Cluster at the Psychiatric Hospital being monitored

Health authorities are closely monitoring another outbreak of COVID-19 at the state-owned Psychiatric Hospital.

Speaking yesterday during a press conference to give Barbadians an update on the COVID-19 fight in this country, Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic revealed that of the 427 cases recorded on Thursday, in excess of 100 cases were associated with the mental health facility, located in Black Rock, St. Michael. According to Bostic, from Thursday’s results some 63 cases were from the Psychiatric Hospital and another 46 cases were recorded from Wednesday’s figures.

His comments came as he said that the Psychiatric Hospital is not the only healthcare facility that the health authorities are monitoring at this time, revealing that they have also been dealing with cases at the Geriatric Hospital as well as two elderly care facilities. Bostic said given the good outcomes in those situations, he is confident that Infectious Disease Specialist and Head of the Isolation Facilities, Dr. Corey Forde and his team are able to successfully manage the developing situation at the Psychiatric Hospital.

His comments came as he also said that of the 2555 tests done on

Thursday, there were 427 positive results of which 70 were persons under

the age of 18, and the largest cluster was at the.

“I don’t have to tell you that this is indeed a high number, but it is a high number that those of us in the Ministry of Health would have been anticipating because of the fact that we have been consistently above 300 for several days, this really was kind of inevitable. And it certainly will continue to present some challenges for us, but challenges which we will work assiduously to overcome,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Forde speaking more to the cases at the Psychiatric Hospital he said on one ward 56 tests were performed, of which 43 were positive, and on another ward, from a total of 65 patients tested as a result of contact tracing, 64 of those were positive.

He indicated that some 12 staff

members have also tested positive to date.

“This is obviously a tough battle, but what I will tell you is we have been here before, we’ve been into the Psychiatric Hospital and nothing beats experience. So nothing beats the experience of having been there before. Of course, we are dealing with a different version of this virus, which is delta, which you know spreads a bit more and we know is a bit more deadly; but I think the most important thing I want to assure you of here, is that we will do every single thing that we can do possible, to help those who cannot help themselves,” the infectious disease specialist stated.

He also spoke about the cases at the nursing homes, noting that in the first nursing home, the situation was brought under control and they were able to save the lives of the elderly living in those facilities. He said in most cases the nursing home’s residents were vaccinated.

“I think that this is important for the country to understand, that although we’re going through difficult times, we have had serious successes in the battle. And there will be challenges ahead, I know, but I want to assure you that we will put our best foot forward even within those challenges... We’ve had another nursing home which has been infiltrated by COVID-19. But again, all is not lost. I personally reviewed all the patients in that facility, and there were only two patients of concern, and I think both of them seem to be doing much better,” he added.

The doctor’s remarks came as he lauded the healthcare workers at the various isolation facilities for the excellent work they have been doing. (JRT)