Minister of Health and Wellness Ian Gooding-Edghill speaking at the press conference. (Photo screenshot by Kiara Smith)
By Kiara Smith on Wednesday, 6 April, 2022 at 05:56 PM
There has been an increase in Covid-19 cases over the past three weeks, but no curfew or lockdowns will be implemented.
Minister of Health and Wellness, Ian-Gooding Edghill, stated in a press conference held on April 5th, that the rise in cases is likely due to the circulation of the new Omicron sub-variant BA2.
He said, “The omicron subvariant BA2 is reportedly more transmissible than the BA1 by approximately 50 to 80 percent and has been contributed to the global transmission of Covid-19.”
Minister Edghill added that vaccinations and boosting are still the most effective prevention strategies against severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
Deputy Chief Medical officer, Dr. Best said that 56 percent of Barbados’ total population is vaccinated against Covid-19. However, only 45 percent have been boosted and the numbers need to go up.
Head of Isolation Facilities and Infectious Disease Specialist, Corey Forde said, “In our isolation facilities, at present [April 5th] we have 75 individuals, there are 23 males and 52 females at the facility. Ten of them are in our primary isolation, and seven out of ten of those persons are under some sort of ventilator therapy or oxygen therapy.
Dr. Best reassured Barbadians that “We have been through the worst but now we need to learn to live with COVID safely. This situation requires all of Barbados to do our part.”
Minister Edghill echoed Dr. Best’s statements stating, “The core of our battle remains personal responsibility which continues to be the key, in maintaining control of the COVID situation and reducing the positivity rates.”