COVID SPIKE

BARBADOS is making an impact in containing the sudden spike in COVID-19 cases, which saw 200-plus people testing positive over the past two days.

Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley along with Minister of Health Lt. Col Jeffrey Bostic, Head of the Cabinet sub-committee Jerome Walcott and Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth George tonight reassured the country that rigorous contact tracing had yielded results while hundreds of Barbadians had volunteered to be tested. Furthermore, several businesses had temporarily closed their doors and tested their staff.

This comes as public health officials investigate at least three clusters, one of which is a “super spreader” event – a bus crawl – which accounts for most of the new cases.

Senator Walcott informed that 161 people at Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds, comprising inmates, wardens and civilian staff had returned positive tests, while 33 cases outside of the prison – via contact tracing and visitors embarking at the Grantley Adams International Airport – were also recorded.

The Boxing Day bus crawl has been identified as the main super spreader event which made several stops at bars on the island’s West Coast. Officials are also looking at two smaller clusters comprising seven and four cases, respectively, involving a visitor and a hotel worker.

Fears have also been allayed by Minister of Home Affairs, Wilfred Abrahams, that there may have been unrest at the prison; and Barbadians have been assured that the main isolation facility at Harrison Point in St. Lucy has been able to accommodate those who have tested positive.

Meanwhile, former British TV star and pageant queen Zara Holland is to appear in court tomorrow after allegedly breaking coronavirus laws in Barbados with her boyfriend, Elliott Love. Elliott tested positive upon arrival over the Christmas period, but the pair later left quarantine without permission and tried to leave the country. They were arrested.

Zara, who tested negative, can be fined up to £18 000 and a year in jail. Elliott, meanwhile, is in an isolation facility.