Could Miami show Trinidad and Tobago how to safely pull off Carnival in a pandemic? · Global Voices
Miami Broward Carnival 2014. Photo by <PERSON> on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Miami Carnival, a popular community event that is primarily fashioned after Trinidad and Tobago's annual Carnival celebrations, took place during the week of October 2-10. Many Trinbagonian performers, promoters, musicians and masqueraders travelled to Florida for the event, which was attended by thousands of Carnival enthusiasts, leaving local social media users expressing concerns about what their re-entry into the country could potentially mean for the battle against COVID-19.
Trinidad and Tobago has had some of the strictest health regulations in the Caribbean region since the start of the pandemic, with mandatory mask-wearing, social distancing and public gathering protocols being legislated early on. In addition, the country's borders remained closed to non-nationals for more than a year, and the last major lockdown, which was instituted in May 2021, brought with it the closure of beaches and non-essential businesses, as well as the cessation of outdoor exercise.
As at the time of publishing, beach access and group outdoor sports are still prohibited, with many netizens advocating for an easing up of restrictions—especially because the number of new cases has remained fairly steady, hovering around 250 per day despite the May stay-at-home orders. With the pending return of Miami Carnival revellers to Trinidad and Tobago's shores, some social media users are nervous about the potential further spread of the virus, especially given that Chief Medical Officer <PERSON> confirmed on September 27 that the more contagious Delta variant is now at the stage of community spread.
In a public post, Facebook user <PERSON> was one of several Trinidadians who expressed concern:
Could be my age but I have serious anxiety about Miami Carnival. Hope I am wrong.
Responses to her post were mixed, with some agreeing and others maintaining that COVID-19 is something we all have to learn to live with. <PERSON>, for instance, felt that <PERSON> was being sensible, saying, “The price to be paid will not be worth that jam and wine!” <PERSON> countered:
We can't stay locked up forever. Football stadiums in England more packed than those Miami events.
<PERSON>, however, responded:
I understand that but uk is 63% vacinated we are 32% that is real numbers.
While <PERSON> point that “lockdowns are temporary fixes not the solution” may be sound, the fact remains that in a vaccine-hesitant region like the Caribbean, where many regional health systems will not be able to withstand an increased demand on its services, and citizens have been feeling the mental, physical and economic effects of lockdowns for some time now, events like Miami Carnival present an unwelcome complication.
<PERSON> put it this way:
Highly vaccinated countries such as the UK that are pretty much back to normal, but they have the capacity within their health care system to treat with the rising numbers that will come with fully open economies. My question is, can we compare in that way? We are way less vaccinated and our resources are much less. 1019
What will be our outcome? It's a hard time to govern!
Several commenters, including <PERSON>, noted that proof of being COVID-19 negative was required to participate in the festivities:
My understanding is that anyone who participated in the carnival events had to present a negative PCR test result. There were free testing stations, temperature checks. They followed strict protocols to provide a safe as possible environment for all entering the Fairgrounds for both J’ouvert and the parade. I know that at least one fete required PCR negative test. I’m hoping that most people attending were vaccinated. My friends who participated are all fully vaccinated. Hoping that it wasn’t a super spreader.
Indeed, the event's website specified that under the theme “No mask, no mas”, the Miami-Broward One Carnival Host Committee emphasised its commitment to making all interaction safe, given the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic:
Covid 19, along with the Delta variant, has changed the landscape of our world, so we must change with it. [We are] committed to our patrons’ safety [and] will incorporate and go beyond the CDC’s minimum requirements.
A follow-up post on its Facebook page confirmed:
All patrons are required to have a mask on during the event at all times. Failure to comply will result in removal. Let's have a safe Miami Carnival 2021! 1019