Media statement by the Honourable Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Health and Wellness on February 12, 2022 on the proposed changes to Directive Number 2.
Good afternoon to the fellow Barbadians and members of the media.
Two weeks ago, January 29, I had the honour to give you an update on the Ministry’s management of the surge in Covid-19 cases.
As I indicated then, our relative success in managing the pandemic was due to government’s swift yet decisive actions in implementing preventative and protective strategies such as testing, social distancing mask mandates and vaccinations.
Last Wednesday, the Emergency Operations Centre, (EOC), met and considered whether any changes were necessary to directive number 2. The EOC comprises the chief medical officer, deputy chief medical officer, doctors within the public and private sectors, medical officers of health, hospital administrators and managers, and technical personnel, all responsible for Barbados’ public health management.
The advice of the Emergency Operations Centre has always been based on the science and an acute understanding that we have to embrace economic and social recovery in order to sustain growth and development.
During the last week, I have attended all three scheduled EOC meetings and based on the criteria, the Chief Medical Officer consulted with me and made recommendations. These criteria are scientific tools and benchmarks used to analyse key trends and changes in managing any public health crisis.
We have unfortunately lost 291 lives, and this represents a case fatality ratio of 0.9%, which remains lower than the global average of 2.2%, but the range is as low as 0.5% and as high at 7.6%.
As a result, the Ministry of Health and Wellness thinks that we have peaked with the Omicron outbreak.
The results of these trends indicated that:
- The Case counts and case incidents are falling
- The RE, the ability of the virus to spread has fallen to 0.94.
- The positivity rate which is based on test done, in other words, the number of positive cases divided by the number of test done has reflected a slowing of the positivity rate based on the rolling average.
- The doubling time which measures the growth rate continues to increase. The longer the doubling time, it is indicative of the slowing of the growth of the outbreak.
It is very important to bear in mind that 75% of all persons tested on a daily basis do not have Covid.
As of February 11 there are 6980 persons in home isolation, down from a high of 11,000.
As I have previously mentioned the backlog of patient discharge certificates has been cleared and remains current and the automated systems are up and running. I would like to encourage Barbadians and visitors to ensure their email addresses are accurate to ensure timely receipt of patient discharge certificate.
With the outbreak of Omicron, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has recognized that the Omicron while still highly infectious is far less dangerous when compared to the previous strains of delta and alpha and has also posed less strain on the health care system which was of chief concern.
The number of negative outcomes with the Omicron variant has been considerably less compared to other strains.
These scientific indicators have informed the recommendations to vary the next directive which expires on Monday. The new directive will be for 2 weeks.
Based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, the following changes will be made in the next directive.
In order to move the country back to opening while observing protocols, the curfew will be removed. Therefore, with effect from this Monday, February 14, which happens to be Valentine’s Day, the curfew will be lifted. I am sure that restaurants and other authorized dining facilities will want to fully cater to the pent-up demand of Barbadians and visitors on this extra special day. Patrons will no longer have to watch the clock.
The 6 feet rule will no longer apply except where persons exercise together outdoors without wearing a mask. In all other cases, the physical distance of at least 3 feet will apply.
Hiking will be allowed in no greater than groups of 30 individuals.
Pleasure craft and private boats chartered for private cruises will move from 50% to 100% of their authorized number of passengers. Proof of vaccination or testing will be required prior to boarding.
The long-awaited dream of returning to party cruises will be realized in a responsible way. Party cruises will be allowed to operate at 100% of their authorized number of passengers, subject to proof of vaccination and rapid antigen test, and the presence of an officer from the Covid monitoring unit on board all cruises. The public health officials have indicated that these outdoor open-air events will not pose a significant threat to our public health so long as the protocols are followed.
Cricket capacity at Kensington Oval for the upcoming international tournaments will move from 60% to 80% fully vaccinated.
There will be no restriction of beach activity and parks, and therefore the 5 am to 7pm guidance shall no longer apply. Barbadians and visitors alike will be allowed to enjoy these facilities without limitation.
Public service vehicles will be allowed to increase the authorized number of sitting passengers from 75 percent to 100 percent wearing masks and shall carry no standing passengers.
When the Ministry of Education settles on students returning to school, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will discuss and agree the timetable for the safe return of community based events, including sporting events. This is expected be done in a few weeks’ time.
The relaxation of these elements within the directive while giving more freedom to the population is by no means a signal that the outbreak is over. The further easing of some restrictions is another step of return to life in Barbados as we used to know and love it.
These acts of national relief should hopefully bring about a noticeable reduction in stress and anxiety among the population.
Personal responsibility is critical to the protection of yourselves, your family and workmates. It is absolutely critical that all Barbadians comply with the guidance and protocols given by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
I wish to extend my thanks to all health care professionals and the frontline workers who continue to go beyond the call of duty for patient care and public health protection. It has been a long and testing road to travel with this ongoing pandemic but as a small island, our public health officials and institutions continue to serve us well.
I wish to commend the people of Barbados as a whole for helping us to make these life-changing and nation improving benefits possible.
We could not have reached this historic milestone without the overall and consistent cooperation and support of the public at large in following the lead and expertise of the dedicated professionals in the health sector and supporting agencies.
We are by no means out of this health crisis, but we recognize that we are going to have to live, work and socialize safely in this covid-19 environment for some time to come.
We urge you to continue with these practical and effective measures for infection prevention and control such as the wearing of masks, sanitizing of hands, physical distancing and access to proper ventilation wherever possible.
As Dr. Adanna Grandison, Head of Home Isolation advised at the last media briefing, I would encourage you to stay adequately hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
Your government has maintained all existing public health institutions, added dedicated facilities to protect patient safety and reduce the covid fatality ratio, spent in excess of $100 million to meet additional health care cost, purchased and provided vaccines and boosters at no charge to its citizens and residents.
We did so at a time when government revenues had fallen sharply due to the severe fall off in economic activity and revenue from the productive sectors.
Notwithstanding what we are faced with, Barbados’ political leadership and public health management officials have kept us safe, as we continue to manage our way out of this global public health crisis.
We have to continue to be judicious with our approach to the safe and orderly return to full reopening of all activities in Barbados.
As I indicated earlier, the Ministry will set out a timetable for the safe return to community events including sport as soon as we complete the return to school.
Let me stress that vaccination continues to be an integral strategy for getting out of this wave. We are expecting 120,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines on February 17th and we are actively seeking to replenish our stocks of Astra Zeneca vaccines.
All together, we have the outcome of this pandemic in our own hands.
I would like to encourage Barbadians to get vaccinated and for those who are vaccinated to get the booster.
Thank you.
