COVID-19 & post-hurricane updates with Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt. Col Jeffrey Bostic – July 23, 2021. (PMO)

Barbados’ COVID-19 positivity rate is below two per cent.

Sharing this statistic was Minister of Health and Wellness, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic, during a COVID-19 and Post-Hurricane Recovery press conference from Ilaro Court, yesterday.

“I’m happy to report today, that we are not out of the woods and I always have to caution you by saying that, but the fact is, that our positivity rate, in spite of whatever it is that we are facing remains low, and below two per cent.  In fact, today’s rate is about 1.15% positivity rate,” Minister Bostic reported.

In addition, the Minister gave an analysis of the rate based on cumulative incidence.

“Remember we would have established a threshold of 25 cases per 100,000 population, and at one stage we were way above that, and that is why we had to take initiatives at that time. And then we would have gradually brought it right down below 25, and at one stage, I believe we were somewhere around 15 or 16. Obviously, the recent increase in the number of cases would have caused that to increase as well.

“I’m happy to report that if you look for example at the 14-day period from July 9 to 22, which would have encompassed part of the period, since the 40 cases, the cumulative incidence for that 40-day period, rose to 70 cases per 100,000.  Interesting enough, the seven-day period, July 16 to 22, we saw 31 cases per 100,000.  So, the figures actually declined,” Minister Bostic stated.

When asked if Barbados is facing a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minister for Health declared: “Based on the evidence we have before us, I do not have any reason to believe that we are in a third wave. And whatever we are in, I can tell you that it is trending downwards, and that we are very much on top of the situation in relation to our ability to contain the spread. So, I want to get away from the language of wave, because this is with us, and therefore this is just how we have to do things differently.”

Minister Bostic also used the opportunity to thank those involved in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.  He said: “I couldn’t leave this podium or this mic, without saying a serious thank you for those who are on the ground doing contact tracing, because I know it has been difficult given the numbers that we have been dealing with. 

“And I also thank those working in the lab for the outstanding effort in getting all of these test results done in the time that they’ve been able to do so, and to thank all those at the airport both Ministry of Health and other agencies, all the staff who have been working assiduously to keep this country safe. I want to thank you sincerely, on behalf of the Government of Barbados, for a job very well done.” 

sheena.forde-craigg@barbados.gov.bb

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