Established October 1895 De Peiza reiterates call for greater transparency — Page 2 Friday January 8, 2021 $2 VAT Inclusive COVID-19 TESTING ONGOING AT QEH TESTING of staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) for COVID-19 is ongoing. This comes as four persons within the country’s primary acute care medical facility in recent days tested positive for the virus. During a live broadcast yesterday to update the nation on the situation at the hospital, Executive Chairman Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland revealed that the individuals testing positive are – one Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) at the Emergency Ambulance Service who is linked to the bus crawl cluster; two nurses in the Medical Intensive Care Unit – one linked to the bus crawl and the other to a community case; and one Relief Maid in the Housekeeping Department also linked to a community case. “As a result of these cases, in all of these departments we have been doing testing first of primary contacts, and then secondary contacts, and in some instances, we have even tested patients,” she said, also reporting that so far, no staff or patients have tested positive from these cases. “This is an environment where things happen extremely quickly. So, we are investigating in collaboration with the Ministry of Health contact tracing team potential exposure in our Respiratory Unit, Surgical Intensive Care; Engineering Department; and Accident and Emergency Department (AED) – staff linked to community.But, so far none with QEH on Page 5 Executive Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland. Increase testing and sequencing of the virus, WHO urges Govts THE COVID-19 pandemic has shown “For some countries, during the recent health workers and health systems others. us once again how a new infectious virus holiday period and cold weather, people must come first. I know it’s tiring, but “To break chains of transmission, we puts those with underlying conditions at mixed indoors more, which we know is it’s many times worse for those working must identify and find those who are highest risk of dying. riskier and will have consequences.” or being treated in an overcrowded infected, provide the care they need and Those countries that have high The WHO Chief said that the new hospital, or for people who have had help them truly isolate safely. We’re in numbers of people with health variants, which appear to be more their cancer treatment postponed. So, a race to prevent infections, bring cases conditions put extra stress on the health transmissible, are exacerbating the we must act for the most vulnerable down, protect health systems and save system, Director-General of the situation. He therefore called on all that need help right now.” lives while rolling out highly effective World Health Organisation, Dr. Tedros countries to increase testing and As well as minimising contacts in this and safe vaccines to high-risk Adhanom Gheybreyesus said. sequencing of the virus so that they can critical period, Dr. Gheybreyesus populations. He told WHO’s first press briefing for monitor and respond effectively to any maintained that governments must “This is not easy – these are the hard 2021 that as countries entered a new changes. Also, he declared that support people who have to isolate or miles we must tread together. However, phase of the pandemic, solidarity is ultimately, countries have to consider quarantine. if we act together, we can win both races needed like never before. their epidemiological situation and take He is of the view that just as and get ahead of the virus, while also He warned that caseloads are so high appropriate measures based on the governments have generated stimulus limiting the opportunity for the virus to in several countries that hospitals and data. to keep economies going, it’s important mutate further and threaten the health intensive care units are filling up to “It’s a tough balancing act but to find innovative ways to offer people tools we currently have,” Dr. dangerous levels. ultimately, saving lives, protecting the chance to isolate safely away from Gheybreyesus said. (TL) 2 • Friday January 8, 2021 The Barbados Advocate De Peiza reiterates call for greater transparency PRESIDENT of patient zero has been or use the BAMP’s now asking for two the Democratic found and has the recommended negative tests from Labour Party (DLP) Ministry of Health procedures?” visitors who are arriving Verla De Peiza has identified how the “What part of the West from Barbados and reiterated calls for person contracted the Coast are the whether it is true that answers from the virus. clusters? What there is currently a delay government of In her list of questions provisions are being with persons receiving Barbados on how the De Peiza asked: “The made for the their results from the COVID-19 pandemic is Government Information quarantining of Best Dos Santos Lab. being managed on the Service (GIS) has just returning ROSS “And that is why island. stated that the virus is students? How many quarantined persons are In a statement issued mainly contagious active cases do we unhappy? Is it true yesterday, the DLP within the first five days. have on the island persons missed flights president called for an Does that mean the today?” this week as a result update on the strain of Government will revise She also queried of delays and non- COVID-19 seen in its protocol for persons whether it is true that communication?” she Barbados and whether entering the island and the United Kingdom is asked. COVID-19 update: 51 new positives BARBADOS recorded 51 The new cases include There are now 743 bringing the number in new positive COVID-19 33 men and 18 women. Of confirmed cases – 320 isolation to 409, and cases on Tuesday, from these, 18 persons are from females and 423 males. recoveries to 327. among 1 164 tests Her Majesty’s Prisons, Three persons were The public health conducted by the Best-dos Dodds – 16 male inmates, discharged from the laboratory has completed President of the Democratic Labour Party, Verla De Santos Public Health and two members of staff, Harrison Point Isolation 77 053 tests, since Peiza. Laboratory. a female and male. Facility on Wednesday, February 2020. The Barbados Advocate Friday January 8, 2021 • 3 Cruise Industry optimistic DLP calls for a pause FOLLOWING a while continuing to focus challenging year in 2020, on innovation and new research of the cruise responsible tourism International flights should be restricted for one week industry shows there is practices that make optimism heading into cruising the best way to IN light of the spike in government to be January 6, 2021, we have mandatory scheduled 2021. experience the world.” new COVID-19 cases forthcoming with recorded 743 cases of the tests for health care Cruise Lines CLIA cruise line in Barbados, information to the public. virus on our shores. workers in private and International Association members are expected to president of the She lamented that the Citizens are continually public healthcare (CLIA) has identified that debut 19 new ocean ships Democratic Labour Barbados’ front-line witnessing spikes in institutions. “We cannot two out of three cruisers in 2021, resulting in a Party Verla De Peiza workers are cases, with more than 35 afford to drop the are willing to cruise total of 270 projected to believes international overstretched and in businesses being affected ball in care of our within a year and 58 per be in operation by the end flights should be need of physical and and closed.” elderly nor with regular cent of international of the year. restricted for seven mental breaks, affected De Peiza said it is time patients who still need vacationers, who have Looking ahead, days. persons and their for the government of care.” never cruised, are likely Craighead said this “Fleet Her comments came families are worried and Barbados to “come clean She also echoed a call to cruise in the next few of the Future” will feature yesterday as she called the country at large is and tell Barbadians the to implement drive- years. enhanced health and on government to nervous and cannot be truth”. through testing centres “For the cruise safety cruise protocols for seriously consider a comforted by words “A simple search on at wide open spaces such community, there is no the resumption of national pause. alone. WHO sites provides the as the gymnasium car denying that 2020 was passenger operations According to Depeiza, “The time for smoke updated numbers long park. “So we would not not the year we designed to help protect “We are moving towards screens and long talk has before a Government have large groups of anticipated. Still, the passengers, crew and that anyway when one long passed. This is the press conference is persons mingling to be industry wasted no time destinations. considers the number of time for straight talk. delivered. tested. This would adjusting course to Some of the new closed establishments, Let the people know “The Prime Minister also ease the strain on address the challenges protocols include crew and the number of the answers to the advised Barbadians not the public health before us,” said President and passenger COVID-19 citizens again working questions that they are to take information from facilities.” and CEO of CLIA, Kelly testing prior to from home. This is to asking.” social media and there The DLP president Craighead during the embarkation, mask ensure that Barbados is De Peiza stated that were initial allegations also called for the use of release of the 2021 State wearing, physical steadied in the present contrary to the of ‘fake news’ in response technology for some of the Cruise Industry distancing, air moment so we can once suggestion that COVID- to specific questions.