LIVE UPDATES: June 26, 2021

Key points and live updates from the June 26, 2021 media conference by Minister of Health Jeffrey Bostic.

Minister of Health Jeffrey Bostic:

In January/February, I said we needed to endure a period of short-term pain to enjoy long-term gain.
I have to caution everyone that we must not enjoy short-term pleasure to endure long-term pain.
I am not worried about the slight increase in the number of positive cases in recent days.
The fact that we have eased up on the restrictions is not an excuse to throw caution to the wind.
Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory has capacity to screen for variants
Some of our equipment had to be sent overseas for recalibration
The equipment has returned
Barbados will try to get vaccines from Cuba once they have received the necessary approval
It has never been the practice of the Ministry of Health and Wellness to name private sector businesses that had people who tested positive for COVID
We named Government primary and secondary schools
There was no dropping of the ball
As the soon as the information was received, the information was communicated to the Ministry of Education and the schools
There is no reason to hide anything
We now have an electronic vaccination certificate
It carries a bar code and a security seal
All people vaccinated will get an electronic certificate
They are to be presented for entry to events
This is to be used by people when they travel
We are falling down at the individual level
If we want to continue to enjoy the ease of restrictions, we have to be responsible

Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George:

There were 22 positive cases since June 22.
This is a cause for concern.
There are 2 family clusters and cases at a manufacturing business.
Positive cases at two schools – Princess Margaret and Ann Hill.
We indicated in January that we had community spread
We never said community spread had stopped
The best public advice is to behave as if there is community spread
Barbados is trying to source vaccines from multiple sources
Pfizer has been authorized to give vaccines to people under age 12
More than 100 people in quarantine
Most had their first test and are awaiting result of the second test
The reason why people are in quarantine at hotels is to try to contain the spread of COVID

Dr Corey Forde

3 people in general ICU
2 extremely ill – on ventilator support occasionally
Some pretty young individuals – in the 40-year age-group
Getting tested is important
Anyone showing symptoms should get tested
If we want to stay out of lockdown, follow the protocols
Please get vaccinated
Some young people have presented ill to the health care system
When you talk to them, they tell you they had a loss of taste, smell, a headache etc
They did not present to the system – they said they were not sure
If you are not sure, get tested
Two people who tested positive for COVID previously tested for COVID
Both are non-nationals

Dr Leslie Rollock:

Cluster in manufacturing establishment:

12 people tested positive
This illustrates what happens when people get comfortable
Includes 9 in the workplace and 3 associated with the workplace
The second cluster is a family
It reaches into other places
There are 8 positives cases
They impacted another manufacturing establishment where people had to be quarantined

Head of the COVID Monitoring Unit Ronald Chapman