The Ministry of Health and Wellness has confirmed the existence of a “small cluster” of positive COVID-19 cases originating at a St James property.
Barbados TODAY learned of the unfolding events less than 24 hours after Minister of Health and Wellness Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic spoke of “potential developments” relating to 14 recent cases that may have to be relayed to Barbadians “if the situation warrants”.
At the time, Minister Bostic confirmed that some locals and visitors had been “deliberately” flouting the country’s COVID-19 protocols. Subsequent investigations revealed that an alleged protocol breach at the West Coast property involving one of two UK visitors is at the root of the cluster.
Fortunately, an emergency round of Covid-19 PCR tests relating to the troubling situation, have all come back negative. Nevertheless, the 26 persons tested have been ordered to continue to isolate as they await the outcome of a second sequence of testing.
In response to a number of questions from Barbados TODAY on Monday, Roy Morris, who is Press Secretary to Prime Minister Mia Mottley replied: “I have spoken with Chief Medical Officer (Ag), Dr Kenneth George, and can confirm that over the past three to four days the Ministry of Health and Wellness has been investigating a small cluster of positive COVID-19 cases at a West Coast property in St. James.
“It involved a number of persons who recently arrived from the United Kingdom, all of whom arrived with negative test results. On the second test, however, two of the individuals returned positive test results,” the press secretary revealed.
It is still unclear if the visitors have brought with them the new variant of COVID-19 originating in the U.K. The new strain is believed to be up to 70 per cent more transmissible, and over the last few hours, has resulted in harsher restrictions on mixing in England, Scotland, and Wales.
The latest developments here, according to Morris, resulted in an immediate process of contact tracing. The visitors’ two children tested positive, along with an adult who came into the country with them from the UK.
“Over the past two to three days the Ministry of Health and Wellness has tested 26 persons associated with the household, including all staff on the property, which sits on several acres of land. All of those tests have revealed negative results,” Morris disclosed.
“Out of an abundance of caution, however, all those persons have been confined pending further testing,” he added.
Sources close to the situation told Barbados TODAY that one of the guests who was supposed to remain in self-quarantine, had ventured to a small house party at a nearby property, prior to receiving the result of their second test.
When the tests came back positive, the source noted that all staff members at both properties were asked to quarantine – some of them at home, and others at the St. Lucy District Hospital.
“[Staff] were supposed to get tested today [Monday], but health officials decided to do emergency testing yesterday [Sunday] instead,” the source disclosed.
“It seems some people have come to Barbados to enjoy their vacation without adhering to the rules and regulations,” the anonymous source lamented.
The situation is also said to be particularly frustrating for the employees, who have been separated from family members at the height of the Christmas season.
In an address to the nation on Sunday night, Minister Bostic cautioned businesses, hoteliers and consumers to be on guard as they engage in Christmas preparations, and as the country recorded 14 new cases in two days.
Hoteliers in particular were warned to “pull your weight to ensure minimal, if not zero, breaches of protocol regulations”.
“Quarantine is quarantine. There is nothing ambiguous about the word. Persons who are in quarantine should remain in quarantine until the relevant authority says otherwise. Hotel workers, similarly – if you see something, please say something,” Bostic pleaded during the Sunday evening address.
“Already in the past 24 hours we have heard of eight new cases and, as Minister of Health and Wellness, I have the authority to notify you that already today, we have confirmed six additional cases. Three of these involve a single non-Barbadian family.
“There are potential developments related to that particular series of screenings, and these will be relayed to you if the situation warrants,” he added.
Currently, all arrivals to Barbados from high and medium-risk countries are required to have proof of a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within three days of arrival. Such travellers are currently required to undergo a second test in four to five days. During this time, persons from “high-risk” countries will have “restricted movement” at their approved accommodation, and are not allowed to leave the property.
Sources close to the west coast property at the centre of the most recent controversy noted some concern about the fact that quarantining guests are not required to wear identifying wristbands, as is the practice at designated hotels.
As a result, the onus is on guests to adhere to the terms and conditions of their quarantine with monitoring mechanisms that include daily self-temperature checks and reporting to an appointed public health official via telephone or text.
Meanwhile, in response to the worsening UK situation, the Governments of Grenada suspended all flights from the UK as it struggles to contain a troubling cluster of COVID-19 cases. And, within the next 48 hours, Jamaica will determine whether such travel restrictions will be imposed in the northern Caribbean nation.
(kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)
