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COVID-19 cases at business place ends streak of no new cases

by Sandy Deane
4 min read
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Don’t be fooled!

Minister of Health and Wellness Lt. Col Jeffrey Bostic today issued that warning as the island recorded seven new COVID-19 cases, ending a streak of one or two daily cases, and sometimes none, in recent weeks.

He made it clear that while he’s not worried about the numbers, the small cluster in question suggests that some people have dropped their guard.

“We have seven positive cases and that is not a worry, it really is not. But what is of concern is that six of these seven positive cases plus one yesterday or day before, then there are three other persons going for assessment at Harrison Point, these all come from one business place in Barbados.

“So that if we could have eight and possibly 11 positive cases at a time when our cases are low and we are having those numbers in one business place, it suggests to me that some people and some institutions perhaps are getting too relaxed and are dropping the ball. And so, I want to reemphasize the call to all persons in this country not to be fooled by the fact that we are having a low number of positive cases. This enemy is still with us. It does not always rear its head but it is a clear and present danger.”

Bostic addressed the issue as he received a donation of 924,000 masks to the region, 500 000 of which are for Barbados, from the Federal Republic of Germany, at the Pan American Health Organization’s headquarters in Dayrells Road, Christ Church.

He stressed the need for business places and other institutions to follow the protocols and ensure that staff, patrons, clients and customers fully adhere to the measures.

“Because if we do not continue along that path, then we still start to see some cases creeping up and some numbers that we do not want to see at this point in time. So, I can only urge you to follow the protocols. Keep wearing the mask, keep the sanitising going, keep the physical distancing going.”

The Minister also appealed to Barbadians who have not yet been vaccinated to step forward and get the jab.

He revealed that the National Vaccination Programme will get a boost shortly with the expected arrival of 30 000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China on Friday.

Noting that the vaccine is already in use in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago , he expressed hope that this would help to ease any apprehension.

“I am encouraged that these vaccines are being used in Trinidad and Tobago… and I hope that would encourage persons to do so,” he said.

Minister Bostic said that 250 Chinese nationals are likely to be vaccinated first from this new batch, in keeping with a request from the People’s Republic of China for its nationals here to be inoculated.

Meanwhile, PAHO/WHO Representative to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Dr Yitades Gebres also urged citizens to get vaccinated as he reported that the decline in cases and death in most regions has slowed down.

He attributed this to increased vaccine inequity, more social mixing and an increase in COVID-19 variants.

“The Delta variant is one of the variants of concern that is circulating around the world. It has become one of the dominant variants circulating in some of the countries. So far, 92 countries have reported they have the variant; it is highly transmissible. It is also important [to note] that the Alpha variant is spreading all over the world at this time. Therefore, we are not out of the woods as yet; we have to work together,” Gebres said.

Germany’s Honorary Consul to Barbados Andreas Kusay stressed the need for the world’s developed nations to do more to ensure small island developing states (SIDS) can better respond to the challenge.

“The international community must come forward to ensure that small island economies can scale up testing and treatment and have interrupted access to critical medical supplies,” he said.
(sandydeane@barbadostoday.bb)

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