Sandals Barbados Resort remains off the list for quarantining visitors, but the all-inclusive hotel is seeking to address issues which caused concerns for the COVID-19 watchdog, the Government’s coronavirus czar said Monday.
The resort has been delisted as a designated quarantine hotel effective on Tuesday.
Foreign Minister Senator Dr Jerome Walcott, who now chairs a Cabinet sub-committee overseeing the anti-virus fight, said the hotel’s executives have declared their intention to meet the standards for preventing the virus’s spread.
He told journalists: “I met with Sandals management and officials from the Ministry [of Health] and Sandals came with a plan, recognizing that there have been some breeches…they looked at home going forward they can improve on these measures.
“I am informed by Ronald Chapman, who is in charge of the monitoring unit, that as discussed, they paid a visit again to Sandals on Saturday, and he has informed me that there have been substantial improvements, and that they will continue working with Sandals so that they meet again the requirements of the Ministry of Health and Wellness.”
One of the changes said to be on the cards is for Sandals to designate one of its property for visitors under quarantine away from other guests.
He said: “There is a commitment on the part of Sandals to separate, I believe they have two properties to use one as a dedicated quarantine centre. They said that they would do certain things in terms of securing it, that there will be no mixing and mingling of persons who are not in quarantine with those who are in quarantine.
“The (health) ministry paid a visit on Saturday; they said that substantial work has occurred but there is need for more work to be done. The ministry officials remained engaged, that is officials from the COVID monitoring unit, will remain engaged with Sandals Group in terms of bringing it back in, getting it off the list as soon as possible.”
