Last Thursday, Governor Pedro Pierluisi announced that as of June 7 - and until July 4 - the country will be governed by an opening to commercial and social activities that include giving the green light to the operation of bars, discos, dance halls. game and “party buses”, businesses that for the first time since March 2020 will be able to restart their services with 50% of their capacity. Meanwhile, other businesses - including restaurants - could operate with a capacity of up to 75%. Likewise, the coliseums, theaters and cinemas can operate with 50% of their occupation.

“We are really satisfied. We understand that the governor made a great move in returning almost to normality," expressed to Primera Hora the president of Centro Unido de Detallistas (CUD), Jesús Vázquez.

He argued that employers in the commercial sector are satisfied with the new provisions, while warning that the total return to normalcy in Puerto Rico should be registered by the end of August.

“Vaccination is going well and the call in the United Center is to be responsible because the disease has not gone away. We understand that with this order there must also be a citizen commitment to continue some basic rules, otherwise we could go back in the coming months. Our hope is that people continue to be vaccinated and get out of this by August, "said Vázquez.

He said that the operation of shops at 75% capacity is favorable, but that the great challenge for many business managers is employment. “The biggest challenge for many is to see if we really have to meet the demand that arises when everything returns to normal. We have been in a difficult recruitment situation for three months, ”he pointed out, adding that the panorama is also limited to other jurisdictions in the United States.

He said that the issue has been consulted with government leaders and the discussion has raised the opportunity to speak about the increase in the minimum wage, which is currently $ 7.25.

“But I want you to know that there are many companies offering much more above the minimum, including other benefits, and yet they do not get employees. Some are giving bonuses, paying for their employees' phones, buying them clothes and with everything and that the situation is complicated. But we are right now in an economic bubble (with the federal incentives granted by the emergency) and coming out of the pandemic ... we understand that all this is going to improve ”, said the CUD leader who estimated that before the pandemic there were in Puerto Rich between 40,000 to 60,000 small and medium merchants.

For his part, Ismael Vega, general manager of Casino Metro, described the government's determination as “a step in the right direction”, while stressing that all the credit for returning to normalcy goes to the population that has made “faithful compliance ”with the provisions of the executive orders of the rulers.

“We are arriving little by little at a safe step and we are very pleased in that regard,” Vega said.
Regarding the capacity in the casinos, which will operate with 75% occupancy, he said that the change is not very significant because the approach is inclined to regulate the amount of equipment or machines operating, complying with the required space separation.

“My capacity right now with 75% is 1,500 people, but I can only let 600 in because that's the amount of chairs and equipment available in the casino when I do the whole procedure of separating the spaces. Even so from tomorrow we will add other tables. And it is important that people know that although screening will no longer be required, we will continue to exaggerate cleaning and the use of masks. We want people to continue to feel safe in our entertainment environment, "he said.

Like other employers, the casino industry experiences conflict when recruiting. “I would tell you that it is the most challenging thing from now on, although we are hopeful that in the coming months things will improve. But, for now, there is conformity and one sees the route. We see that we are going in the right direction and at a firm step ”, he stressed.

The 16 casinos operating in Puerto Rico were closed for six months. During that period, losses of up to $ 25 million per month were calculated. In addition, each casino had to invest in security and maintenance equipment to comply with the prevention protocols imposed by the government and health authorities. Currently, the casinos employ about 2,500 people.

According to the governor, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be fought, health indicators have dropped sharply in recent weeks. Currently, the virus positivity rate in Puerto RIco is 2%, an extremely low percentage figure compared to the over 15% registered in the April rebound. While hospitalizations - which two months ago exceeded 550 cases - are below 100.

On the other hand, as of today the mask will not be required in free spaces for people who have completed the vaccination. However, masks should be required when visiting a private operator establishment that caters to the public. It was also explained that screening -temperature taking- at the entrance of businesses or government entities, among others, will not be an obligation.

Precisely, the Scientific Coalition, the governor's advisory body on the issue of the pandemic, had recommended more flexibility among immunized people.

“The scientific evidence that has been collected on vaccination against SARS-COV-2 indicates that they are effective and safe. Our analyzes, which are consistent with scientific analyzes at an international level, indicate that vaccination is working for Puerto Rico, and suggest that it contributes to the reduction of cases and infections, less severe symptoms, reduction of hospitalizations and lives saved,” said the doctor.

José Rodríguez Orengo, director of the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust and member of the group.

The Coalition also suggested that restaurants or activity rooms set aside spaces to carry out activities with fully vaccinated people, in order to exempt them from wearing the masks.

Instead, they emphasized that in closed spaces, such as summer camps, the use of masks and social distancing continue to be required, particularly in children under 12 years old. Parents and guardians of young people between 12 and 17 years old were urged to comply with vaccination to avoid health risks.

The expectation of the government of Puerto Rico is to achieve herd immunity (with 70% of the population vaccinated) by the end of August. According to the 2020 Census report, the island has 3,285,874 inhabitants. It is estimated that the population able to get vaccinated is close to 2.9 million.

Currently, about 40% of the population has completed the vaccination process, while just over 50% have received at least one dose.