix health policy once again. Please wear your masks people, until further notice. And, welcome back Mr. Minister!
As a footnote I looked at the recent fete in the South last weekend with hundreds of “feters” and nary a mask in sight. Are the authorities now on the alert?
Just get to the point and give us the usual figures allu that causing people to let down there guards. One time you saying we will consider the removal of mask mándate all becuz de pm want a sewo somewhere. Now cases going up is another story. Smh. Put the list up as u all used too. Allu get lazy. And so many vax people getting it and spreading it. Oh boy. And allu still telling me to vax
No-one ever seems to publish information about the current availability of boosters, what brand, how to get them and so on. Why?
Dr. Mac, with no due respect, forke the hell off!!!
Remove the dam mandate period. Every weekend the pal reps sponsor village feasts, feasts that are CHURCH-ORIENTED, and is sewo after sewo after sweo
Cut the dam crap and remove that mandate.
By the way ADMIN, where you get that mask nor? It looks like de dock own
Standard issue to DLP supporters. Most of them can’t afford to buy one.
Why do these ‘experts’ continue to delude the gullible into thinking that they are vaccinated when they thing they claim is a vaccine does not prevent Covid infection nor grant immunity to it?