Established October 1895 Enjoy Valentine’s Day Sunday February 14, 2021 $2 VAT Inclusive CLOSER TIES ‘Combatting COVID-19 has strengthened friendship between Barbados and China’ “WE are living on the same bration to mark the start of the Barbados, joined hands to com- pain. They sent Barbados thou- planet; we are a community Chinese New Year on February bat the epidemic.When Chinese sands of masks, protective suits, with a shared future and we 12. people fought against COVID testing kits and other PPEs (per- must help each other when His comments came as he de- early in 2020, I received solidar- sonal protective equipment) to facing common challenges.” scribed 2020 as an extraordinary ity and support from all walks of help our Bajan friends to over- This is the view of Chinese year in human history because of life in Barbados. I want to see come the difficulties.The experi- B’dos Tourism Ambassador H.E Yan Xiusheng, the COVID-19 pandemic. thank you for your kindness. ence of combating the virus to- who was speaking during the According to the Ambassador “While since the outbreak of gether has strengthened our Board announces Fish and Dragon Festival on Xiusheng, “...But during the the epidemic in Barbados, friendship.” Thursday night, a virtual cele- tough time, we, China and Chinese people felt the same TIES on Page 7 new chairman Page 3 Operation Seek and Save pushes ahead Page 5 One of the ethereal presentations from the dynamic Henan Performing Arts Troupe from China. ‘Don’t drop your guard’ BARBADIANS are being re- come from Dr. Corey Forde, icantly reduced by about 80 per is now much greater. So that in Reliving minded that the wearing of Infectious Disease Specialist cent or even greater if you use a that particular sense of things, masks, along with other recom- and Head of the Isolation different type of mask. So this is if you are not wearing a mask memories of mended health protocols such Facilities in Barbados. a very important point. It de- and the other person isn’t wear- as social distancing and the “The spread of the disease as pends on the other person wear- ing a mask, then there is still a Holetown sanitising of hands, will remain we know, is by droplets. So if you ing a mask as well,” he ex- risk to you,” he noted. Festival key in the fight against COVID, wear a mask and I wear a mask plained. “I made the point on televi- even as some persons get the and we are talking about cloth “So if I am wearing a cloth sion a little while back, which COVID vaccine. masks here, then the risk of mask and the other person people were a little bit puzzled Pages 24 & 25 This key piece of advice has spread from you to me is signif- around me is not, then that risk PROTECT on Page 2 2 • Sunday February 14, 2021 The Barbados Advocate Two more deaths from COVID-19 BARBADOS’ death toll from the Government of about the Oxford level of efficacy and was recommendations also ad- a personal choice, the from Covid-19 has risen India, will be used in AstraZeneca vaccine, it recommended by WHO for dressed the fact that the Barbados Association of to 23. The persons who the island’s vaccination had been endorsed by the use “even in countries that Oxford Astra Zeneca vac- Medical Practitioners were felled by the viral programme; while part of World Health have circulation of the cine does not require deep, (BAMP), the nurses of illness most recently this number will be shared Organisation as well (South African) variant.” subzero temperatures for Barbados, other health are two females, an 80 with sister CARICOM suited to persons over 65. Up to this point, the Covid- storage like some of the professionals, and year old Trinidadian countries. “This is important given 19 vaccine has not been other vaccines on the mar- Ministry officials hope that and a 75 year old Health Minister Lt. Col. the fact that senior citizens recommended for persons ket. This makes the vac- every Barbadian will take Barbadian. Hon Jeffrey Bostic constitute a large percent- under 18 years old, but re- cine appropriate for use in this opportunity to protect The Barbadian senior stressed the value of the age of the Barbadian pop- search is now ongoing to tropical and developing themselves and their loved passed away on the Covid-19 vaccine as part ulation.” test the suitability of the countries with limited ones from the illness, its evening of February 12, of the arsenal in fighting Minister Bostic further AstraZeneca vaccine for storage capacity. more virulent forms and after spending 3 days in the disease. He com- commented that WHO had minors. The Minister said, reduce the risk of death; the Primary