Latest victim, 74, – Ministry of Health

A 74-year-old man is the second person to die here from coronavirus, COVID-19, the acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) announced today.

The patient, who tested positive for the viral illness on March 20, died this morning while under care at the virus isolation centre, he said, a day after Minister of Health Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic announced the death of an 81-year-old man.        

But the man unlike the 81-year-old had not been overseas. He was infected after coming into contact with another COVID-19 positive person. He had been in isolation since his diagnosis, acting CMO Dr Anton Best said.

Expressing sympathy to the man’s family and friends, Dr Best said that he was saddened that another Barbadian had died from the viral illness, and that it was particularly difficult to hear of a second death so soon after the first.

He said: “This is a sombre time for our country as we lose another person to this deadly disease.

“I ask our citizens to remain strong and to continue to be vigilant every day, taking every precaution to protect themselves against this illness.”

The acting CMO issued another appeal to observe the stay-at-home order in a bid to help to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The news of the 74-year-old’s passing comes as the number of confirmed cases edges 60, with four people tested positive for COVID-19. The patients are 31 females and 29 males, Dr Best reported

Six patients have been released after surviving the viral infection while 52 remain in isolation.

A “critically ill” 95-year-old male is among the new cases, said the Ministry of Health, along with a 47-year-old female, “who was infected by a known contact” and a 57-year-old female and an 84-year-old female, who travelled abroad.

A total of 30 tests were done yesterday at the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory, and 557 have been carried out since testing began on February 11, the health authorities said.