#BTEditorial – No double standards, COVID rules apply to all

Barbadians were today able to resume in-house dining at their favourite fast-food restaurants as part of Government’s measured lifting of restrictions imposed last year to contain the spread of the relentless COVID-19 virus.

Patrons can once again enjoy eating away from home, and businesses will welcome the increased activity in these trying times. Safety, however, must remain the watchword.

The next ease, we anticipate, is the proposed resumption of face-to-face classes on February 21. Admittedly, it is a complex undertaking but with the recent staging of Independence celebrations, general elections and Twenty20 cricket, authorities will be hard-pressed to convince anxious parents, teachers and students that the return to school cannot be safely managed.

The fact is, lockdowns, curfews, and other restrictions cannot be sustained for the long term. Barbados, like the rest of the world, has to get on with the business of living with this defiant virus that might never go away.

However, that business of living and forging a “new normal” must be managed with clearly defined protocols and measures that apply to Peter, Paul and all.

Repeated appeals to the public to take greater responsibility for their health by following the tested and proven methods to avoid the rapid spread of the virus are pointless if those measures are not enforced.

We can ill afford to relax any of our policies, giving a false sense of security where urgent action is needed.

In recent days, countries all over have been declaring their intention to move on and return to a measure of normalcy despite the prevailing high incidence of new infections being driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant. Some indeed have taken bold moves such as Denmark which today became the first EU country to lift all of its domestic COVID restrictions despite record cases.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that rules including public mask-wearing and proof of vaccination to access events will be lifted.

France, which is among countries with the highest daily COVID-19 cases, will also remove mask and remote work mandates this month.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned today that a narrative has taken hold in some countries that because of vaccines and because of Omicron’s high transmissibility and lower severity, preventing transmission is no longer possible or necessary.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said, stressing that “more COVID-19 transmission means more deaths”.

Such risky moves would equally be foolhardy in our context, particularly with confirmation at the weekend from Chief Medical Officer the Most Honourable Dr Kenneth George that there is community spread of the Omicron variant.

The latest figures show 786 new cases and 10,710 people in isolation.

Dr George recently said authorities have developed an Omicron surge plan to combat the wave, as he revealed at a national press conference that the virus was heavily impacting health care facilities and more steps would be taken to prevent the main Queen Elizabeth Hospital from being overwhelmed, so it could adequately provide day-to-day care for those not infected with COVID-19.

Clearly, the fight must continue to wrestle this problem to the ground and, therefore, reinforces that the public cannot afford to let down its guard to allow the rampant transmission of the virus.

It is for this reason that the flagrant display of no mask-wearing by hundreds of cricket lovers at the weekend was so disturbing.

Where were the authorities, the officers of the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit responsible for policing adherence to the protocols?

We are aware of bars being closed, tight monitoring at funerals and weddings and more. Arrests have also been made for flouting the rules. Why no enforcement at Kensington Oval?

Not for a minute do we question the value of the guests who opted to enjoy T20 cricket action at Kensington Oval and the positive spill-over effect that will have for our economy stymied by lack of activity. What is concerning is the potential negative impact of such displays.

Barbadians made considerable sacrifices these past few months to contain the spread of this novel Coronavirus — staying at home; avoiding contact with other people; giving up dining in restaurants as well as partying and picnics; limiting church attendance and more.

Members of the public have already railed on the major lapse of enforcement, and yesterday church leaders too questioned the double standards.

President of the Barbados Evangelical Association Dr Nigel Taylor described the action as an affront to the health standards that have been established for the church and the wider society.

He said: “When you do something like that, invariably you give licence for the populace to expect something greater or to expect something. So you cannot seem to approve one set of rules or turn a blind eye to one set of rules at the expense of others.”

Enough said.

This country is a long way off from being out of COVID danger and it requires all to adhere to the prescribed measures to turn the tide; only then will we get it done.