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Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi took action Friday that on one hand eased restrictions implemented as the Omicron variant of Covid-19 started surging in the U.S. territory, while on the other hand tightened restrictions on government employees.
The governor ordered that all government employees get boosted for Covid-19 by February 28, which his administration says is part of an effort to continue fighting the virus.
Aside from the booster mandate, Mr. Pierluisi relaxed several restrictions, announcing that vaccinated individuals from the U.S. would no longer need to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test to enter the island commonwealth beginning Feb. 2. Those who are unvaccinated will still need to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test.
The governor also lifted a 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. ban on alcohol sales, an action that goes along with Mr. Pierluisi's announcement that businesses will be allowed to operate past midnight from Feb. 2.
Additionally, while the government eliminated capacity limits for businesses such as restaurants that host individuals outside, he did not eliminate the indoor restrictions altogether. Instead, Mr. Pierluisi raised the limit from 50 percent to 75 percent of an establishment's capacity. Customers, however, will still need to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test before being allowed to dine.
Puerto Rico is among the highest vaccinated in all of the U.S, with 83 percent of the population having received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, while 93.2 percent had received at least one dose as of Sunday, according to the PR Dept. of Health.
