Bostic: No Covid-19 Outbreak in Schools
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Established October 1895 School counsellors coming soon PAGE 5 Thursday May 13, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive BOSTIC: NO COVID-19 OUTBREAK IN SCHOOLS THERE is no COVID-19 outbreak at The minister explained that this is Officer of Health at the Branford Taitt fact, we have invited all of the others to any school in Barbados and this similar to what occurred last year when Polyclinic. He explained that there were be tested as well,” said Bostic. includes Ellerslie School. there was a positive case that entered 28 students and six teachers who He noted that on Tuesday, there were Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt. the school and this became a cause of attended classes with the positive case. not enough test results to make a Col. Jeffrey Bostic, gave this assurance serious concern. Bostic mentioned the “Those who we consider to be primary statement. The Health Minister also during a press briefing on the grounds assistance of Dr. Ingrid Cumberbatch contacts – both teachers and students, of the Psychiatric Hospital yesterday. and Dr. Kimberly Phillips, the Medical those persons have been tested and in TESTING on Page 2 Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic, shows his solidarity with the nurses at the Psychiatric Hospital on International Nurses Day 2021 yesterday. BRSA pleased with drinking age amendment GOVERNMENT’S move to increase well-being of our children, but for the outcomes. are pleased that it is being raised. the drinking age from 16 to 18 years is various categories of road users. She is Her comments came just one day after Because at 16, their brains have not yet getting the full support of the Barbados therefore pleased to see it getting closer Minister of Energy, Small Business and fully developed and drinking can affect Road Safety Association (BRSA). to becoming a reality.Roland-Bowen was Entrepreneurship, Kerrie Symmonds, other areas of their lives, they can even President of the BRSA, Sharmane speaking to The Barbados Advocate introduced the Liquor Licences Bill to become addicted to these things from Roland-Bowen, who has for many years yesterday morning, as she maintained the House of Assembly for approval – the an early age. So we are pleased that advocated for this change to be made, that the potential harm faced by 16-year- first step in effecting that amendment. Government has heard the call,” she said. contended that it was a step in the right olds who now get their licence, coupled “Ultimately, we would like to see that direction, not only for the safety and with alcohol use, can have serious age set at 21 to be on the safe side, but we BRSA PLEASED on Page 3 2 • Thursday May 13, 2021 The Barbados Advocate Health Ministry pushes nurse training, programmes By Krystal Penny Bowen yesterday. Wellness to aid the nursing his appreciation to all nurses have been doing [this] for He added that an antici- profession. He said he would who made sacrifices during decades and doing [it] with THE Health Minister, Lt. pated nursing practitioner like to ensure that student the pandemic. He urged the distinction, and it cannot be Col. Jeffrey Bostic, indi- course will start soon. The first nurses are paid a stipend nurses to continue to give of easy doing all those things and cated recently that efforts ten persons in the cohort will again because they deserve it. their service. Bostic noted that doing your normal day-to-day are being made to improve be trained in collaboration “If we want to encourage it has been a very difficult pe- duties. There is no doubt in my the nursing profession with the Ross University people to come into nursing, riod recently. He explained mind that nursing is the back- through special nurse posi- School of Medicine and we have to facilitate their that nurses have had to man- bone of our public health sys- tions, programmes, and Chamberlain (College of entry and that is coming back age everyday provision of med- tem…” said Minister Bostic. training. Nursing). on stream,” said Bostic. ical services or health services Bostic shared this informa- The Health Minister also At the end of the tour of the while fighting COVID, swab- tion during a media briefing mentioned that he is looking Psychiatric Hospital yester- bing, testing and administer- on the grounds of the forward to, having had it ap- day, on behalf of the Prime ing vaccines, which is a public Updates Psychiatric Hospital on proved, securing financing in Minister and the Government, health function. International Nurses Day the Ministry of Health and the Health Minister expressed “...Our public health nurses on clusters Afro-Venezuelan Heritage Day celebrated provided TESTING from Page 1 VARIOUS images of joyful people taking part in the noted that all tests done so far colorful festivities of St. John were negative and this includes the Baptist in the