Fish Friday returns after viral infection in kiosk

Oistins Bay Garden is back, one week after the iconic food and entertainment spot was closed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 at one of its 32 kiosks, its chairman announced Thursday.

Kemar Harris announced that it would be reopening for the weekly Friday fish fry, its main draw.

All personnel at the Bay Garden were tested this week and returned negative COVID-19 tests, he told journalists at a news conference.

Additional cleaning of kiosks was being carried out and would be finished in time for tomorrow’s reopening, he said.

Harris said to his knowledge, four people from a single kiosk had tested positive for COVID-19, which triggered last week’s shutdown.

He estimated that around 95 per cent of owners of the Bay Garden’s kiosks were fully vaccinated.

The chairman said: “Over the last week or so we would have had an event that took place here and basically as a precautionary measure the Ministry of Health would have advised the National Conservation Commission to close the compound temporarily.

“However, since the compound was closed all persons that occupy kiosks at the Bay Garden were advised and instructed that they had to take a PCR test before coming back to work. On Tuesday the personnel from the Oistins Bay Garden had their COVID tests and it is safe to say that all the persons who took the test are negative.

“We took the precautionary measures and yesterday and today all stalls were cleaned and sanitized. The official reopening for Oistins Bay Garden will be [Friday].”

Harris said the protocols would be strictly enforced and only people wearing masks would be served, after being sanitised on entry.

Outdoor dining in the Bay Garden would still be allowed as there had been no changes to that protocol, Harris noted.

The news was welcomed by business owners and workers in the Bay Garden.

They told Barbados TODAY they hoped patrons would still flock to Oistins on Friday for food.

Cynthia, who works at Uncle George’s Fishnet, told Barbados TODAY she was glad to return to work and earn some money.

“The closure affected me a lot because you know you already behind on bills so you got to catch up again fresh. I hope there is a good turnout when we reopen from tomorrow,” she said.

An elated Maureen Daniel, owner of Mo’s Grill and Bajan Cooking, was busy helping staff clean and sanitize the kiosk.

“I feel wonderful,” she told Barbados TODAY. “I missed all my customers and I am very happy that we are opening again from Friday.”

But the chairman of the Bay Garden urged people to desist from spreading rumours on social media.

He said messages were claiming that all the kiosks in the Bay Garden had been affected by COVID-19, which was not true.

During the press conference, the chairman also disclosed that the Bay Garden, which is a registered charity, would be donating dry goods hampers to approximately 75 people who had been affected by Hurricane Elsa. (RB)