Tourism linked to COVID, says Solutions

The reduced number of COVID-19 cases in Barbados is as a result of fewer people coming into the island, according to analysis conducted by President of Solutions Barbados Grenville Phillips II.

And he is warning that if Government allows business as usual to resume at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) too soon, we will see another spike in cases.

Phillips, a chartered structural engineer by profession, said there were now only eight cases per week, compared to 20 cases per week earlier.

He maintained there was a correlation between the drop in cases and the substantial decline in visitors passing through the GAIA.

In referencing a graph of reported COVID-19 cases in Barbados he developed based on daily reports provided by the Ministry of Health, he said there was no other evidence to suggest otherwise.

He said it was necessary for Government to formulate a plan on how it would operate post COVID-19.

“An analysis of the graph shows no change in the linear trend due to the contract tracing, or the mandatory quarantine. So why did the number of new cases decline? We seem to have simply run out of fuel – there were significantly fewer persons arriving to infect us,” Phillips insisted.

“If we continue with the current arrangement after the major airlines resume flying to Barbados then we will certainly get more cases. Are we then supposed to be on lock-down indefinitely? What is the Government’s plan?”

While Phillips lauded the Mia Mottley-led administration for its decision to shut down non-essential services, saying that the move would have helped to stop the spread of the potentially fatal virus, he criticized Government for its decision to leave ports open and for badly implementing its policies.

“Ideally, the two-week shut-down should have identified all infected persons in Barbados, with all of them undergoing treatment. However, keeping our ports open to travellers is not part of an ideal plan.

“Fortunately, the Government finally listened to reason, and instituted a mandatory 14-day quarantine for travellers. Unfortunately, it was, and continues to be implemented, as badly as could be imagined,” he pointed out.

“For some insane reason, people can self-quarantine at home, and infect their friends and family. If the traveller gets sick, it is only then that they are tested for the virus. If they are found to be infected, then everyone who met them is traced.

“Why keep rejecting the option of testing the traveller when they arrive, and isolating only the infected persons until they are better?” Phillips asked.

The political leader contended that authorities lacked critical thinking and were simply taking directives from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“The WHO recommended not closing land-type borders, where people can easily find a way around the official points of entry. It is easier to trace people through the official entry points than to have them enter the country undetected.

“Barbados does not have a problem of people entering undetected. Therefore, the WHO’s advice, that we unquestioningly obeyed as if it was an infallible command, was not relevant to us at all,” Phillips noted.
randybennett@barbadostoday.bb