With a general election around the corner and the Omicron variant of COVID-19 an ever-present threat, the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) has expressed concern about the anticipated mass gatherings.
In a statement issued by first vice-president Dr Adanna Grandison, she renewed the association’s call for persons to be vaccinated while pointing out that unvaccinated persons were at high risk of becoming seriously ill from Omicron.
She also lamented the fact that “proven public health measures” such as social distancing, frequent sanitization and mask-wearing were being ignored by some.
Her comments came just two days after Prime Minister Mia Mottley shocked the country by announcing that general elections will be held on January 19, 2022.
With campaigns and political meetings expected to ramp up in the coming weeks, Dr Grandison said all protocols needed to be adhered to at mass events.
“We are therefore concerned and suggest extreme caution in mass gatherings of people that disregard these proven preventative measures and resist the monitoring of them. In addition, we recommend that if persons are attending or taking part in any large social event, it must be held outdoors, and all participants should be tested with a Ministry of Health and Wellness-approved rapid antigen test immediately prior to the event and the results reported to the Ministry of Health & Wellness,” she suggested.
“We must act as if Omicron is here and we appeal to you to exercise judgment and to consider the wisdom of gathering in large numbers with those not in your immediate family circle. We understand the universal desire for close social interaction, we feel it also, but we must all ask ourselves — is the need for gathering worth the risk to my life and health or that of my relative, neighbour, co-worker or friend? Act based on knowledge and take all necessary precautions to mitigate potential negative effects.”
BAMP also renewed its calls for persons to be vaccinated.
Dr Grandison said with less than half the population still unvaccinated, Omicron presented a serious risk to both the young and old.
“The new Omicron variant of COVID-19 passes readily between individuals, causing hospitalisations and deaths, mainly among the unvaccinated, and breakthrough infections in persons vaccinated more than six months ago. The reality is that Barbados has an elderly population, a large proportion of us have at least one non-communicable disease and just under half, 47 per cent, of our population remains unvaccinated.
“Omicron has been shown to infect more young people and although the course may be milder in them, the potential for young people to spread COVID-19 to those vulnerable for severe disease is great and this has implications for older members of Barbadian multi-generational households. We appeal to Barbadians to again exercise good judgment and to take precautions to protect your health and the health of your loved ones,” Dr Grandison urged.
“Vaccination – two doses and a booster if your second dose was more than six months ago – has been shown to be effective against preventing hospitalisations and deaths from all of the variants of COVID-19. We continue to encourage all eligible Barbadians and residents to be vaccinated appropriately, and particularly all of our frontline heroes,” the BAMP official added.
randybennett@barbadostoday.bb
