With an upsurge in local spread of COVID-19 in Barbados, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has been forced to implement a new system for testing. Speaking during an address to the public yesterday, Minister Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic outlined the new protocols for testing which would see tests placed in timed tiers based on their level of priority.
After being able to guarantee results from testing within 24 hours for some time, the latest wave of testing, which was brought on by clusters created by persons who broke quarantine, saw a major backlog as the Best Dos Santos Lab became overwhelmed by vast numbers. Taking the opportunity to also apologiseto locals and visitors who waited in some instances up to a week or more for their results, it was revealed that tests were now being broken down into four classes.
Category 1 will cater to medical officers, primary contacts of positive cases, policemen, inmates of HMP Dodds, soldiers, all medical personnel, border security, immigration officers, customs officers, Barbados Port Inc. officers, patients awaiting tests for medical treatment and patients in elder care facilities. These persons can expect their results within 24 hours.
The second tier will see inbound and outbound visitors also getting their results within 24 hours. Secondary and tertiary contacts to positive cases were named as Category 3 and can expect their results in 36 to 48 hours. Persons who are generally curious about their status can also conduct a test and will receive results in 48 to 72 hours. With all polyclinics brought on-stream to deal with the massive influx of persons seeking testing, it was also announced that the Glebe and Bradford Taitt Polyclinics would now be in use exclusively for persons in Category 1.