COVID-19 claims woman’s life as in-person schooling hits bump

The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic rose by one Tuesday while health authorities closed yet another school after a student tested positive for the virus.

The woman, a 66-year-old Barbadian, died Monday night, Health and Wellness Minister Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic announced Tuesday night.

Lt Col Bostic revealed that the woman had a history of hypertension, diabetes, and shortness of breath.

He said: “She was a primary contact of a COVID positive patient on the 5th of May, 2021.

“She had a negative first COVID-19 test and presented for her second test yesterday. Sometime after returning home, she regrettably passed away. Sincerest condolences [are] extended to her family and friends.”

Deaths from COVID-19, though five times higher so far this year than in all of 2020, amount to approximately 0.0160 per cent of the Barbadian population.

In a separate development, days after clearing the St George Primary School and the Princess Margaret School of COVID-19, classes had to be abandoned at the Ellerslie Secondary School as officials confirmed an infection.

The health minister explained: “A student from the Ellerslie School is among four persons testing positive today out of 436 tests that were carried out overnight at the Best Dos Santos Public health Laboratory.

“All four cases are being investigated but this particular one involving a minor is receiving the vigorous attention of public health officials as they seek to conduct the customary contact tracing and sourcing exercise.

“Already several primary and other contacts of the student have been identified in testing and we expect to be in.a position to shed further light if not later this evening, most definitely in tomorrow’s brief.”

Lt Col Bostic again appealed to students and Barbadians to follow full health protocol especially the wearing of masks.

He said: “Full adherence to the protocols will offer you a high level of protection and this one is especially for our nation’s schoolchildren: please, please wear your masks, not only in school but out of school, at the bus stop, on public transport,  in your communities. It is very, very important  that you adhere to all protocols in and out of school.” (SD)