Isolation Unit mented that while ques- also indicated the vaccine In addition, the Minister “while being vaccinated is this is what the vaccine of- of the Harrison Point tions had been asked was proven to have a high pointed out that the WHO completely voluntary and fers.” Isolation Facility. The Trinidadian national passed away this morning (February 13), after 15 days on a ventilator in Clearer protocols needed for businesses Primary Isolation at Harrison Point. ACTING General close to allow other em- sponsible thing after they businesses to determine you do not have clear pol- The Ministry of Health Secretary of the National ployees to be tested or to came into contact with a or interpret it and then icy and businesses are in- and Wellness is extending Union of Public Workers self-isolate until results positive person and they the next thing you know terpreting it themselves, condolences to the griev- (NUPW) Wayne Walrond are returned. reported to the depart- you have an outbreak it will be to their detri- ing families and friends of is asking for clearer Describing this as an ment and self-quaran- and you are forced to shut ment still,” he said. the deceased. Observing COVID-19 protocols for area of concern for tined away awaiting as the inevitable hap- Walrond stated govern- expressed sadness that businesses. unions, he stated the sit- tests,” but were unsure as pens. So there has to be a ment was now in a posi- these deaths occurred as Speaking on Down to uation was creating a to if they should return clear policy on if there is tion where it was juggling the Ministry of Health and Brass Tacks on Friday,he sense of uncertainty in to work without results. secondary contact or if a between the economics Wellness is moving to take spoke on those situations the public sector as well "There have to be clear person working in a de- and the safety of the na- the National Covid-19 where a worker either as the private. Covid policies. If you are partment is so isolated tion, but questioned, “how Vaccination Programme to tests Covid-19 positive or He said, “Even in the talking about primary that you can justify the much can you compro- full roll-out. Some 100,000 is a primary contact of a public sector, some nurses versus secondary contact, continuation of the busi- mise health and safety doses of the Oxford positive individual, but and other persons were it must be spelt out ness. Maybe it can, but for the economic side of AstraZeneca vaccine, a gift the business does not stating they did the re- clearly and not left up to you have to be clear. If it?” Following recommendations key in COVID fight PROTECT from Page 1 by, but understood even- tually and that is, if I am in a room with you and you have COVID and you are wearing a mask and I am wearing a mask and we use hand sanitiser and we appropriately distance, then I won’t get COVID. I manage COVID patients every day. My team man- ages COVID patients every day with appropri- ate distancing, with wear- ing masks and none of us have gotten COVID, (after) repeat testing. So this is interesting, because if we use these measures, then you should be fine,” Dr.Forde stressed. He meanwhile cau- tioned persons against let- ting their guard down whilst out and about at supermarkets or gas sta- Dr. Corey Forde, Infectious Disease Specialist and tions, for example. Head of the Isolation Facilities in Barbados. “I usually tell people Harrison Point is the have COVID, where you tioned Barbadians to not safest place in Barbados relax things. Even the drop their guard. and they usually (are sur- church that you may go to, Dr. Forde was at the prised). But we know peo- you may relax things. time speaking on the topic ple there have COVID,so Even at home with your “Fighting COVID-19”, as we know what not to do. families, moving back and a recent special guest on It’s the supermarkets and forth. For us, that is the the St. Philip Parish the gas stations that you risk that we are seeing,” Church’s Parish Hour, on- go to, where people may Forde indicated, as he cau- line. The Barbados Advocate Sunday February 14, 2021 • 3 Foundation aims to Barbados Tourism grow its programme Board announces By Cara L. Jean-Baptiste years old right up to 35 years of with the pandemic there was a new chairman age. lot of uncertainty, however, IT is the hope of The “And so right across the with the creation of the online ON Friday,Minister of Tourism Sojourner Foundation to board, in the future, once we farm programme, and having and International Transport, grow their Youth Farming can attract additional funding, five acres of land that allowed Senator the Hon.