EDITORIAL: Remain vigilant
Barbadians must realise that they are fully responsible for keeping themselves safe from the dangers of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Though Government may put in place protocols designed to limit the exposure of its citizens to those who are at risk of having contracted the virus, the onus is on every individual to ensure that they implement not only these social restrictions, but the general personal hygienic practices that would further diminish the COVID-19 risk.
This outlook became more evident over the past weekend, when Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic, revealed that up to six members of one family had tested positive for the virus after a female from that household contracted it from a returning national for whom she worked. Pointing out that no protocols had actually been broken with regard to quarantine and self-isolation restrictions, Bostic ended by stating that “the greatest line of defence is actually the last, and that has to do with each and every resident and citizen of this country following the protocols and doing what they are supposed to do. We, each of us, we are responsible for our own safety in this COVID era”.
While many may object to the idea of their government and officials not shielding them from all possibilities of infection, that is very nearly impossible to do. As long as a country’s borders are open, there is a chance for COVID-19 to enter and potentially spread. Therefore, the focus shifts to the individual level where people must continue to wear masks, wash hands, use hand sanitiser, get temperatures checked, avoid touching faces and other people, avoid congregating and practise social distancing. In addition, surfaces should be wiped down frequently along with any purchases.
The Minister’s statements also highlighted the need to re-evaluate the existing protocols, especially for arrivals. The fact that no protocols were breached, yet as many as six people contracted the virus, shows that there is a failure somewhere. The Minister admitted that the protocol in question had existed for approximately two or three months before a second test was introduced – a step which yielded positive cases where before they would have gone undetected. Added to this is the fact that local protocols for arrivals are reflective of a country’s categorisation of risk, which may be misguided and/or based on incorrect information. For instance, just this past weekend it was revealed that tens of thousands of UK COVID-19 cases and contacts went unreported as a result of an Excel spreadsheet error. These types of developments, including the fact that scientists are still finding out more about how the virus works every day, only serve to justify the need to reassess protocols.
We in this country should learn from experiences and seek to do better. Lessons can be learned from the more recent cluster of cases in Barbados, but also from the most prominent COVID-19 case so far, that of US President Donald Trump. The importance of masks and social distancing cannot be understated. And while the number of fatalities in this country are thankfully few and the majority of cases locally have recovered, we should never fall back into a relaxed state of mind and open ourselves to the hidden dangers. As the old Bajan saying goes, “Cat luck aint dog luck.” Stay vigilant and stay safe.