EDITORIAL: Caution needed amidst phased reopening

As government seeks to move towards a phased reopening of the country as of Monday March 1, Barbadians should still be mindful of the need to be extra cautious in how they conduct their daily activities. We cannot by any means drop the ball as we seek to re-emerge from our extended national pause.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has acknowledged that as a country we are not yet where we need to be where the COVID-19 numbers are concerned. She has indicated that the country is reopening slowly in an effort to manage the situation and, as such, citizens are being reminded that they must still observe the COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Can we trust Barbadians to do what they need to do to ensure that we do not get a repeat of December 2020? Can we say for sure that they will not be eye servants and will refrain from secretly meeting to party or socialise? Are Barbadians disciplined enough to quarantine and monitor themselves when necessary? Will businesses work to ensure that those visiting them for business will adhere to the recommended protocols after the initial reopening? Time will tell. What we do know, is that Mottley has indicated that the brakes will be applied if need be, if the COVID-19 cases rise higher than anticipated  in the coming days and weeks. So whilst Barbadians may be in a hurry to get back to business and some level of normalcy, we are not quite there yet and caution must be applied amidst the phased reopening.

As we have heard numerous times, three important ways to slow the spread of COVID-19 include wearing a mask to protect yourself and others from the spread of the virus; staying at least six feet away from others who don’t live within your household; and avoiding crowds, given that the more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to the virus. We know as well that we should also wash our hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place, or after blowing our nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, we have heard it time and time again, that we should use a hand sanitiser that contains at least 60 to 70 per cent alcohol, and we should by all means avoid touching our eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

It may seem repetitive, but these simple protocols must be reinforced if we are to make any headway as we look to reopen.

It must also be noted that those who have received vaccinations cannot take it for granted that they can drop their guard as well, since the recommendation is that they too observe the protocols set in place. We can only hope that as we reopen, we can keep the COVID situation under control so that we do not lose too many lives and affect Barbadians further as it relates to livelihoods as we go forward.

Barbados Advocate

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