The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I read with disgust and dismay the article in the August 27th edition of The Tribune regarding the letter from Atlantis informing its staff that they would have to pay for their own COVID testing as of September 1st. and the union’s response. Atlantis has a duty to its guests to guarantee as far as possible, their safety while staying at the resort, and to allow non-vaccinated staff members on the premises cannot guarantee that. I can’t believe how ungrateful some Bahamians can be! Atlantis employees are the envy of many in that they have good jobs at a time when so many are still out of work.

Instead of complaining about having to pay for a weekly COVID test, which they have had gratis, free and for nothing up until now, those who do not have a medical condition prohibiting it, should get vaccinated, which is FREE, FREE, FREE, and which has been obtained after a great deal of effort by our Government. It is the civic duty of ALL citizens to get vaccinated, not only for their own protection, but for the protection of their family members and all persons they come in contact with. I can only assume that these anti-vaxxers do not read the papers, do not watch the news, and have absolutely NO IDEA what is happening in our country, but only pay attention to the garbage that is spewed out on social media. God help anyone who has a heart attack or a serious accident, they’ll die in the street before they can get a hospital bed!

Of the greatest concern right now is the spread of the Delta variant. Variants occur when the COVID virus enters an un-vaccinated body, where it meets no resistance and can mutate easily. Getting vaccinated not only helps the body to fight the virus, but helps prevent mutation. All businesses whose employees come into contact with the general public should be allowed to insist on vaccination unless contra-indicated. We all deserve the right to go to the grocery store, pharmacy, restaurant, etc, and know that we are not being served or waited upon by someone who had COVID test a week ago, but has unknowingly become infected since.

JOANNA ROBERTSON

Nassau,

August 29, 2021.