Parish of the parents of the positive case St. Augustine in Caracas, and these results are also Venezuela, were part of the negative at this time.The testing photographic exhibition by included workplaces and these Venezuelan artist Felix too were negative. One staff Gerardi, entitled “Faces of member from the school Dignity”, which was exhibited reported not feeling well and online on May 10 on the oc- displayed symptoms; the casion of Afro-Venezuelan individual was contacted by the Heritage Day. Ministry.The staff member was This cultural event, jointly tested and this was negative organised by the Venezuelan with the diagnosis of “a runny Embassy to Grenada and the nose”. Venezuelan Embassy to “There was no contact Barbados, was attended by between that individual and the more than 50 people who actual positive case or the class connected from various where the student attended,” Caribbean countries, such as said Bostic. Saint Lucia, Haiti, and of The Health Minister stated course Grenada and Barbados. that some people identified from Gerardi shared with the au- the Ellerslie School are in dience his experience photo- quarantine and this situation graphing the people from the is being monitored for further Parish of St. Augustine enjoy- On Monday, May 10, the Venezuelan Embassy to Grenada and the Venezuelan Embassy to developments. ing themselves. Moreover, he Barbados celebrated the Afro-Venezuelan Heritage Day with a cultural event online about the Meanwhile, Bostic provided explained how much he appre- artistic photographic collection by Venezuelan photojournalist, Felix Gerardi, that depicts the cel- updates on current COVID-19 ciated getting involved with ebrations of St. John the Baptist in the Afro-descendant neighborhood of San Agustin in Caracas, testing. He indicated 758 tests their culture and traditions Venezuela. This event was attended by more than 50 people who connected from various were conducted by the Best-dos while becoming part of the Caribbean countries, such as Saint Lucia, Haiti, and of course Grenada and Barbados. Santos Laboratory on May 11. community. There are seven new positive Gerardi’s photographs Guerrero spoke about the his- are alike,” said Ambassador Bousquet congratulated the cases of these tests; one and words were followed torical link between Africa Guerrero, who added that “as organisers for bringing Afro- individual was already in by the remarks of two and Venezuela, highlighting people of African origin, we Venezuelan culture to the isolation. Five persons are Afro-Venezuelans with an cultural and linguistic refer- share striking similarities in Caribbean people. Bousquet associated with the Psychiatric extensive knowledge of ences with clear African ori- terms of music, culture, gas- recounted his pleasant ex- Hospital cluster – one staff Afro-Venezuelan culture: gins. tronomy and even hairstyle. perience in the Parish of St. member, a nurse and four Mrs. Nelly Ramos, an Afro- In his presentation, The only barrier we face is Augustine a couple of years patients. There are currently Venezuelan cultural activist Ambassador Guerrero also the language barrier, but ago when he visited Venezuela 55 positive cases – three staff and His Excellency Jorge underscored the similarities other than that we are one attending an invitation by members and 52 patients. The Guerrero, Venezuelan between Afro-Caribbean and big family spread across the the United Socialist Party of patients consist of 49 inpatients Ambassador to Grenada. Afro-Venezuelan culture and Caribbean.” Venezuela (PSUV). and three who are outpatients. Mrs. Ramos spoke at length traditions. St. Lucian personalities Students and teachers of The Health Minister noted that about the origins of the festiv- “We must get closer to our such as Political Correspon- the Venezuelan Institute for the majority of the cases came ities of St. John the Baptist Afro-descendant brothers dent, Earl Bousquet and UWI Culture and Co-operation in from the ‘A’ Ward, except for one in St. Augustine. Ramos and sisters in the Caribbean Professor Tennyson Joseph Barbados also participated en- case. explained that the original and show them how much we attended online. thusiastically in the event. “You can expect to have some festivities came as a result of cases, these are rolling cases. If Afro-Venezuelan migration you cast your minds back to from the rural countryside when you were dealing with the to the city of Caracas in the Staff test negative; Ministry to reopen prison, this is what will happen, mid-20th century. and over time the numbers will Ambassador Guerrero then THE Ministry of International Michael, was closed after an abundance of caution, officers go down and like everything else delivered a powerful explana- Business and Industry will re- employee was confirmed pos- were tested. In addition, the in life, this too shall pass,” said tion about how Venezuela open its office today, Thursday, itive, following a second test.