Key points and live updates from the February 17, 2021 COVID management press conference featuring Minister of Health Jeffrey Bostic, senior medical officer of health Dr Anton Best and Dr Clyde Cave, Director of Medical Services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Minister of Health Jeffrey Bostic
- There are 40 minors in Barbados’ COVID isolation facilities: 17 females and 23 males
- I am not satisfied with the high volume of traffic on the roads.
- The Attorney General will shortly be issuing a directive which will put in place a curfew from Friday at 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday.
- Only those with Government passes or are taking part in the vaccination process should be on the road.
- Only essential workers should be on the road.
- Police will have orders to charge law breakers.
- This applies to parks and beaches.
- The Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory is almost back to normal with the backlog of cases.
- The backlog should be cleared today.
- There are 45 people in primary isolation.
- We have 78 beds in isolation.
- We have been expanding our isolation facilities.
- I was surprised to see reports in the (foreign) press of the death of a nine-year-old due to Covid-19 before there was confirmation.
- The Ministry of Health and Wellness is guided by medical officials.
- The officials reported at the time that they were not in a position to confirm that the death was due to Covid-19.
- I cannot say that a list circulating with a list of names of persons with Covid-19 is fictitious.
- The document did not bear anything official from the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
- I do not know the origin of the document.
- If someone was vaccinated overseas, he or she is still required to have a negative PCR test on arrival in Barbados.
- We have done 6 665 vaccinations as at Tuesday, February 16, 2021.
- The daily dashboard will now include the number of vaccinations done.
Dr Clyde Cave
- Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a relatively new disease.
- It is very rare.
- Look out for fever, fainting and rashes.
- This is a call to be vigilant.
Dr Anton Best
- Re-infected persons (people getting Covid-19 more than once) is a possibility.
- We have not seen any evidence that this has happened in Barbados.
- If you come for a vaccine and you display symptoms of Covid-19, it is not the ideal time to take a vaccine.
- We will not give you a vaccine at that point.
Ambassador Elizabeth Thompson
- We move from ‘pause’ this weekend to ‘stop’.
- There will be a complete curfew over the weekend.
- Wear your masks properly, sanitise, practise physical distance.
- Exercise caution with the elderly and those with NCDs.
