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The following analysis prepared by Amit @caribbeansignal.com

The last time I researched and wrote anything COVID-19 related was back in June, 2020. Back then, I wrote a series of weekly “Covid-19 vs. The Caribbean” articles. Every Friday night, I’d scour several data sources for reports of confirmed new cases across the Caribbean, compile the data into spreadsheets, and publish some basic analysis on this site. All in all, I analyzed 13 weeks of data.

Much has changed since then. People across the globe are still suffering, as are our economies. Our lives have changed, no matter who you are or what you have (or don’t). Life events are either pre-Covid or post-Covid. Such is the scale and scope of this deadly virus. Despite that, Science has offered solutions. Vaccines were quickly developed (some would argue to quickly?) and are now being deployed globally and across the Region. We Humans have also learned to adapt, as Humans often do. Of-course, the Virus has adapted (as they often do), and the impact of vaccines on mutations is neither clear, nor certain. Ironically, neither is Life in general, except for death and taxes, or so they say.

Read full article: COVID-19 vs The Caribbean: Deaths Per Capita


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625 responses to “COVID 19 Versus The Caribbean”


  1. You should look at the islands individually and compare their performances and try to explain any disparities.

    Why do some have zero deaths and very few cases?

    The most sensible explanation I can find is water supply.

    If that is the case then the world has a lot to learn from the Caribbean.


  2. Belize has problems with water.

    Tap water isn’t generally considered safe to drink, even in most cities and popular tourist towns. The water in Belize City and San Ignacio is relatively safe to drink, but travelers often get a touch of diarrhea whenever they hit a foreign country, so always play it safe.

    Bahamas has problems because of demand.

    Dominica has one of the purest sources in the Caribbean, if not the world.


  3. @ John March 2, 2021 8:13 AM
    “Dominica has one of the purest sources in the Caribbean, if not the world.”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Because of the gravamen of the water situation in Bim, why not, as a solution to the problem, try to impress upon the GoB the need to source its bottled water from that purest (and safest) place in the Caribbean instead of importing stale water in plastic bottles from places riddled with Covid and ‘his’ friends in their ground and sewage-treated water sources.

    One of your kind from the dirty ‘moneyed’ class (say Mal(m)oney or even Clifford C.) can set up a bottling plant in Dominica and export the water to Barbados to save the black population from extinction.

    How about that watertight case as clear as ‘mountain dew’ to solve the drinking water problem in Covid-infected Buhbadus?

    We don’t to hear any of your pettifogging pedantic ‘sterile’ responses.
    Remember that: ‘If you are not part of the solution you must be part of the problem’.

  4. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    The basic data across the Caribbean. Assuming that the data were collected and collated in the same manner,some countries appear to be doing better than others. The causal factors are still to be unearthed so that these can be implemented in other Caribbean countries. Containment has been the main success factor in Barbados. When the protocols are breached and borders are opened to arrivees from heavily infected countries the infection and death rates rise. The vaccines are supposed to build immunity. How effective each brand of vaccine is varies and the vaccines are not guaranteed.In any case the virus mutates. Its target is the destruction /compromisation of the body’s immune system. Yes the data is there. The analysis and strategies are absent.


  5. This is vary good link. Would suggest reading the whole article and keep I mind that what is being pumped through the pipes is not waster water, but water that is treated

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2020/05/03/can-covid-19-coronavirus-live-in-water-what-about-drinking-water-and-swimming/amp/

    “Neither study showed that you can actually get infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus from water under the conditions that you’d normally be exposed to water. That means via drinking (assuming that you aren’t drinking sewage or some other type of dirty water), showering, or swimming (assuming that you don’t swim in sewage.)

    In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the COVID-19 coronavirus hasn’t even been found in drinking water. And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said that “the risk to water supplies is low. Americans can continue to use and drink water from their tap as usual.” Such a virus would have to get through all of the filtration and water treatments that drinking water typically goes through, and that can be harder than getting on to the red carpet at the Oscars.”

    Stop the big lie.


  6. @Vincent

    In other words our regional governments have been reactive and many of our citizens indisciplined?


