Tuesday 17th March 2020 -   Bridgetown Barbados.       

Corona virus

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON COVID-19

BY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS

THE HONOURABLE LT. COL. JEFFREY BOSTIC

Today I am advising the public that Barbados has recorded its first two

cases of COVID-19.

The patients are a 48-year-old visitor who arrived in Barbados

on March 13th from the U.S, and a 39-year-old female, a Barbadian

who recently returned to Barbados from the U.S.

Both patients were experiencing symptoms of a viral infection and were

referred to the team at the Ministry of Health and Wellness for further

evaluation.

The Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory informed us early this

morning that samples taken for these patients were positive. Both

patients are being managed for COVID-19 and have been placed in

isolation, where they will remain until they recover.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has initiated

the process of contact tracing to identify every individual who came in

close contact with these patients. These persons will all be placed in

quarantine for 14 days.

Our priority now as a Ministry is to ensure that COVID-19 is

contained and to do all in our power to prevent in-country transmission.

We are now in Stage 1 of our National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

where the primary focus is containment to prevent community spread.

We have decided on the following measures, which will be implemented

with immediate effect.

• All public gatherings such as sporting and cultural events or

any event that attracts crowds will be restricted to 100 persons.

• Visits by members of the public to all public and private

geriatric institutions are suspended until further notice.

• Visits to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital are restricted to protect

elderly patients as well as those suffering with non-communicable

diseases.

• The Isolation Centre at Enmore has been stood up with six

isolation beds and quarantine facilities are in place at the Paragon Base

in Christ Church and the Elayne Scantlebury Centre, River Bay, St.

Lucy. Additionally, quarantine and isolation facilities will be available at

Harrison’s Point within weeks. • The Barbados Defence Force’s

Field Medical Facility has also been set up to provide additional

screening, quarantine and isolation services.

I wish to reiterate that our mission now is to prevent the spread of this

viral illness in our country. We must all play our part by being vigilant

about putting into practice the public health advice that you must now

be very familiar with.

• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and

water; alternatively, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Practise social distancing, that is, maintain at least one metre

or 3 feet between yourself and anyone who is visibly ill with who is

coughing or sneezing.

• Avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose.

• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you cough or

sneeze or do so into your bent elbow

• If you have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, especially if

you were in an affected region within the previous 14 days or think you

may have been in contact with someone who was, call your healthcare

provider, the nearest polyclinic or the Ministry’s COVID-19 hotline for

advice. The hotline’s number is 536-4500.

So once again, Barbados has recorded its first two cases of COVID-19

- a 48-year-old visitor to the island and a 39-year-old Barbadian female,

both of whom came into the island from the United States. After

experiencing symptoms, they were referred to the medical team at the

Ministry of Health and Wellness for further evaluation and the Best-dos

Santos Laboratory confirmed this morning that they both tested positive

for the virus. They will remain in isolation until they recover.

As Minister of Health and Wellness in Barbados, I am committed to

doing all in my power to protect the health and ensure the safety of

every person resident here. I therefore want to assure the public that

there is no need for panic. This is the time for vigilance and being our

brother’s keeper.

Our communication lines are open and we will update you every step of

the way in the days and weeks ahead as we confront and eventually

overcome this challenge. Thank You.