#BTEditorial – Good tidings of great joy for Brits and the world

On Wednesday, the United Kingdom announced plans to be first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. This much-needed good news is more than welcomed, especially at this Christmas time.

Britain reported that it will start using the vaccine from as early as next week. The country ordered 40 million doses with the hope of vaccinating 20 million people.

Britain’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock was very upbeat while revealing the news.

“I’m confident now, with the news today, that from spring, from Easter onwards, things are going to be better. And we’re going to have a summer next year that everybody can enjoy”, Hancock said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was pleased as punch too when he addressed the nation. The PM said: “It’s the protection of vaccines that will ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get the economy moving again.”

However, Johnson was quick to caution his citizens not to get “carried away with over optimism” or fall into “the naïve belief that the struggle us over”. This is sound and wise advice.

Certainly, this news is not just comfort for the Brits alone. Countries across the world, plagued by the global pandemic, will all be looking on, hoping for a favourable outcome.

For us in Barbados, this is positive news.

The ties that bind Barbados and Britain are long and strong. We have many people of Barbadian ancestry who reside in the UK. We have family members there who will benefit from this. We have Bajans here who are more than eager to visit family and friends there.

Moreover, Britain remains our largest source market as it relates to tourism. If this vaccine is successful it would benefit our country immensely. It’s just the shot in the arm our ailing tourism sector needs.

And if reports from travel officials of a pent up demand for travel to Barbados proves correct, empty hotels, closed attractions and tourism workers stand to benefit.

The development comes as most of the world’s large countries battle with a rising number of COVID-19 infections. Some have warned that it’s the second wave of the deadly illness that has claimed more than 1.5 million lives and infected just over 65 million.

Britain’s greatest ally the United States is of course watching and has already began to fast track moves to provide the vaccine to its citizens in light of spiralling infections.

The healthcare system in the US appears on the brink. The same day the UK was reporting its good news hospitals across America were crying out in despair.

Associated Press reports indicated that hospitals were trying to lure doctors out of retirement, recruiting students and new graduates who have not yet earned their licences, in a desperate bid to ease the healthcare workers shortage.

The report read: “With COVID-19 surging from coast to coast, the number of patients in the hospital with the virus has more than doubled over the past month to a record high of nearly 100 000 pushing medical centres and health care workers to the breaking point.”

Similarly, the UK’s news and consequent actions will have a ripple effect for others.

On Thursday, Australia said it would stand by its Federal Government and start a vaccination programme in March 2021. They are hoping to learn lessons and get valuable data from Britain.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said: “Frankly, the work done in the UK will give Australia and the world very important lessons, both on the rollout and the efficacy of this particular vaccine, but vaccines more generally”.

In other countries, leaders are trying their best to curb the spread especially during the Holiday Season which generally entails travelling, large family gatherings and plenty socialising. In France, Prime Minister Jean Castex told his citizens of heightened border checks which will be implemented for the Holiday Season. France joined Germany and
Italy in shutting its ski lifts over the Christmas period to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Today, Italy announced new rules and restrictions to halt the spread of the coronavirus during the upcoming Christmas season. From December 21, 2020 to January 6, 2021 Italians will not be allowed to travel between the country’s 20 regions except for work or health reasons. Added to that on Christmas Day and Boxing Day Italians will be forbidden to move outside of their home district, except for work or health reasons.

Here in the Caribbean, Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness has banned all parties, fetes and social gatherings for the rest of the year.

We, in Barbados, known for our elaborate Old Year’s Night and New Year’s Day festivity were reminded by Ronald Chapham, head of the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit that the limit for large gatherings remains 250 people for the rest of the year.

Chapham told promoters and club owners: “We are at that point where we’re coming to the end of the race. We ran a really good first leg and we are now in the two middle legs and we’re still doing well. It is how we finish the race that makes all the difference. We will get the vaccine here in Barbados and once that happens then we are able to bring back some sense of normalcy.”

We agree wholeheartedly with the head of the Unit’s assessment of the situation. While it is true that we have managed to keep our COVID- numbers down and there has been no evidence of community spread the deadly virus is still with us.

The old adage “better safe than sorry” must be applied in Barbados until our island is in a position to announce, as UK did Wednesday, that we have an approved vaccine which is ready for use.

Until then all of us must do our part to ensure we do not erode all the positive strides, made over the last nine months, by playing loose and reckless over the festive
Holiday Season.