On the day Barbados soared passed 10,000 coronavirus infections recorded here since the pandemic began in March 2020, COVID-19 Public Advisor David Ellis warned “a high degree of indiscipline” is helping to drive community spread of the virus.
The concern was voiced as a 36-year-old unvaccinated man became the 87th person to die from the viral illness, as a wave of infections attributed to the highly contagious Delta variant breached record limits.
He spent 19 days in primary isolation at Harrison Point. He also had underlying medical conditions.
September notched a record 3,506 cases, five times higher than the 689 cases in August.
For the first four days of October, there were 913 cases.
Ellis again sought to dispel the myth that the viral illness was only affecting the nation’s elderly which accounts for the majority of deaths so far.
The COVID-19 public advisor said it was worrying that a lot of people are still mingling in groups and hosting parties despite the daily rise in cases.
“I can say that one big concern which is being expressed by people who are dealing with this problem in Barbados is what some are describing as a high degree of indiscipline,” said the retired journalist and talk show host.
“Sometimes they are behaving as though it is business as usual and it must be remembered that this is contributing to the problem that we are facing. It is a major issue now in the country based on the figures.
“Therefore, we really want to implore Barbadians to take this matter far more seriously and a lot has to be done to curb the kind of excessive mixing that has been taking place in the country.”
Ellis further pleaded with the island’s youth to adhere to the protocols.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Best, who noted that the island was in the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, again urged Barbadians to get vaccinated against the virus as he expressed concern about the relatively slow uptake of the vaccines.
He said: “The vaccines are effective and safe, and they can reduce transmission risk, but most importantly, they reduce the severity of the disease.
“We really require people in the community to have an understanding as to where we are, why we are here, and what role they can play in helping us to combat this deadly pandemic.” (SD)
