Established October 1895 Telehealth programme to help Barbadians cope during pandemic PAGE 4 Thursday April 23, 2020 $1 VAT Inclusive Persons with respiratory B’DOS NOT READY illnesses urged to be tested: CMO CHIEF Medical Officer (Ag.), Dr. Kenneth FORBy Michael Phillips WithE-LEARNING the third and final move to online teaching, fall in line with the to an adequate number of George, has made a school term of this but for more reasons than distance teaching, the devices, or the internet or call for persons with ONLINE teaching in academic year scheduled one, that approach is narrative remains the electricity for that matter. respiratory illnesses to the public school to have begun earlier this improbable at present in same, Barbados is just This sees many children come forward to be tested system is far from month, the shutdown of Barbados. not ready. already at a major for COVID-19. ready to be rolled out. businesses, the 24-hour With The Barbados First and foremost disadvantage as they He made the call last This is the consensus curfew and the efforts at Advocate reaching out comes the issue of are handicapped by not night while appearing on of many of the social distancing have to several teachers over accessibility. With the having the basic needs the island’s lone state- teachers who are made the return to the past few days as Government opting to use to learn. owned television station trying to make the schools across the island arrangements move Google’s G Suite software In a recent during CBC News Night, most of the situation impossible. Several other forward to have all for the interface, there correspondence from the where he informed the under the current countries across the schools under the remain many households public that after six days COVID-19 pandemic. world have made the Ministry of Education which do not have access NOT READY on Page 3 of no new COVID-19 cases on the island, there was one new case and sadly, one new death from the pandemic.This raises the number of deaths in Barbados to six and the number of confirmed cases to 76. The deceased is a 70- year-old non-national male, who had a difficult course of the virus which ended with pneumonia. He had a chronic non- communicable disease. Meanwhile, a 66-year- old Barbadian female has tested positive. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Health, it was noted that the female contracted the virus after being in contact with a known case on April 14. The CMO gave the assurance that with the new case, a plan is in place to carry out extreme contact tracing with persons in and outside the home environment to ensure all potential contacts are identified. These contacts will be separated into two groups – symptomatic and asymptomatic – and they will be tested. During the COVID-19 update, Dr. George explained that the case definition for persons who meet the criteria to be tested has been broadened. “We are including even persons without a travel history. We are asking for persons HELPING HAND: Barbadians have long been hailed for their kind heart and spirit. They have been willing to help out with respiratory illness those in need and this has always included helping the stalwarts of this country – being our elderly. Pictured, this lady went out of her way to help this elderly lady to take a seat while she waited to get into Popular Supermarket in Kendall Hill. TESTING on Page 2 2 • Thursday April 23, 2020 The Barbados Advocate Steps being taken to keep prisons virus free WITH many of the Health Organisation in the prison system and social distancing can ing this global pandemic. concern about the prison prisons within Latin (PAHO). He made the com- by giving early release to be also maximised, if we Another step, Dr. Espinal populations being exposed America and the ments earlier this week prisoners who have not try to reduce and rehabili- stated, is working with the to the potentially fatal Caribbean being over- during PAHO’s weekly vir- committed major crimes tate older centres for isola- respective health authori- virus, prisons are not the crowded, there is a sug- tual press briefing, while could be considered. He tion,” he stated. ties within the various only facilities where gestion that reducing responding to a question said those who are on pre- The public health expert countries to ensure that persons could be at risk. the numbers in the about the challenges trial detention can also said that in addition to the the recommendations on He made the point while prisons would help to that COVID-19 poses be released on bail, or be aforementioned, it is im- hygiene, education and noting that the safety and prevent an outbreak of to prisons within the isolated in other centres. portant that vital informa- disinfections are im- health of those at nursing the novel coronavirus region and whether “We know of countries tion is relayed to prisoners proved. homes and day-care (COVID-19) in those there were specific recom- also that are preparing and the staff of those facil- The Director of nurseries are also a facilities. mendations that govern- listings of people with ities to ensure there is no the Department of concern and countries The suggestion was ments should consider in health conditions that can outbreak of COVID-19 in Communicable Diseases have been monitoring put on the table by Dr. their efforts to manage the be released early... These those facilities. He indi- said that while there is these facilities. (JRT) Marcos Espinal, Director virus in their countries. are the types of measures cated that such is among of the Department of With that in mind, that need to be imple- the key steps that should Communicable Diseases Dr. Espinal said that mented. And finally, com- be taken to properly man- at the Pan American reducing overcrowding munication inside a prison age penal institutions dur- Dr. Marcos Espinal, Director of the Department of Communicable Diseases at PAHO. COVID-19 tests to be scaled up from about 50 per day to 500 TESTING from Page 1 left Barbados. “I am happy to report that to report at polyclinics or all their tests were their general practitioner, negative.” who would advise them The CMO said the six- what are the next steps. day lull is an indication So we are broadening our that the country must testing of the population remain on guard. “We in general and we hope to believe strongly at the go from about 50 tests per Ministry of Health that day to scale up to as high during this difficult time as 500 to 600 tests per of shutdowns that this is day, because only when the appropriate way to we have widespread test- go. However, the result of ing will we be able to get the shutdown there is a good handle of if there’s always a lag time to the in-country transmission. shutdown. So if you The CMO revealed that shutdown from one to two testing also extends weeks, you don’t get an to Geriatric Hospitals. immediate effect in your “Therefore, all persons numbers. in the Geriatric Hospital “I would encourage who have respiratory- the population to bear type illness will be with us as we further required to undergo investigate this and to testing, even though cooperate with us with there was no travel respect to having a more history.” widespread testing done He revealed that 64 for all persons who tests were conducted on present with respiratory Tuesday,33 of which were symptoms in Barbados,” of the Trinidadians who he said. (JH) The Barbados Advocate Thursday April 23, 2020 • 3 Wider focus Work out teething issues, say teachers NOT READY on Page 1 are of the view that ‘chalk and talk’ face-to-face teaching has needed Democratic Labour Party,it was been a staple and has many AS countries in the she said it is imperative that suggested that teachers be benefits. However, with the Caribbean try to halt the countries are mindful of all the categorised as essential workers, situation being what it is, there spread of COVID-19, per- other things happening around giving them the freedom to move are those who do not have the sons are being reminded them and keep them in mind, around during the curfew that capacity to make a smooth that the potentially fatal not only at the regional and na- they may access their teaching transition.“Those who are quick virus does not exist in a vac- tional levels in respect of the resources from their respective learners are easily adaptable to uum and there are other work of governments, but also schools, which is necessary.The different measures, but for those issues that still have to re- on a personal level for individ- letter went on to say that the who aren’t, the physical contact ceive attention at this time. uals. free movement would also allow helps immensely. How are you That’s the advice coming “So making sure that we are them the ability to visit the going to do that when your only from Dr. Madhuvanti Murphy, following the social distancing homes of students, who along point of contact is a computer?” Deputy Dean in charge of and these other NPIs [non- with their parents or guardians, one teacher said as he spoke of Research and Postgraduate pharmaceutical interventions] would need assistance as the both teachers and students.