No mask mandate as Antigua and Barbuda reopen schools for face to face learning

The government of Antigua and Barbuda has finally decided to allow schools to resume face to face learning. The decision comes after COVID-19 halted classes in recent months. In a press release issued on Thursday, the government ordered all educational institutions to start their usual operations from March 14, 2022, onwards. The government added that the decisions come after thorough discussions with the cabinet and health officials. As per the guidelines, students are no longer required to wear face coverings (face masks); however, other staff members, including the security personnel and administrators, must wear masks. Besides ordering resumption of face to face classes, the government also issued more COVID-19 related guidelines and declared that public transportation can now operate at full capacity. New guidelines

• No requirement of COVID-19 vaccination for nationals returning home, only COVID-19 testing required 
• Fully vaccinated nationals returning to the country are no longer required to undergo COVID-19 testing if they do not have any symptoms.
• Issuance of vaccination ID Cards continues to allow people to prove vaccine status.
• No COVID-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated tourists

The new guidelines come after the country recorded only thirteen new COVID-19 cases last week. Not only that, currently, no individuals are hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Antigua and Barbuda, indicating an end of the pandemic in the country. Despite the lesser coronavirus cases, the government of Antigua and Barbuda continue to urge the public to get vaccinated in order to reach a 70% vaccine rate. The government has also said the wearing of face masks is optional from Wednesday, March 16, 2022.