  7. So what’s new!!


  8. DavidMarch 2, 2021 9:26 AM

    @Vincent

    In other words our regional governments have been reactive and many of our citizens indisciplined?

    Stuepse


  9. Gazzerts
    Of course you are slow
    Neither did science see or expected the many variants associated with the virus
    COVID is a horse of a different color cant rule nothing out


  10. MillerMarch 2, 2021 8:35 AM

    @ John March 2, 2021 8:13 AM
    “Dominica has one of the purest sources in the Caribbean, if not the world.”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Because of the gravamen of the water situation in Bim, why not, as a solution to the problem, try to impress upon the GoB the need to source its bottled water from that purest (and safest) place in the Caribbean instead of importing stale water in plastic bottles from places riddled with Covid and ‘his’ friends in their ground and sewage-treated water sources.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    One of the options discussed back in the 1990’s was to barge the water from Dominica here rather than build a desal plant..

    That might make a lot of sense if that water is then used as the source to the desal plant here as it will probably be virus free!!

    However, Singapore realized a long time ago that purchasing water from Malaysia impinges upon its sovereignty so like the proactive disciplined folks they are they found out how to recycle raw sewage, ensure the quality of the rainfall they catch and desalinate.

    Singapore is literally miles ahead of the world.

    It has a deal with Malaysia to buy the river water from it, treat it and sell back the treated water at a profit.

    Malaysia is locked in to the agreement till 2060!!

    It desperately wants to get out but when it does it will find Singapore has been proactive and can get by without them!!

    Proactive Government, disciplined people.

    Masters of their destiny, captain’s of their fate … for now anyway.


  11. MTA

    You are out of your league here trying to play this bowling!!

    You are going to get hurt!!


  12. NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEXT!!


  13. @ John March 2, 2021 9:36 AM
    “So what’s new!!”
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Johnny, you ass has turned to grass with that posting @ TheOGazerts March 2, 2021 9:25 AM.

    Do you really understand the ramifications of your assertion that the water pumped by the BWA is contaminated with Covid-19?

    Are you saying that, in addition to Covid-19, there is a multiplicity of dangerous viruses and bacteria like Cholera lurking in the poorly-treated water in Barbados?

    Are you implying that the GoB- through its ‘executing’ arm of the BWA- is slowly but effectively (even if inadvertently) exterminating the Bajan population similar to what Hitler did to the Jews in Nazi Germany?

    Do you understand that clean water is the source of a nation’s good health and the foundation of any civilization?

    BTW, the Trump administration from that real “shithole country” is not running things in Bim with the objective of killing off the black population.


  14. @ Vincent Codrington March 2, 2021 9:20 AM

    You’ve made a very interesting point.

    For example, I don’t know whether or not what I’ve read is true, but, apparently Grenada has not been including positive repatriated cases in its COVOD-19 statistics.

    However, I believe the number of deaths is perhaps the deciding factor. But, then again, to achieve a figure that’s as accurate as possible, we’ll probably have to determine and categorise the causes of deaths.


  15. Barbados is simply lucky and blessed.

    It has a low percentage of smokers, second lowest in the world.

    Our lungs are good.

    We got serious obesity problems which can lead to heart disease which can lead to impaired lung function but on the whole, our lungs are good.

    Thank God for Dr. Gale!!


  16. @ John March 2, 2021 9:46 AM
    “MTA
    You are out of your league here trying to play this bowling!!
    You are going to get hurt..”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    What bowling ??? The diarrhoea of crap you continue to deliver in the most nauseatingly obnoxious way?

    The miller would continue to keep his ‘wooden’ plank for a bat up your derriere as long as you come to the blog trying to discredit the GoB by spreading a whole heap of bullshit propaganda with your gargantuan tissue of lies about the water distributed by the BWA is infected with Covid-19 and his army of friends.

  17. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ David BU at 9 :26 AM

    I do expect governments in the Caribbean to be reactive. Is that not what we elected them to do? We elect governments to research problems that affect our lives and livelihoods and put in place viable solutions. I think they collectively have been doing a reasonably good job. I do not expect miracles to come from very human brains.

