Safe zones ‘from November 1’

Government is pressing ahead with the planned establishment of “safe zones” from November 1, as the Prime Minister brushed off objections she suggested came from political quarters.

The first zones are to be implemented in public health care facilities to be followed each week with the addition of one other industry.

Vaccinated staff and members of the public will be allowed entry to safe-zone facilities while the unvaccinated will be required to present a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test.

At Friday’s news conference, Mottley maintained that the roll-out of this plan of action will begin with the health community and mushroom to other industries including law enforcement and border protection, the prison service, sports and the hospitality and tourism industry.

Repeating that she was not prepared to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory, Mottley told journalists: “The bottom line is, for whatever reason, there are people who cannot take it either for medical reasons or serious philosophical reasons. In those circumstances, we are saying that we accept that the only way to the destination is not vaccines. We accept that testing can also give us an idea of safety.

“That is why we talk about the safe zones.”

Mottley said the Ministry of Health has already carried out consultations with health care workers and the required work at the various public health care facilities and nursing homes to make way for the safe zones.

She said: “I have actually seen the draft that they were able to complete and we have sent it to PAHO [Pan American Health Organisation] and it is our anticipation that we will be in a position to have that safe zone in health care institutions and workers by November 1, operational.”

The guidance notes on safe zones for prison workers, soldiers, police officers, customs and immigration, and the hospitality and tourism industry were also being worked on, she added.

Mottley told journalists: “November 1 for the safe zones for the health care workers and I hope we can start rolling out the other frontline workers from November 7, with each week going further and further, particular with the hospitality and tourism workers because of the catalytic impact that has on so many other sectors and opportunities for people to get jobs in this country and to feed their families and take care of themselves.”

While not naming her critics, Mottley dismissed calls for the safe zone measure to be abandoned, saying it was needed at this time.

On Thursday, President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Verla DePeiza called on Government to shelve the safe zone plan at least for now, insisting that a more short-term strategic plan was needed.

Mottley said while debate on issues of national importance was healthy, she added: “I say to those who continue to question how we can have safe zone, I would like for a change, for us to agree that rather than having this talk about whether a safe zone can be safe or needed . . . I would like for them to join me and say ‘how many people we can go and vaccinate in [Dr] Corey Forde’s challenge by November 15.”

Dr Forde, head of the COVID isolation facilities, has thrown out a challenge to all Barbadians who are not yet vaccinated against the virus to do so by November 15.

“At the end of the day, if we want the best for Barbados then it must be that we want to make sure that as few Bajans die and as few Bajans are hospitalized. And the science is too clear and therefore the safe zones are determined to drive safety,” said Mottley.

But she gave a clear indication the COVID-19 vaccine will be added to the list of vaccination required for children to enter the school system.

“The law already exists under the health services regulations to deal with vaccinations,” the Prime Minister said. “We have to add COVID which is being done now, but our laws already tell you that if a child is to go to school in this country, once a vaccination is available and required by the chief medical officer that the only two ways that child can be exempted is by medical reasons or religious reasons, and it is the Chief Medical Officer that does that, not a politician, not a teacher not a principal.”

With this change likely to be done in a matter of weeks, some parents have already been seeking an exemption, but some of them have complained that officials are making the process cumbersome. (MM)