Established October 1895 See Inside Sunday January 31, 2021 $2 VAT Inclusive AG CLEARS THE AIR New directives explained in detail BARBADIANS have been given greater insight into how the period of National Pause will affect their lives when it officially comes into effect for two weeks starting next Wednesday. During a COVID-19 update held at Ilaro Court last night, Attorney General Dale Marshall sought to clear the air on the curfew period, which he stressed begins on the first second of February 3 and ends on the last second of February 17. The Attorney General also made it clear that while the last curfew technically ends January 31, that does not suggest there will be a two-day free- for-all until the new directive comes into effect on February 2. “Let me put to rest the notion that on February 1 and 2 there is going to be the Wild, Wild West in Barbados simply because people believe that there is going to be no effective directive. That has never been the case and it is not going to be the case. There are certain reasons why we chose to implement those particular measures from February 3, but the current directive, all of the regime, under which Barbadians are currently living and existing, these directives are going to continue for February 1 and February 2. “So for those people who seem to think that on February 1 and 2 there are no Attorney General, Dale Marshall, speaking during a COVID-19 update held at Ilaro Court last night. protocols, you can go where you like, you can do what you like, that is not on.” not required to wear a mask.” electricity, water companies. remain open for the sale of bread from The Attorney General made it clear He noted that while many of For the first part of the shutdown, 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and for the baking of that masks must be worn in public the directives may be familiar to February 3 to February 10, banks and bread from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. spaces. “As long as you leave your home, Barbadians, the overriding objective is credit unions will be opened to provide Cleaning services cleaning services you are going to be required to wear a for persons to stay at home. He noted back office services, but not face-to-face for essential services and exempt mask. however there are some businesses and retail banking. Money services like businesses will be allowed to operate. “There are people who can’t wear a professions that will be allowed to Western Union will be closed. Bill Delivery services, for the purpose mask or face shield because of some operate and urged that they do so with payment services, like SurePay, will be of delivering groceries, fruit and medical condition, it may be mental, a skeleton staff. allowed to operate between 8 a.m. and vegetables and medical supplies physical or some other kind of disability. These include essential services such 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Distributive In that instance, you will be permitted as doctors, fire service, police officers, Additionally, he noted that farmers traders for the supply of goods and not to wear a mask. Eating, drinking, paramedics, security officers as well as will be allowed to operate from 6 a.m. taking medication or exercising, you are personnel from telecommunications, to 6 p.m., bakeries, bread depots will DIRECTIVES on Page 3 Call to balance COVID-19 fight with other health needs THERE is a view that countries need to coming to the Bank and those newly even now with dengue, that you might HIV over the years and our Ladymeade achieve the optimal balance between referred. see a shift in the attention (paid to Reference Unit, our great team of staff, fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and Stacia Whittaker, Manager of the HIV HIV and AIDS), but we still have to doctors, nurses, pharmacists, myself also maintaining essential services, Food Bank, acknowledged the need to acknowledge that there are still other (along with other) nutritionists, health which address other key health needs. focus both on the nutritional needs of areas that will still need as much education officers, social workers, the Therefore, recognising the need to clients and to also ensure that clients get attention. So we don’t want to move away whole team, we’ve been really working balance the nutritional requirements the very best care and treatment overall, or drop the ball (on those areas of focus),” with our clients to help them to stay in of those living with HIV and AIDS in via the programmes on offer through the Whittaker said. treatment, as part of managing their Barbados, whilst also ensuring that they Ministry of Health and Wellness, even as “But in general, the Ministry of Health HIV status,” she stated. remain COVID-free, the HIV Food Bank the battle against COVID-19 continues. has been doing a very awesome job in has been going all out to assist those “Yes, we can see now with