Minister of Health Jeffrey Bostic described as “irresponsible” and “reckless” the behaviour of some individuals in a church in the north which is now responsible for the latest COVID-19 cluster.
More than 20 cases were identified from that cluster, with some initially refusing to get tested to know their status.
During a national address which also featured Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Attorney General Dale Marshall on Thursday evening, Bostic thanked them for coming forward, saying there were a few positive cases which were reflected in the figures over the past two days.
“If we are to successfully navigate this course in terms of COVID-19, then we depend on each and every one of us to be able to play our part,” he said, “and we continue to be affected negatively by the fallout from the positive cases coming from that church.
“I can only describe that kind of behavior, and what we have observed, as being irresponsible and reckless. It is behavior that we cannot tolerate, behavior that we would not like to see happening again in this country where all of us are being put at risk.”
The Minister of Health said a cluster of 11 positive cases among security guards at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital was linked to the church, as were three from a day nursery.
Bostic said they were being managed, with some awaiting second tests. He appealed to everyone, regardless of the calling or discipline, to follow the public health protocols and report all matters to the authorities so they could be dealt with.
Meanwhile, the Minister said the positivity rate was about 2 per cent over the last 7 days.
The country was also getting closer to recording 25 positive COVID-19 cases per 100 000. It is around 39 per 100 000, which is lower than the last time they addressed the nation, but there is still work to be done.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mottley said over the next eight to ten weeks, those who are eligible will received the second dose of the vaccine. She said only the British variant was found in Barbados to date. (SAT)
