No change to school as COVID-19 cases rise

Though Barbados has recorded a dramatic spike in new COVID cases, in-person classes at the island’s public and private schools can continue.

This position comes from Deputy Chief Medical Officer Anton Best, as he spoke during Tuesday’s COVID update on the island recording 432 persons new positive COVID-19  cases.

Dr Best said that though some cases of COVID had been recorded in the schools since the resumption of classes on February 21, the cases still remained generally low, compared to the spread within communities.

“We have analyzed the data from February 21 when the schools resumed face-to-face classes, and the numbers are relatively small when you take into consideration what is happening in the community.

“This is what we anticipated. We did anticipate that we would pick up a few cases in the schools, but we are not seeing sustained transmission happening within the schools because the protocols are working,” he explained.

He added, that Ministry of Health officials were constantly monitoring the data associated with the schools, and so far, no drastic changes were needed to replace the current strict protocols in place at learning institutions.

“So far the discussion in the Ministry of Health is that even in the face of an increase in the number of cases in the community, there is absolutely no reason parents need to be concerned. Teachers or non-academic staff at our academic institutions do not need to be concerned about what is happening in the community in terms of outbreaks occurring within the schools. (SB)