Bajans show confidence in COVID-19 fight

Barbadians appear to be taking in their stride the news of a newly discovered mutant of the coronavirus in the United Kingdom, expressing their support for the country’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, Minister of Health Lt Col. Jeffery Bostic said Barbados was not considering banning flights from the UK.

He said: “We are in contact with WHO/PAHO who is providing guidance in terms of this particular one and at this time we do not see any requirement for the closure of our airspace, from flights coming from the United Kingdom and if the situation warrants that we will give early notice to the press and also we will make it known to the airlines who come here.”

A Barbados TODAY team caught up with some customers while they were doing some last-minute shopping at Sheraton Mall on Wednesday.

One man said: “I think Barbados has been handling it very well, I would say we are one of the most secure places in the Caribbean, but all in all we are handling the protocols really good everybody always got on their mask and sanitizing in every store so I think Barbados handling fairly good.”

Another man said: “I would be concerned that people not hearing due to the fact that Barbados has come a long way and we aren’t like other Caribbean countries and I think we are doing a good job and people are adhering  to it [COVOD protocols] and that is what you want because you want to be safe.”

Some were more concerned with people who breach quarantine.

“There will always be people who try to flout the system, some people see rules as something to be broken it is not the smartest thing to do, hopefully, we have the authorities will track them down and bring them into line so that everybody will be safe,” said one shopper. “Take it easy now that we have can a better 2021 than to have another 2020.” (KB)