(LOOP NEWS)- Barbados is the latest Caribbean country to confirm the presence of the infectious variant of COVID-19 from the United Kingdom (UK).
This evening (January 26), Prime Minister Mia Mottley reported that the new UK variant was detected in three of the samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
“I regret to inform you that . . .there are traces of the new COVID variant on tests conducted on the island as well,” Mottley remarked while adding that local health officials sent 10 samples to be tested.
Following the recent news of community spread and now that the UK COVID-19 variant was or is on island, the Prime Minister held that “decisive action” must be taken to combat the transmission of the virus locally.
“We are at the point now where we believe that we have to act and act decisively and it for that reason that I have consulted many persons and have listened to hundreds of views and perspectives,” the Prime Minister stated.
Prior to her national address, Mottley consulted with members of the Social Partnership, the leading political parties, medical professionals and non-governmental organisations on the necessary steps going forward.
The Prime Minister went on to declare that flights to Barbados will be reduced as the airport will remain open.
“Once I finish tonight, there are not many persons who are going to willingly want to come to a country that is going to have an extended curfew as we will.
“But let us be real, we can’t shut down completely because we are an island and there is no way any of us in this country can predict the combination or permeation of instances or opportunities or needs that we would have . . . and as a result, we keep the airport and air flights travel open but we minimize significantly the numbers,” she said.
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Mottley also revealed it will be mandatory for travellers to Barbados to receive a rapid antigen test on arrival and Government will be extending the mandatory quarantine from two nights to five days for all travellers to Barbados.
“Once you have a negative test, you will then go to a Government-authorised quarantine centre. . . to spend a minimum of five nights before a PCR swab is then taken to determine if you are suitable for a safe exit from that facility.
“If you are positive with the rapid antigen test then you must go immediately to Harrison’s Point [Isolation Facility] for assessment because you have to be assessed by the doctors to ensure that they can appropriately categorise where you are,” she further explained.
