If a case of COVID-19 is reported here in Barbados, the focus of the health authorities will be containment.
So says Acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Health, Dr. Anton Best. Speaking yesterday during the debate on the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure in the House of Assembly, Best explained that there are in excess of 100 countries that have reported cases of COVID-19, and he said there are numerous examples Barbados can draw on where countries have been able to contain the spread or stop it.
“It is possible to contain the spread of this virus and that is the one thing we need to concentrate on. In terms of our strategies we are looking at surveillance, we are looking at quarantine for persons who are deemed to be at high risk based on the history of travel. But the moment we detect that very first case we have to put our energies and efforts into containment,” the acting CMO contended.
He continued, “While we are expecting the worst case scenario, we are preparing as best as possible and we do not anticipate that there would be such a large scale spread if we do what we are supposed to do in terms of containment”.
With that in mind, he said that they are looking to enhance the capacity at various facilities for quarantine and isolation and will be working with private sector entities to identify the deficits in respect of training and technical requirements. The Acting Chief Medical Officer said that they are also in the process of procuring the necessary equipment for the existing and anticipated facilities
Speaking earlier, Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic in response to a question from the Leader of the Opposition Bishop Joseph Atherley on the country’s readiness as it relates to the COVID-19 virus, which has been spreading throughout the world, said steps are being taken to expand the necessary facilities.
He said efforts are underway to increase the capacity in respect of isolation from the six beds at the existing centre at Enmore. According to Bostic, there is also an intention to utilise the old naval base at Harrison Point, which will serve for both isolation and quarantine purposes. He indicated that the isolation capacity at the facility is expected to be 31 beds. In addition to that, he stated that there will 20-40 beds available through the field medical hospital which is being managed by the Barbados Defence Force. (JRT)