BARBADOS TO RETURN TO LOCKDOWN TO COMBAT COVID-19 SPREAD
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the Barbados economy, with double-digit decline in economy activity projected for 2021. Tourism came to a standstill between March and June 2020: Airlift declined precipitously, most hotels closed, and occupancy plummeted at facilities that remained open. In July the island cautiously started reopening the economy for international tourists, after the authorities effectively halted local transmission of the disease. However, tourism arrivals remain at a fraction of normal levels.
Lisa Cummins, Minister of Tourism and International Transport for Barbados, said “We’re training hospitality and tourism workers now with new skills that incorporate the COVID protocols, and we’re investing in renewable energy programs because investment in tourism trigger the wider economy”.
According to Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Resource Center, Barbados has recorded more than 1400 COVID-19 infections and 10 deaths. This led the Prime Minister, Hon. Mia Mottley, QC, MP, to bring back lockdowns. Starting Tuesday February 3 to Wednesday February 17, 2021, from 7:00pm to 6:00am curfew will be in effect. Prime Minister Motley said the rise in COVID-19 cases coupled with the death of three elderly people within a week prompted her to return to the restriction. She added that during the lockdown period house to house COVID-19 checks will be conducted.
Essential businesses such as supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations will continue to operate during the lockdown. Supermarkets will only open from 8:00am to 3:00pm Monday through Friday during the lockdown. All other businesses including bars, restaurants and gyms will be closed during the lockdown period. Banks are somewhat exempted, shutting down for just six days, February 3 to 9, 2021.
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-COVID-2). The case fatality rate for COVID-19 has been much lower than for other coronavirus respiratory such as SARS and MERS, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll. The outbreak was identified in Wuhan China, in December 2019 and declared to be a public health emergency of international concern on 30 January 2020. It was later recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. The first two cases announced on 17 March 2020 in Barbados, prompted the government to declare a public health emergency. Barbados later imposed a curfew on 28 March 2020 that eventually escalated to a full lockdown.
From mid-April, people were permitted to go to supermarkets and banks on certain days of the week, according to their surnames with dedicated shopping days for disabled people and senior citizens. Restriction was been placed on visitations at medical facilities and senior citizens homes, while visitation at quarantine centers, isolation centers and prisons were prohibited. Similar measures were taken at other islands throughout the Caribbean.
At the annual Caribbean Child Research Conference that was held virtually on 25 and 26 November 2020, children expressed profound worry. “My dad lost his job without money you cannot have food, clothing, health care, shelter. I just want my dad to get a job”, said Kalel Seuraj of Trinidad and Tobago. Turks and Ciaos island student, Shandrique Ebanks, who entered the ages 8-11 essay competition, lamented on the wider health implications of the pandemic. “My stepbrother was diagnosed with diabetes; he is only 12 years old. I think his health would have been better if he was at school getting regular exercise than stuck at home eating all junk food out of boredom,” she said.
The effects of the pandemic on the Caribbean does not go unseen; even the youngest child is aware. According to UNICEF’s representative for the Eastern Caribbean area Dr. Aloys Kamuragiye, “there is no time to waste, unless we act now to address the pandemic’s impacts on children, the echoes of COVID-19 will permanently damage our shared future.”
Joycelyn Henderson
Reporter
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