Barbadians urged to stop circulating fake information related to COVID-19 protocols

The Government officials in Barbados urged the citizens not to circulate the messages of information regarding the COVID-19 from an unknown origin. Only trust the information circulated by the certified government departments and by the government itself. Fake news in this time when the cases in the country have been increasing could panic the other Barbadians and can cause more tensions.

Wilfred Abrahams, Minister of Home Affairs, Information and Public Affairs, made this appeal as he said that a document is circulating in the country is not certified by the government. The document shows that page with the new directives made by the Government of Barbados. The directives include the information of tightening the curfew hours and the lockdown for the coming 2 weekends.

Minister Abrahams said, “While our health officials are concerned about the increase in cases, and while we want Barbadians to recognise that by limiting their own movements, they will help to curtail the spread, there has been no new directive issued.”

Minister Abrahams adding to his statement, said that if there would be any changes in future, the announcement would be made by him or the Attorney-General or any other designated government officials. The information and related releases documents would be made public through the official sources that would be familiar in the Barbadians. This would result in less panic situations among the citizens on the island.

The Home Affairs minister highlighted that the anxiety and stress caused to innocent Barbadians due to the circulation of the document was totally unnecessary. Who so ever done this should stop this practice. Minister Abrahams said that he doesn’t know whatever their motives would be for circulating such posts on social media.

Barbados is having 5,183 active COVID-19 cases on the island. Out of which 31 are recently reported in the last 24 hrs. This shows the increasing positivity rate of COVID-19 in the country.

According to the COVID-19 updation report, there are 425 total Barbadians in isolation. The health department has tested 2,68,124 people, of which 5,183 were reported positive, 2,551 were female, and 2,632 were male. A total of 1,557 tests have been conducted in a single day.