Prime Minister Mia Mottley addressed the nation on September 13, 2021.
She was joined by Attorney General Dale Marshall, Minister of Health Jeffrey Bostic and the National COVID-19 Public Adviser, David Ellis.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley
- Over the past two weeks, 84 families were affected by the Delta variant of COVID-19.
- These numbers range from two to eight people.
- Over the course of the past few days, we have settled on a COVID-19 Public Adviser.
- It was important to have someone that was independent and able to reach all of Barbados because of information that must be rendered.
- We wanted someone with a long and strong track record of speaking to Barbados and working with them and helping with behaviour modification.
- Former Starcom Network general manager and news director, David Ellis, has agreed to be public adviser with responsibility not to Government, but to the people of Barbados.
- We are losing nurses from Cuba because of vacation. I also, spoke to President of Ghana about nurses and we are working with CARICOM. We are also reaching out to medical professionals in the diaspora.
- CARPHA suggested the MU variant has been here since June because they are several samples that have been labelled “unidentified” they suggest may be MU.
- Over 200 Under-18s caught COVID-19.
- About 5 500 people between the ages of 12 and 18 have been vaccinated.
- Another 26 000 can be vaccinated with Pfizer.
- I would be happy to get rid of the Pfizer in the next two weeks. We still have Astra Zeneca and Sinopharm.
- I have seen a difference in the last 10 days with people coming forward. Carry the message and get on board.
- We can win this battle without being draconian or putting measures in place that are mandatory.
- I hope the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner will give me an audience with the security forces to give them information they need.
- Barbados has appreciable lower number of deaths. Delta threatens that.
- Later this week, we will give more details about home quarantine and home isolation.
COVID-19 Public Adviser David Ellis
- It was a difficult decision for me to make.
- We are here to encourage those that are hesitant and uncertain about vaccines towards the goal to minimise the damage done to COVID-19.
- I want to work with all interest groups. I have not taken this as a partisan job.
- I called Opposition Leader, Bishop Joseph Atherley and DLP leader, Verla de Peiza out of courtesy and respect and told them that I was taking this assignment and I was willing to help in any way I can through this office.
- The most important task we must deal with is the unvaccinated and they need to be convinced that it is important and necessary.
- We must also encourage people to follow the protocols as well. Message must be a combination of those. How are we going to change behaviour, immediate and long-term?
- We have been tricked by COVID time and time again. Last year, we did not expect to be here. We do not know where we will be next year.
- We need the numbers (to understand people’s responses), rather than a hunch. My observations would be inadequate.
- A lot of young people believe they cannot be touched. That was so early in the pandemic, but the Delta variant has been making a difference. We must jolt several people out of complacency.
- It may be useful to take counsellors into the community. We have got to study it more. We must bring behavioural specialists in to help, and it will be a combination of that, plus surveys and messaging.
Minister of Health Jeffrey Bostic
- We do not have a resource problem. We have had challenges, but it is the nature of the war.
- We are rationalising to see if we are using the resources effectively, plus technology has helped.
- We are not worried about resources, except nurses, because of the surge of cases. We are still managing.
- We have community transmissions. Cases are springing up across the country.
- There are quite a few family clusters.
- 8 from results announced.
- 84 clusters over September.
- Clusters from the commercial sector.
- The vast majority of people that have COVID now are unvaccinated.
