Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Aug 04, 2025

COVID economy

COVID economy

A few weeks ago, an announcement was made by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stating that those who are fully vaccinated would no longer have to wear a mask inside of a store/restaurant.

Thomas C. Famous

Essentially, there would be an honour system where those who were not fully immunised would keep their masks on.

Most people rightly thought it way too soon for that type of decision as many would just blatantly go maskless.

During my travels in a few North Eastern States, specifically, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Maryland about 98 per cent of the population keep their masks on both inside and outside.

Most restaurants and other outlets have plexiglass-like barriers up in order to keep customers as “isolated” as possible.

Major retail chains such as Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowes allow for persons to go maskless; however, the vast majority of their customers and staff do keep their masks on.

Educating the masses


In visiting multiple states, it is clear that there is a coordinated effort to educate persons on both the need for and availability of vaccines.

As you listen to the radio, there are no less than three ads per hour by well-known local or national personalities.

Generally, they fairly candidly state their own experiences and then urge residents to speak with their medical professionals for advice re getting tested or immunised.

On highways and local roads, there are numerous billboards that indicate locations where persons can get access to vaccines.

Depending on the area one is in, there are informative pop-up adverts whilst visiting websites or watching YouTube.

Back to work


Bars and restaurants in New York City, and Rhode Island, have been given the all-clear, with strict health guidelines, to fully open.

Giant movie theatre chain AMC has opened its doors to those hungry for both popcorn and the big screen. It seems to have a very vigorous cleaning regime with staff who wipe down every seat as soon as patrons exit a theatre.

In Newport, Rhode Island, a town built around catering to high-end tourists, one can see the hustle and bustle starting back.

Souvenir shops, top-shelf eateries, and grocery stores have all seen an uptick in the activity of fully masked patrons.

All of this spells good news for workers who have been underemployed or unemployed for over one year.

Likewise, in Bermuda and other islands, it is great to see hotels, restaurants, and other establishments starting to safely open again.

Rules are rules


Recently, Delta Airlines has announced that all new employees must be immunised.

Major cruise lines, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines have an ongoing battle with Florida Governor Ron D. Desantis, over their policy that only vaccinated passengers will be allowed to board their ships in Florida.

Fortunately, for most Americans, tourism is not the mainstay of their economic engine. So, the vast majority of their workforce remained employed over the last year, even if that meant working from home.

However, the reality for islands is that they rely on visitors to bring in foreign exchange, so they have had to balance out economics with safety.

In Grenada, the government along with the Grenada Tourism Authority, have had to mandate that all workers in the hospitality industry get immunised.

In the [British] Virgin Islands, a number of resorts have implemented policies that employees must be immunised in order to be around guests.

The Cayman Islands government is now discussing making it mandatory for all guest workers to become immunized in order to gain or retain their work permits.

Naturally, this has caused public outcry from some quarters of society; however, people realise the harsh economic realities that come with a lack of visitors.

Survival


As the world attempts to get back to work, every local or national government and company will be setting legislation and policy in order to have safe working environments for both staff and clients.

COVID-19 is going nowhere, so we all have to adapt our living and working arrangements in order to survive in both health and finances.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
Tesla Seeks Shareholder Approval for $29 Billion Compensation Package for Elon Musk
Nvidia is cutting prices on its RTX 50-series graphics cards after sales slowed and inventories piled up
Ghislaine Maxwell Transferred to Minimum-Security Prison Amid Ongoing DOJ Discussions
U.S. Tariffs Surge to Highest Levels in Nearly a Century Under Second Trump Term
Matt Taibbi Slams Media for Role in Russiagate Narrative
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
×