Local NewsNews Two elderly citizens die from COVID-19, death toll now 18 by Barbados Today 05/02/2021 written by Barbados Today Updated by Sandy Deane 05/02/2021 2 min read A+A- Reset Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic Share FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail 154 Two elderly Barbadians have succumbed to COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 18, a release from the COVID Communications Unit in Barbados has said. The latest casualty is a 75-year-old female who died at Harrison Point this morning. The statement said, “The lady was a former patient of the Geriatric Hospital in St Michael when she took ill. She was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on January 27, but was transferred to Harrison Point two days later when a PCR test showed her to be COVID-positive. The second patient was an 83-year-old man who died at the Accident and Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) on Thursday According to the statement, “the senior lived alone and on February 3, after not being seen for some time, friends and neighbours broke into his rural home in an attempt to help him. He was found to be unwell and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was seen in the Accident and Emergency Department. He died there yesterday (February 4). The Ministry of Health and Wellness has extended condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased. You Might Be Interested In Crystal Beckles-Holder, 2nd runner up in regional competition GUYANA: Body of child found after gold mine collapses Barbadians asked to help with return tickets for Haitians Minister of Health and Wellness Lt Col. Jeffrey Bostic described the case of the elderly gentleman as, “a very sad one.” He said, “this shows the importance of being our neighbours’ keeper and looking out for each other. This is a time to get back the traditional community spirit and support each other” In the case of the elderly woman, Bostic said, “her case shows the necessity of being vigilant in relation to the elderly, who have been the majority of those dying from COVID in Barbados. The majority of our seniors are getting infected in their homes, through contact with close relatives, caregivers and friends who are circulating in public and are then in contact with the elderly.” He cautioned Barbadians to be very careful around senior citizens and those who suffer from chronic non-communicable diseases. “We should definitely be wearing our masks around these vulnerable persons, washing our hands frequently and maintaining the distance of six feet. Lives depend on our observing the safety protocols and guidelines.” (BT/PR) Barbados Today Stay informed and engaged with our digital news platform. The leading online multimedia news resource in Barbados for news you can trust. You may also like ‘Titan’ historian Trevor Marshall, dies at 77 14/02/2025 Exports at risk at choked Bridgetown port, say brokers 14/02/2025 Consumers to pay more for gas and diesel 13/02/2025