With the recent news of a surge of COVID-19 cases, several local businesses are closing their doors temporarily to facilitate industrial cleaning of their branches and test employees who may have been exposed to the virus over the Christmas holidays.
The Barbados Advocate has identified over a dozen businesses within the retail, banking, hospitality, and food industry that have suspended their operations until they have a clear understanding of employees’ medical status. Some institutions are also exercising caution by encouraging staff to work remotely while customers are asked to use online channels to conduct their business.
Yesterday, the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) closed its office until January 11, 2021. In the public notice, it was indicated that the BWU staff will work remotely and their officers will be available to manage industrial relations via email and mobiles.
The BWU’s Executive Council decided to close the office at Solidarity House for the remainder of the week as a "precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well being" of staff and members.
The BWU is accessible via email, ird@bwu.org.bb or admin@bwu.org.bb, and telephone, 573-5017.
Financial Institutions Testing Employees, Positive Cases Found, Some Branches Closed
On its Facebook page, Republic Bank posted late January 5, 2021, that one of its staff members at Independence Square tested positive for COVID-19.
The bank informed the public it is taking precautions by requesting all staff in the affected department to stay at home until they have received their test results.
Republic Bank also conducted industrial cleaning of the building and consulted with the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit which will give the all-clear before reopening the business. The notice also stated that the Independence Square branch is not a client-facing one and contact with the general public is minimal. Industrial cleaning was also completed at the Six Roads branch as some of the affected staff visited this location.
CIBC FirstCaribbean announced that its Broad Street branch is closed until January 11, 2021. One staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The branch was closed for the past five days and it has been sanitised.
The Barbados Public Workers' Co-Operative Credit Union Limited (BPWCCUL) released a closure notice stating one Belmont branch staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The worker will be placed in isolation until recovery.
The credit union was also monitoring two employees -one from the Belmont branch, the other from Mile and A Quarter who were contacted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness as a part of their contact tracing drive. The notice stated that these individuals are in self-quarantine awaiting the results of their tests.
The BPWCCUL announced that all branches of the credit union will be closed until January 11, 2021.
West and South Coast Businesses, Distribution Affected By Recent COVID-19 events
West and south coast businesses have also been impacted by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases with some staff and patrons testing positive.
Buzo Barbados informed patrons that its restaurant is temporarily closed until further notice. This business joined Red Door Lounge and West Bar and Café Sol which suspended operations early in 2021 due to concerns of COVID-19.
On January 2, 2021, Glacial Ice Barbados Limited notified the public that employees attended the Boxing Day bus crawl and they were being tested for COVID-19.
Over the weekend, Chill Café Bar and Grill and Chill Café Bistro closed temporarily as one patron tested positive. Art Splash Centre is in a similar situation as the management was informed of a COVID-19 positive patron.
Sea Shed Bar in St. Peter announced online its staff is being tested and the business is closed during this period. Fusion Mart on Tudor Street Bridgetown posted a notice stating one temporary staff member "attended an area where (they) believe may have been unsafe." It has closed, sanitised the store and the staff is being tested.
Popular Discounts in Spooner’s Hill reported one staff member had attended the "super spreader" event Boxing Day Bus Crawl. This individual will be tested. Another supermarket affected by the recent developments was Emerald City Supermarket in St.Philip. This branch after completing testing has since resumed operations.
Chefette Restaurant Six Roads branch announced that one employee was tested and the result is negative. After industrial cleaning, the restaurant has reopened. Other businesses, Bryden Stokes, Fame Grooming Club, National Insurance Scheme, KM Solutions, Urban Kitchen (Coverley) operations were affected by the health crisis.
According to a letter from the Office of the Prime Minister for the two days January 1 and January 2, the country recorded a total of 211 new cases, inclusive of 121 staff and inmates of Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds. The following two days, January 3 and January 4, a total of 86 positive results emerged from 3,062 tests. Six hundred and ninety-two positive Covid-19 cases have emerged from 75,889 tests conducted at the Best dos Santos Laboratory.