Key points and live updates from the March 11, 2021 COVID management press conference featuring Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Minister of Health Jeffrey Bostic.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley
- There were 19 positive cases – 7 males 12 females – yesterday.
- Thirty-eight people are being released.
- There have been steady declines recently in the number of new cases.
- New confirmed cases in last 2 weeks under review are: 520.
- This represents a 46 per cent decrease over the last 2 weeks.
- As at 4 p.m. today, we have done 50 621 vaccinations.
- There was a great demand for vaccines.
- You can get vaccines but the prices are greater than you would otherwise pay.
- We are prepared to purchase outside those we have already committed to receive from COVAX.
- We expect the first tranche of 33 600 from COVAX in the near future.
- 5 000 more vaccines were received from Guyana today.
- This means we will be able to continue the vaccine programme.
- We expect we can turn the corner by having vaccines on demand for Barbadians.
- We will continue to treat the elderly, those with chronic NCDs.
- We agreed to expand on the frontline workers.
- Some people who said no before said they want to be vaccinated.
- Will expand to 3 new communities and start to give vaccines to people in those communities to disrupt the virus from having a host.
- We are using a multiple approach to these matters
- We agreed to expand the testing.
- Barbados committed to paying for vaccines.
- A Supplemental will be going to Parliament next week so we are in a position to pay for the vaccines.
- The Vaccine Fund has been set up and details will be shared.
- Next week March 17 will be one year we recorded our first COVID-19 case.
- Barbados is not out of the woods, but we are trending in the right direction,
- There will be some liberalising of restrictions and I ask all Barbadians not to drop your guard.
- The Prime Minister indicated she has been touring the country and there appears to be greater compliance. She thanked Barbadians for their cooperation.
- Coming out of a meeting of Cabinet today, the curfew will now be from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Sunday remains closed to supermarkets and commercial activity.
- Work resumes for the most part on March 15, 2021.
- What remains closed: Gyms, pleasure craft, charters, team sports/contact sports, squash, table tennis.
- Diving, golf, hiking, walking are allowed.
- Barbers, hairdressers, aestheticians are open.
- Restaurants can open up for in-house dining.
- Fast food restaurants will continue, but no in-house dining.
- No congregating around the bars.
- Transportation: 60 per cent restriction will move to 75 per cent, but masks must be worn.
- Day nurseries/day care facilities will be opened.
- Meetings surrounding the arrangements for schools will be held next week.
- The Prime Minister appealed to people to follow the protocols.
- Companies must put compliance officers in place.
- Businesses may reopen but curfews remain in place.
- People can go back to work.
- The numbers for weddings/funerals/church service will now be 75 (maximum). No wedding receptions.
- People must be able to be 6ft apart.
- No change in beach access.
- No change in exercise times.
- The only way we will get through this is if we stay together.
- When we drop our guard, the chances of fighting this pandemic drops significantly.
- The Attorney General will draft the directive.