    No Our citizens are not indisciplined. They are very human . Yes the level of fear is high. But we should expect that. These are uncharted waters that we are navigating. This is where good leadership comes into play. Please do not ask me to evaluate that. The outcomes are the criteria from which you can make your own judgement.


  18. @Hants

    Good news, what is time to market re mass production? The world is moving super quickly to achieve a semblance of normalcy.

  19. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ Artax at 10:03 AM

    I concur. For years in my area of work I have always had to interrogate numbers handed to me. Very often anecdotal information alerted me to the errors. I do not think Grenada is the only country that has done this. Our job is to hold up our area of the tent.

  20. Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV Avatar
    Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV

    @TheOG there is a SMALL thing called SCIENCE that doesn’t support John Jacobs theory. John doesn’t even support the SIMPLE MATH that CHUMP LOST by millions of votes. John Boy is specifically fond of BIG LIES.
    Sars-Cov2 would have to be specifically unique to survive water & sewage treatment where other viruses & bacteria have failed. Traces of more rugged microbiological life forms can also be found in waste water. The chlorination process inactivates \ kills these these viruses by the time it gets to the drinking water supply. Viruses cannot survive for extended periods outside a host in the first place. Sars-Cov2 is a virus that INFECTS & MULTIPLIES in mammals.

    @John Boy, I watched this episode of Dr. Phil a few days ago and figured this is what MAY be happening to you. Make sure that there isn’t anyone poisoning you at home. Your mania is troubling to say the least!!!!!. I remember you posted that you were “trembling with laughter”, that trembling COULD be early onset Parkinson’s Disease. Heavy metal poisoning in water could also explain your symptoms!!!. So before you spouting any “theories” check your own water and environment!!!!!!


  21. Ever Heard of Flint Michigan
    How long did it take for authorities to detect lead in the water


  22. A TEENAGER with no underlying health conditions has died after testing positive for Covid.
    The 17-year-old was one of 279 people who died from coronavirus in the past 24 hours in England….(Quote)


  23. “Gazzerts
    Of course you are slow
    Neither did science see or expected the many variants associated with the virus
    COVID is a horse of a different color cant rule nothing out.”

    You rushed in for the kill and left your butt exposed.

    Science expected variants or mutations. That’s what viruses do; they mutate; I believe that’s why we have a different flu vaccine every year.

    If you said “Science did not expect to see many virulent mutations in such a short period”, then you would have been on more solid ground.

    I think you wanted my attention…


  24. Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TVMarch 2, 2021 11:14 AM

    Sars-Cov2 would have to be specifically unique to survive water & sewage treatment where other viruses & bacteria have failed.
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Complete rubbish.

    The virus that causes polio is spread by drinking water.

    HIV on the other hand can’t.

    If the virus that causes COVID-19 is being routinely found in sewage and wastewater, sure bet it is in drinking water!!!

    All viruses are not created equal!!

    QED


  25. DUUUUUUUUUUUHH!!


  26. Interesting this article.

    Not a single flu case in Singapore since May last year!!

    They are obviously doing something right.

    https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/no-flu-cases-at-spore-polyclinics-in-more-than-8-months

  27. Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV Avatar
    Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV

    @John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt….Clearly your comprehension skills are COMPLETELY SHOT. Viruses in water is NOTHING NEW. Surviving for an extended period (over 3 days) in large bodies of flowing water is less likely. Cholera, Typhoid, Dysentery are BACTERIA which are FAR larger than viruses, hence their chances of surviving would be even higher in untreated water. Your assumption is based on the cross contamination of TREATED, DRINKING water with UNTREATED sewage \ water . If that was so then WHERE ARE THE OTHER CASES OF WATER BORNE DISEASES ORIGINATING FROM DRINKING WATER?? Your jokes are now clearly the rantings of a maniac.

    FYI the flu is spread the same way as the Sars-COV2 virus. Hence the basic hand hygiene and public health measures than have INCREASED since the COVID-19 PANDEMIC would dramatically reduce all other airborne virus cases. It is an indication of how contagious and how pervasive SARS-COV2 is. Another difference is that man has been exposed to the flu far long and has developed more of an immunity to the flu. But just like Sars-COV2 there are flu variants. Flu variants have hit mankind with varying degrees of severity since the 1918 Spanish flu. Even outside these pandemics, flu viruses still kills people worldwide yearly in ALMOST the same way Sars-COV2 is killing people.


