More flack for relaxed entry rules for fully vaxxed travellers as DLP spokesman weighs in

The DLP’s shadow spokesman on health has piled political pressure over Minister of Health Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic on the new travel protocols.

Paul Gibson, a veteran pharmacist, told Barbados TODAY that the new guidelines which came into effect a week ago would allow new COVID-19 variants to get into the island without being detected and suggested that those responsible for the concept go back to the drawing board.

Under the new rules, fully vaccinated travellers with a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result will no longer be required to take a second COVID-19 PCR test, on arrival at the Grantley Adams International Airport.

Gibson said: “If a variant of COVID enters Barbados, it will probably come through the airport. And so, we must have a way of capturing and knowing what is coming through, who is coming in, and who is positive and who is not.

“At this stage, if you take a test at 72 hours and then enter Barbados, you really don’t know if that person is infected. And the question is how do you capture it. The concern is very clear. It is very scientific and it does not make sense and I believe that the Government should review that decision.

“We want to make sure that we are doing everything to mitigate and to protect Barbadians from the high level of death that is occurring and one of the ways is to make sure that we guard our gates, guard our entry into the country.”

Speaking in the House of Assembly last week, BLP backbencher, Dr Sonia Browne, MP for St Philip North,  called on her Government to provide scientific evidence behind the decision to introduce the new guidelines. The general practitioner joined the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) in calling for the protocols to be reviewed.

Gibson said: “As a pharmacist in Barbados and understanding the international travel guidelines and protocols and so on, one thing that is sure is if you do a test 72 hours before arriving in Barbados, and happen to catch COVID within a day or two days after your COVID test, and you land in Barbados and there is no situation where you can do an assessment, it is a challenge.

“So I understand why the physicians are concerned. I understand the reason why the physicians are saying that we need to revisit the new established protocols launched by Mr Bostic. And we need to really understand that you have to be able to capture those persons with COVID.”