Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley has announced a number of new measures to help the island combat the COVID-19 virus. There are three confirmed new positive COVID-19 tests were recorded by the lab here in Barbados. One of the new cases is the husband of a woman who tested positive.

The other two patients include a Barbados national who returned from the United States and a person from a cruise ship anchored off the island’s coast.

Ms. Mottley announced:
Contact tracing and testing will continue.

There is to be no shore leave from that cruise ship.

The Government of Barbados will continue to facilitate the flights out for cruise passengers.

The last flight leaves on Sunday.

Any person arriving from New York, Europe or the United Kingdom will be quarantined for 14 days, and in the case of Barbadians, will have to undergo self-quarantine.

That quarantine system will go into effect on Sunday, March 22.

There will be a significant reduction in flights. WestJet finishes on Saturday, Air Canada finishes in “ten days or so” and American Airlines will soon cease flights until early May.

The air and sea ports will not be closed because the island still needs to have access to the outside world.
A meeting with the unions and the private sector yesterday concluded the borders should not be closed, but there will be a significant reduction in traffic.

The Prime Minister appealed to those over 70 years to stay at home, and those with underlying conditions should consult their doctor about staying home.
(Information from Barbados Today)