Key Points From the Press Conference Hosted By Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley – Saturday 28th August 2021
- Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced that from October 1st, face to face schooling will be available for vaccinated children in Forms 4-6. The Prime Minister indicated that these children will be required to be fully vaccinated, therefore needing to receive their 2nd dose by September 14th – 17th.
- Dr. Rowley also announced that after Government determines that the reopening of the Retail Sector does not lead to a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, Places of Worship will be able to reopen around September 6th with some limitations.
- Principal Medical Officer of Institutions. Dr. Maryam Abdool-Richards stated that a worrying trend is being observed, where increasing numbers of children are being hospitalized with COVID-19. Dr. Richards shared that 10 children are currently hospitalized with 8 at the Ward Level, 1 at the HDU level and 1 at the ICU level.
- Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh, stated that to date, 503,239 persons have received their 1st dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, making up 36% of the population with 389,317 receiving both doses. 1,063 persons have received a single dose vaccine putting the total number of completed vaccinations at 390,380 making up 28% of the population.
- Minister Deyalsingh announced that 25% of the eligible school population have been vaccinated to date, however the Minister also noted that the daily number of children being vaccinated has decreased significantly. Minister Deyalsingh appealed to parents to take advantage of the opportunity and get their children vaccinated.
- The Health Minister also announced that the Pfizer Vaccine will now be open to Health Care Workers and Teachers to give them another option. He explained that this move was to ensure that these vaccines don’t go to waste, as they are expiring in November. Children however, are still the top priority for the Pfizer.