“Trouble don’t set up like rain!” Barbados remains strong during the Pandemic

BY LA SHAWNA GRIFFITH

Effective March 31^st, 2020 Barbados relaxed some of the restrictions on its imposed curfew allowing Barbadians to have a level of normalcy despite the threat of COVID-19.

As of June 2^nd, 2020, Barbados has conducted 5,580 tests of which 92 cases tested positive for their coronavirus. 81 of those persons recovered, 4 remain in isolation and unfortunately 7 persons have died.

The country is currently under a mandatory curfew from midnight May 31^st, 2020 until the June 14^th, 2020. From Monday to Thursday the curfew is in place from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am, and on weekends the curfew is from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am.

The only persons exempted from the curfew are essential workers who must have in their possession evidence of employment and membership of their employment in the essential service.

There have also been relaxations for the evangelical sector to resume services however this has sparked some confusion as some clerics claim the stipulations for the service are a bit ambiguous.

In an article written by Barbados TODAY it stated a cleric could be charged $50,000.00 BDS or one year in prison for breaching any of the following restrictions:

1. No form of communion must be conducted for the congregation
2. No choir: singing must be led by one or two persons
3. Everyone in the church must wear facemasks throughout the service, including clerics, who may remove them temporarily to perform certain tasks
4. Temperature checks must be done for all parishioners entering a place of worship
5. Air conditioning must be switched off
6. Air dryers must be installed in addition to soap and paper towel in church bathrooms

The clerics noted their displeasure in a letter issued by Bishop Michael Maxwell to the Anglican diocese, which read, “Due to these grey areas which would require further elucidations or revision, we will work toward the official reopening of our church buildings for worship on Sunday, June 21^st,  2020. A number of protocols we feel were either two ambiguous or extreme.”

Also returning are restaurants for both drive through and dine ins. Barber and hairdressers must ensure their customers wear masks and adhere to all of the sanitary guidelines imposed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

On Monday, June 8^th, 2020 students who have to complete their School Based Assessments will be facilitated at secondary schools around the island, and on June 14^th, 2020 class four students will be facilitated at primary schools to prepare for the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination scheduled for July 14^th, 2020.

Despite this ease in restrictions, I observed the majority of Barbadians headed to the beach to enjoy the sea, sand and sun. Many have been adhering to the mandatory curfew, which has been in place since March 16^th, 2020. Popular beach (Brown’s Beach) was crowded with Barbadians and non-Barbadians alike who were soaking up the sunlight. The concern, however, was the amount of persons – whom I could not ascertain if they were from the same household – may or may not be jeopardizing the social distancing regulations.

One could say the situation in Barbados is well under control as the country continues to have negative readings for the past week, including a flight of repatriated Barbadians who returned to the island.

The Czar, The Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Prime Minister Mia Mottley must be commended for showing the world that Barbados, a small island developing state will not be crippled from the novel coronavirus, and that we will fight the respiratory disease while ensuring that our citizens are safe and secure.