Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic.
BARBADOS has recorded another positive case of COVID-19, bringing the total to 34.
The announcement was made last night by Minister of Health and Wellness (MOHW), Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic, where he revealed that overnight 22 COVID-19 tests were conducted by the Public Health laboratory of which one came back positive. He said the cases recorded so far have resulted from over 250 tests.
“I want to say at the beginning, that these confirmed cases for the most part have been Barbadians returning from overseas, or Barbadians coming into contact with persons coming from overseas.
“We have 21 Barbadians who have contracted the COVID virus, with five other persons who are non-nationals but who reside in Barbados. Of the visitors who have contracted COVID-19, there are five from the UK and three from the USA. Several of our persons would have contracted the virus as a result of being in close contact with someone who had contracted the virus.
“I am saying that to say that the spread of the virus in Barbados is as a result of Barbadians, some who did not heed the call from the Ministry of Health and Wellness to avoid non-essential travel, but who have travelled abroad and so they have contracted the virus when they made their travels. For the remainder of persons, we have been able to contain the spread, especially through the contact tracing that we have been aggressively pursuing.”
Minister Bostic used the opportunity to call on Barbadians to work together to contain the spread of the pandemic.
“I am saying that because it is up to us, up to you and up to me. It is not a Ministry of Health problem, it is not a problem for the QEH and the other facilities. This is a problem that each and every one of us must play our part, so that we can contain the spread of this virus.”
He expressed confidence in the capacity created at the national level and the ability of those members of staff within the MOHW and by extension, the wider public health and medical professional community on the island.
“We can do this. We can contain the spread of this virus and we intend to do so. But it has to be a national effort. Every citizen, every resident here in Barbados must heed the call. We must obey the instructions and directives of the MOHW and the Government and we must do what is required.”
He said this includes keeping surroundings sanitised and practising social distancing. “If one person does not adhere to the MOHW, then that person is going to put all of us at risk. Let us do this together and remember, these things are in our hands for us to be able to contain the spread of COVID-19,” Minister Bostic said.