COVID and the care support and treatment of BALANCE NEEDED on Page 5 2 • Sunday January 31, 2021 The Barbados Advocate Enhanced vigilance key given COVID-19 variants THE Caribbean Public variant is of grave concern tutions and face-to-face ed- known to be able to spread Health Agency is send- for its impact on public ucational settings. There the virus. ing the message that health, and the fight to must also be strict adher- Currently, COVID-19 enhanced vigilance is contain and end the ence to the requirements samples are received by needed, given the ease COVID-19 pandemic.This of negative COVID-19 re- the CARPHA Medical of transmission of is further heightened by sults for entry to the ports Microbiology Laboratory COVID-19 with the new the fact that, at present, in the Member States, (CMML), which remains UK variant, which has the vaccines developed to effectively continue committed to delivering been found in the have not yet been proven combating COVID-19 prompt COVID-19 test re- Caribbean. to stop disease transmis- spread in the Caribbean. sults to the islands across The call came recently sion, but rather to lessen Mandatory quarantine the region.The CMML has from Dr. Joy St. John, the severity of infection,” has become even more im- been guiding laboratory Executive Director of the Dr. St. John noted. portant to curb the spread action through testing Caribbean Public Health She meanwhile stated, of the virus.” protocols, based on the Agency (CARPHA). “There is no reported evi- It has meanwhile been latest recommendations Earlier this week, con- dence of a reduction in the noted that community by the World Health firmation came that the effectiveness of vaccines surveillance should also Organisation (WHO) and United Kingdom’s (UK) approved for the COVID- be enhanced, thereby the Pan American Health COVID-19 variant is pres- 19 virus in providing pro- strengthening public Organisation (PAHO).The ent in Barbados. However, tection from any variants. health control measures CMML performs accept- Barbados is not the only However, it is important and members of the public ance testing before send- regional country to con- to note that vaccinated should continue practising ing to The University firm the UK variant, but persons may still spread the COVID-19 protocols of the West Indies (The it is now one of several COVID-19.” set in place, such as the UWI), St. Augustine, Caribbean islands and Dr. St. John further wearing of face masks and Trinidad and Tobago, for several countries across stated, “CARPHA is com- coverings, social distanc- genomic sequencing to be the globe that has this mitted to supporting its ing and the sanitising of performed. Following the variant, which is said to be Member States to stop- hands, during all face-to- sequencing process, The transmitted much easier ping the spread of the face settings. The meas- UWI sends the results to than others. virus. We urge Member ures must be practised by CARPHA for final review “This increased ease of States to enhance surveil- Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director of the Caribbean all individuals, as asymp- and reporting, via its com- transmission of the UK lance in residential insti- Public Health Agency (CARPHA). tomatic persons are munication channels. PAHO launches app to help health workers use PPE more effectively THE Pan American MedPPE emphasises imaging technicians, sur- health professionals had MedPPE provides guid- patients infected or sus- Health Organisation the role and timing of geons, and physicians, developed COVID-19 in ance for the use of PPE pected of being infected (PAHO) recently health workers’ jobs and among others. 30 territories/countries of according to workers’ with COVID-19. launched MedPPE, a offers specific informa- Health personnel are the Americas, and more function, the level of care However, PAHO notes mobile application that tion to prevent the spread one of the population than 4,000 had died. they provide, and the that the use of PPE alone provides detailed infor- of COVID-19. The guide- groups most affected by Thus, the correct use of multiple environments of is not enough to protect mation on the personal lines are aimed at all per- the new coronavirus, and PPE remains key to pre- primary health care and against COVID-19. Hand protective equipment sonnel working in health the Americas reports the venting infection and hospitals. The tool also hygiene and proper PPE that health personnel facilities, including secu- highest number of spread of the virus in hos- clarifies the type of PPE dressing and undressing should use to guard rity guards, administra- COVID-19 infections in pital settings and to pro- needed when performing procedures must also be against COVID-19, de- tive and cleaning person- health workers in the tecting essential workers aerosol-generating proce- followed, along with the pending on their role and nel, transfer assistants, world.