Mask vendors unhappy

Mask vendors in downtown Kingston are bracing for a disruption in their business following Prime Minister Andrew Holness' announcement that mask-wearing is no longer mandatory.

Shawn, a blind man, said that he has been selling masks and hand sanitiser since the beginning of the pandemic. He said that he is not sure what he will do after the demand for masks falls.

Holness, speaking in Parliament yesterday, said that mask-wearing in enclosed spaces such as supermarkets, banks, and tax offices will be retained until April 15. However, it will not be mandated in establishments such as restaurants and bars. Additionally, there is no longer a requirement for people to wear masks in outdoor places.

Shawn said that given the announcement from the prime minister, he will have to keep one eye on the COVID-19 numbers and another on the market.

"Mi feel sad because at the same time is a business for us, and we know seh the COVID is real, so why him do something like this? Why him open up the country that way and say no wearing mask inna the public? People a pass close by each other day by day and you don't know who is sick," the vendor said.

Another of his colleagues, Donna, a vendor on King Street, is convinced that Holness relaxed the mask mandate because of the backlash arising out of five of his ministers attending Shenseea's album launch party on Tuesday.

"Because social media is there seeing what's up, him a try say something weh seh shouldn't even a say. Mask fi wear, baby, because is a worldwide thing," Donna said.

"COVID is out there still, so I'm not happy about it. Him fi extend the mask thing fi anywhere you a guh, except yuh house," added.

Holness yesterday said that the Government acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, and it is for this reason Shawn believes the move to loosen the restrictions is premature.

Memba, enuh, you tell we seh fi stay six feet from each other and wear we mask and sanitise we hand. A you tell we that, enuh, and now you come back and say mask fi open up back, and you know seh the disease nah gone yet," he reasoned.

"Right now, up to last night, them a tell we seh it mash up half a di world," Shawn added.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday that after more than a month of decline, COVID-19 cases have started to increase around the world.

"These increases are occurring despite reductions in testing in some countries, which means the cases we're seeing are just the tip of the iceberg,' Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said, warning that cases will grow even more in the coming weeks