Established October 1895 Foreign exchange reserves expected to increase PAGE 3 Saturday March 21, 2020 $1 VAT Inclusive Most persons recover MINISTER of Transport, Works and $20MWELFARE Department clients CUSHION Maintenance, Dr. William Duguid, is are slated to receive a 40 per cent urging persons not to focus on the increase in all grants and fees, while number of persons who have succumbed lower income households are set to the COVID-19 virus, but the thousands to get some assistance from those of persons who have fully recovered. better off. Speaking in the House of Assembly These were some of the initiatives yesterday morning as the debate on the contained within a $20 million Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure Household Survival programme outlined continued, Dr. Duguid said it is very by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley sensational to look at the number of last night during her wrap-up of the people that did not recover. Appropriations Bill at the Worthing “We have to understand that 97, 98 out Corporate Centre. of every hundred people will recover from The programme is part of the exposure. In fact, the vast majority have Government’s response in seeking to very mild symptoms... So bear in mind, cushion vulnerable families from fallout yes we will get numbers, yes I anticipate from the COVID-19 pandemic. if the California numbers are correct that “We will support the likely increase over 50 per cent of their population will and demand for the Welfare Department get exposure, then we will have some as a result of COVID-19 and immediately people succumbing. But the greater announce here, an increase of 40 per cent importance is that 97, 98 and if we follow in all rates and fees paid by the Welfare the guidelines, maybe even 99 per cent of to the clientele that it services on an people will recover from exposure,” he annual basis. stated. “In 2018, this Government increased But Duguid is not downplaying the the Welfare Department’s vote by seriousness of the virus, which he said $5 million on top of the $15 million it can have a negative impact on this was getting for a number of years. The country and the wider world for months increase that this is likely to cost us is or even years to come, given the health just under $10 million and therefore crisis we now face and economic crisis will see an additional amount to the that is expected to follow. His comments department to help it be able to deal with came as he said it has been some time the increase in fees,” she said. since the world has seen a pandemic of In addition, Mottley said Government’s this nature. plans to identify and help the 650 most “We as a people have to wake up and vulnerable families will be extended to take stock.Take stock not only of how we 1,500 families, and noted this would not do business, take stock of not only how we only be those provided for by the Welfare relate to one another but take stock of Department, but those the Household how we are interfacing with the world, Mitigation Department identified as how we interface with each other, how we retrenched workers. Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley. are able to communicate, how business is With $10 million to be used for such a done,” he said. purpose, the PM said while the amount while appealing to the 5,200 households Economic Affairs. He added, “When you have situations was not large, “it was an amount that is with an annual income of over $100,000 Already, Mottley disclosed, the Massy where people can no longer earn, where still intended to help people and is larger as well as companies which could afford Foundation has agreed to seed fund people can no longer go to work and be than the initial welfare grants”. it, to help those living close to or below $200,000 immediately. She also lauded productive members of the community “The amount will be $600 a month by the poverty line by making contributions the offer of international superstar and the society, we have a problem.” 1,500 families works out to $900,000 a to the initiative. Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty to purchase He said the best way to manage the month and will allow them to be able to “A country which knows what it is $1.4 million in ventilators, Courts for its situation is to manage the spread and feed their families. These funds must be to carry each other, cannot now watch donation towards hospital beds and “flatten the curve” through such things the subject of urgent action,” she stated. others suffer in this environment,” she Sagicor for temperature monitors to help as social distancing, to ensure that the Mottley also said an ‘Adopt Our said, noting the programme would be the island with its response to the country’s resources are not stretched to Families’ programme would be launched, chaired by the Director of Finance and pandemic. (JMB) the breaking point. “It is not that we won’t get exposure to it, we will get exposure to it based on what California is saying. But what we are trying to do is to expand the time Two more COVID-19 cases confirmed that it takes for it to spread through the BARBADOS remains at Stage 1 of its island. On Thursday, the Ministry of reflects an increase from the initial two population and then come to an end.” National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, Health and Wellness conducted 23 tests cases announced by officials on Tuesday The Minister continued, “So it means this as the national count of recorded on suspected cases, bringing the total this week. Additional cases were we have to follow the guidelines. The confirmed COVID-19 cases now stands tests done to 94 to date. announced on Thursday. On this day, World Health Organisation protocol on at six. The Ministry has initiated the process Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said guidelines, which this Government is The island recorded another two new of contact tracing to identify every they were three new cases of COVID-19. following, we have to stick to that. We cases of COVID-19 yesterday.The newly individual who came in close contact There were two for Barbados and one have to follow what the Government puts diagnosed persons are two Barbadians: with all cases and will quarantine such which was facilitated for a cruise line. out for us to do.We have to make sure a male in his 20s and a female in her persons for 14 days. They will also be The local cases were a 60-year-old that we do exactly as we are told and we 60s, both of whom recently returned to tested for COVID-19 if they become Barbadian who arrived from New York have to come together as a people to be the island from the United States. symptomatic. able to get over this hump. And we will Testing is done twice daily on the This new number of confirmed cases TWO CASES on Page 2 get over it, but we got to work together.” 2 • Saturday March 21, 2020 The Barbados Advocate Continue Four crew to give to members test positive HIV/AIDS TWO CASES from Page 1 over the weekend and a 48-year-old male. The latter person is the spouse of the visiting female, who was one of the first Food Bank two individuals who were tested and FOOD Bank Manager, Stacia found to have COVID-19 on Tuesday. Whittaker, says the HIV/AIDS Food Crew members who test positive for Bank is always in need of donations COVID-19 are not added to the national and is encouraging Barbadians to count, as these cases are being treated as continue to donate. international conveyance, in keeping with Whittaker added that donations of International Health Regulations. fresh produce are especially welcomed. Over the last two days, the Ministry of “It is early in the year, yeah, but we Health and Wellness responded to a re- still encourage persons to contribute quest from a ship’s captain to have four where they can.Any donation is never too crew members tested. Those results came small and what we have been also trying back positive for COVID-19. None of these to hammer home is that we are trying to individuals came on shore in Barbados make our hampers even more healthier. and remain isolated on board the ship. So we are stressing more individuals also The Prime Minister announced on in addition to non-perishables to also do- Food Bank Manager, Stacia Whittaker, as she speaks to the media. Thursday that shore leave for all crew nate where possible fresh produce like members of ships docked in the your fruits, vegetables, ground provisions, “We are sharing with our clients as they dition to nutrition, we are trying to tell Bridgetown Port was prohibited. fresh eggs, things of that nature so that come to the Food Bank or our clinic, in- people stay hydrated, top up on the vita- Earlier this week, the Health and we can have a variety of selections that crease or improve your basic hygiene of min C. If they have vitamin C supple- Wellness Minister, Lt. Colonel Jeffrey we can provide for our clients.” washing your hands frequently,washing ments or fresh fruits, top up on that and Bostic, during a press briefing at Ilaro Turning her attention to speak in light them properly,avoid touching your nose, stay well hydrated and try to manage Court, said Government was taking steps of this week’s confirmed cases of COVID- your eyes, your mouth.