Barbados: COVID cases reach peak before drop in key hospitals, 3 deaths reported

Barbados: The Ministry of Health and Wellness wishes to advise the public that there has been a critical increase in cases of COVID-19 over the last four weeks all over the region significantly centered at two key healthcare institutions.

29th of July 2024

The Ministry of Health and Wellness wishes to advise the public that there has been a critical increase in cases of COVID 19 over the last four weeks all over the region significantly centered at two key healthcare institutions.

The affected institutions on the island are the Geriatric Hospital on Beckles Road, St Michael, and the Psychiatric Hospital located at Black Rock Main Road, St Michael.

In a statement released on Sunday, July 28, the Ministry stated that the cases in the institutions had been brought under control. The number of patients that were isolated in the Geriatric Hospital from COVID 19 has now drastically dropped to two patients.

This is after they had reached their peak on a single day with 18 cases. The Psychiatric Hospital also said that the number of their cases has decreased from an earlier high of up to ten, to three.

While these are good developments, the Ministry also said that three elderly patients, who were all residents of the Geriatric Hospital with known chronic illnesses, have succumbed to the illness. This underscores the harsh reality of COVID 19 for populations of people already more vulnerable, with comorbidities having been reported in several studies as being a risk factor for very serious and critical illness.

The Ministry of Health has also advised the citizens to take adequate precautions and use protective measures to prevent respiratory infections, such as COVID 19.

These cautions also include washing of hands and always wearing masks whenever happened to come in contact by an elderly or immune suppressed person. These actions are of vital importance to safeguard your health, as well as that public compared in vulnerable populations.

This advisory highlight the importance of continued surveillance and adherence to physical distancing measures, public health guidelines related to COVID 19. Thus, community can prevent virus transmission and be held responsible to hygiene practices, taking care of health and people around.