Over 160 Barbadian students at the University of the West Indies’ Mona Campus are, for the most part, locked in their dormitories as Jamaica’s first two COVID-19 cases result in widespread panic.
Following a decision by the tertiary institution to suspend all classes on Thursday afternoon, some students expressed a desire to return to Barbados as essential supplies on campus begin to dwindle.
President of the Barbados Students’ Association at Mona, Daniel Clarke-Whitehall told Barbados TODAY that ever since rumours of an infected patient at the campus hospital circulated in mid-February, “mass hysteria” among students has not subsided.
“I think it’s because there’s so much information out there on the virus that people don’t always know what to believe. So people have been scared and some students wanted to go home for some time. There’s just a lot of panic,” he explained.
But the situation intensified on Tuesday when authorities confirmed the country’s first case of COVID-19. While the university and the Guild of Students cancelled carnival celebrations, there had been no definitive word on whether classes would continue.
In a matter of hours, Jamaica recorded its second case and by Thursday afternoon, Mona suspended classes from 13 to April 14.
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“The biggest thing we have to deal with now is avoiding public spaces. I think everybody is just taking a step back and being more cautious, but other than that there is nothing else that we could do,” the BSA president admitted.
“The government has been placing bans on permits for public gatherings, so it’s just to stay away from the crowds, take the precautionary measures that have been advised and be patient until more information comes to hand,” he added, while expressing doubt that Barbadian students would seriously attempt to flee Jamaica.
But second-year journalism student, Shadae Lewis confessed that she would rather be quarantined in Barbados than stuck on halls in Jamaica with no supplies.
“We have a Barbadian students WhatsApp group chat and the general consensus is that people want to go home. But we don’t even know if we would be allowed to and we’re wondering if we would have to be quarantined when we get to Barbados.
“To be honest, I don’t really mind being quarantined. I would rather be home going through this than having to do it without my family, because even though I have friends here, it’s not the same. That is how a lot of people feel as well,” said Lewis, who added that her mother is willing to fly her out if necessary.
Ongoing challenges among international students include a lack of transportation to go to supermarkets off campus along with a reluctance from some taxi operators to transport international students.
“The supermarkets on campus are empty. We can’t get wipes, sanitisers, [rubbing] alcohol or medication. They just have a little soap and we were hearing that the taxi operators aren’t accepting work from UWI students because they don’t want to get infected. It’s just been pretty crazy. Everybody just wants to go home including the Jamaican students who don’t live in the Kingston area,” Lewis disclosed.
The concerned student revealed that halls of residence have stopped accepting visitors for the time being.
“It’s kind of depressing. Everybody is trying to be happy and not let it get us down too much because we can’t do much about it besides trying to stay clean and not letting people cough on you. There’s really nothing we can do besides pray and try to stay in our rooms,” she told Barbados TODAY.
Since the two cases of COVID-19 were announced in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago recorded its first case but there has been no word from Barbadian students there.
Meanwhile, at St. George’s University in Grenada where a few Barbadians are studying and working, students have been permitted to stay home for four weeks and international students have been allowed to leave the country. kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb
