Testing time

Employees at a west coast property say they are growing increasingly concerned that they have not been tested for COVID-19 although several taxi operators at the location have been taken to the Harrison’s Point Isolation facility and management of the property has since been tested.

Barbados TODAY reported late last week that several taxi drivers from one of the six clusters identified on the west coast were tested for the virus and those tests came back negative.

A message making the rounds on social media said that one of the taxi drivers had tested positive for the virus and as a precaution, others were tested but remained on the job.

Reports reaching Barbados TODAY on Monday were that some taxi drivers who operate from the west coast property were picked up by the COVID-19 team on Sunday and taken to Harrison’s Point where they remain.

“The employees are concerned,” said the hotel employee who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“It is not true to say that taxi people were not positive because five of them that work here [from the hotel], were taken to Harrison’s Point last night [Sunday] and they are still there. Our concern as staff is that management has been tested but normal staff have not been tested and we are concerned about our situation,” the employee added.

However, management of the hotel told Barbados TODAY that the safety and wellbeing of the employees and guests remained the number one priority.

“We continue to work closely with the Ministry of Health of Barbados to follow the appropriate protocols to mitigate risk and ensure that our hotel remains a healthy and safe place to work and visit. These measures include regular testing and/or self-quarantining for employees and managers who are in contact with guests or primary contacts identified through contact tracing by the Ministry of Health of Barbados.

“Operating with the utmost concern for our guests, employees and neighbours, we are closely monitoring and adhering to international health and safety protocols,” the hotel said in a statement.

“We remain committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our guests, employees and community, and will continue to take all the necessary steps to provide a safe environment at the hotel,” they assured.

The hotel further pledged that the cleaning procedures and products used to disinfect the facility have proven “effective” in minimizing the spread of COVID-19, along with other viruses and contagions.

“We have also already implemented additional preventative measures to minimize risk of transmission, as guided by the global ALLSAFE programme and our expert advisors at Johns Hopkins and Ecolab,” the statement added. (MM)