Caricom action plan for virus

Caricom is putting more systems in place to deal with the deadly coronavirus (Covid-19) that has now reached some northern parts of the region.

Yesterday it set up a special sub-committee to work specifically with the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the cruise industry to open lines of communication, fast-track testing for the deadly virus, and place regional governments in a better position to test, quarantine or treat any future infections.

Cases of Covid-19 have now been registered on the islands of St Maarten and St Barts, both in the northern Caribbean, but English-speaking nations remain infection-free.

Chairman of CARICOM, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, told the media last night that Barbados had already taken steps to protect its citizens should Covid-19 reach these shores, by identifying the former United States naval base at Harrison Point, St Lucy, where up to 150 people could be isolated and treated if needed. 

She was speaking after a specially convened meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government, and regional health and tourism stakeholders, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

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