WI v PAK at Providence: “Fully-vaccinated” entails 2-week period after 2nd dose – Health Minister

By Jemima Holmes

After more than a year, international cricket will return to the National Stadium, as West Indies take on Pakistan in three of four T20 Internationals at the Providence venue.

While this is no longer breaking news, what fans have been awaiting is the confirmation that they will be able to see the Caribbean team in action.
Confirming reports that surfaced over the weekend, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, on Monday morning, during his daily COVID-19 update, finally confirmed that 40 per cent of Providence 15,000 seat capacity will be filled by fans during the series with masks being worn during the entirety of the games and alternate seating being mandatory.
Dr Anthony also shared some of the other protocols and provisions that are in place, as the National Stadium Providence prepares to host West Indies and Pakistan.
According to Dr Anthony, consultations with all the relevant bodies were carried out.
“We’ve had discussions with the Guyana Cricket Board; the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MOCYS); the National COVID-19 Task Force and we’ve also received guidance from the International Cricket Council and the WICB.
“And in all of those discussions we’re looking at how we can host these matches successfully, as well as have a balance in getting some patrons or some fans who would like to attend these matches,” Dr Anthony shared.
While fully-vaccinated fans over the age of 18 will be allowed entry, once they produce their vaccine and identification cards, there are conditions being applied to the term “fully vaccinated”.
“The first one is to make sure that those who would be attending the matches are fully vaccinated,” the Health Minister declared.
As such, the Minister explained in detail, “What do we mean by fully vaccinated? Fully vaccinated means that you had both doses of the vaccine and after the second dose, two weeks would have elapsed. Which means you would have had adequate antibodies in your system to protect you against COVID.”
“Even if you have a ticket and you don’t have your vaccination card to prove that you’re fully vaccinated, you will not be allowed into the Stadium,” Dr Anthony warned.
Among the other protocols at the Stadium, there will be an ‘elaborate’ map in place, as spectators go through stops and checks and the presence of medical professionals will be amplified.
“The task force, along with the cricket board, would have visited the Stadium, mapped out a pathway for any potential fan that will be coming, at what point they will be stopped, checked and so forth. So, there’s a very elaborate process, that a fan coming to watch these matches would have to go through,” he divulged during the daily update.
On the matter of medical professionals, the Health Minister revealed, “We’ll have health and medical personnel at the Stadium. Those persons are normally there when you have a match. So, those persons, if there are any injuries or so forth, they’ll be on hand to lend assistance.
Dr Anthony went on to specify, “So, we’ll have personnel from the Ministry of Health; we will have personnel from the CDC (Civil Defence Commission) who would also be there and these persons would help guarantee the safety of persons from a health perspective.”
To avoid crowding and gathering, there will be no concession stands operating at the venue, while other Stadium rules such as a prohibition on glass bottles remain in place.
West Indies and Pakistan will clash on July 31, and August 1 and 3. Tickets for the three matches will go on sale from tomorrow, Wednesday, July 28 at the Guyana Cricket Board’s head office, Regent Road, Bourda; Imran & Son – 73 A Rose Hall Town, Berbice, and at Imam Bacchus & Sons – Affiance, Essequibo Coast.