Bostic not worried about slight increase in COVID-19 cases

Minister of Health and Wellness Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic is not worried about the slight increase in COVID-19 cases over the past three days.

However, the Minister said the easing of restrictions is not an excuse for Barbadians to throw caution in the wind and not observe protocols.

Speaking at today’s press conference to update the nation on a developing situation where public health authorities are monitoring two large family clusters and cases at a manufacturing establishment, Bostic made it clear that all efforts are being made to keep the situation under control.

Bostic also indicated that it has never been the practice of the Ministry of Health to name private sector businesses that had employees who tested positive for COVID-19, but stated that Government primary and secondary schools and facilities have always been named.

“You would recall we never named the elderly care facilities or the day nurseries where there were cases. But we named the Government schools, primary as well as secondary, but not the private schools. This has been consistent throughout the entire period of this fight against COVID.

“In relation to the Ann Hill the Princess Margaret School on this occasion, these are recent events and this is the first opportunity really to be able to speak to these events because of all of that information, recognizing that we were dealing with large numbers in relation to the possible exposures for these two clusters, the business and the school,” Bostic said.

As it relates to authorities conducting contact tracing at the two schools, Bostic made it clear that there was no dropping of the ball and explained that as soon as information was received, it was shared with the Ministry of Education and the schools.

“I have said at press conferences that anytime we drop the ball we are going to dust ourselves off, pick ourselves up and we are going to start again. We are here to improve and do things better as we go along, but there was no ball dropping.

“As soon as information was received about a positive case, that information was communicated to the Ministry of Education, it would have been communicated to the schools and the contact tracing process would have started and is well on the way.

“And I hope that in the very near future, we will be able to come back and give you more details as to exactly how many people have been placed in quarantine. As soon as we have some details we will share those details, there is no reason for us to hide anything,” Bostic said.

The Minister reminded the nation that international countries that were previously performing well in the COVID-19 fight were suddenly thrown into severe pressure because of ill fate. (AH)