  28. JohnMarch 1, 2021 8:18 PM

    Then look at polio.

    It can survive for a few weeks.

    https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/poliomyelitis/facts

    Transmission
    Humans are the only known reservoir of polio virus.
    The virus is transmitted via droplets or aerosols from the throat and by faecal contamination of hands, utensils, food and water. The majority of transmissions occur through person-to-person contact via the faeco-oral route, although the oro-oral route is also possible.
    The incubation period is approximately 7—10 days (range 4–35 days) and about 24% of infected individuals develop clinical symptoms including fever, headache and sore throat.
    Infected persons are most infectious from 7 to 10 days before and after the onset of symptoms. However, poliovirus is excreted in the stools for up to six weeks.
    Immunodeficient patients can, in rare cases, become asymptomatic chronic carriers of WPV and VDPV.
    Poliovirus can survive at room temperature for a few weeks. Soil, sewage and infected water have been shown to harbour the virus.
    All unimmunised persons are susceptible to the infection. Infants in the first six months may have some protection from passively transferred maternal immunity. Children younger than five years are at highest risk.
    Poliovirus is highly infectious, with sero-conversion rates of 90–100% among household contacts.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Poliovirus can survive at room temperature for a few weeks.

    Soil, sewage and infected water have been shown to harbour the virus.

    … LIKE THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES COVID!!!


  29. In fact the signature is present in sewage and wastewater coming from communities up to a week before members of the communities even exhibit symptoms.

    That is used as a tool to understand and address where it will arise next.


  30. And the tap drips
    And the tap drips
    Drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip
    Drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip
    John is unscientific working from a conclusion backwards in much same way GP claims Bible is the truth because it says it is. 2 x trolls = farting around + frigging in the rigging because there is fuck all else to do.
    Same ill illogic was used to ‘prove’ whites are superior and blacks are inferior by white people.
    ELECTRO (CLASSIC / DETROIT / MODERN)

  31. Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV Avatar
    Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV

    Well then John Boy, do some tests of the DRINKING WATER from several different sources. Tell us if you find any pathogens in significant amounts known to cause disease in HUMANS including POLIO. IF YOU DO then you need to alert the authorities that the drinking water supply isn’t treated properly or has been contaminated post treatment stage.


  32. Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TVMarch 2, 2021 4:44 PM

    Well then John Boy, do some tests of the DRINKING WATER from several different sources. Tell us if you find any pathogens in significant amounts known to cause disease in HUMANS including POLIO. IF YOU DO then you need to alert the authorities that the drinking water supply isn’t treated properly or has been contaminated post treatment stage

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    That the job of the authorities!!

    We pay them to do it and to get it right.


  33. “Same ill illogic was used to ‘prove’ whites are superior and blacks are inferior by white people.”

    Blacks like John and GP think if they copy them whites they can act like they are superior to the blacks on BU too

  34. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar

    @angela cox March 2, 2021 9:43 AM “Neither did science see or expected the many variants associated with the virus.”

    Every single scientist EXPECTED variants. Because that is how infectious diseases work.

    Why don’t you admit that you failed O’level, CXC, Grade 12 biology.

    Stupssseee!!!

  35. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar

    @John March 2, 2021 7:44 AM “Why do some have zero deaths and very few cases? The most sensible explanation I can find is water supply.”

    In the case of Dominica very few tourists. And those tourists who do come to Dominica tend to come by cruise ships, and the cruise ships were infected early in the pandemic, and ceased sailing shortly afterwards. Cleaner air for sure. Sweetest air in the world, heavenly air. Walking up those mountains must build stronger lungs. More agriculture, more ground provision and fruit and vegetable production. More eating of what you grow. No fast food chains, [no traffic lights either] so likely less hypertension and diabetes, on the whole I expect a more robust population. Of course clean water too. I’ve drank water directly from the streams in Dominica, I’ve done that in Barbados too, almost daily when I was a child, but not in the last 20 years or so. May NEVER do it again anywhere in the world.


  36. How come the UK Variant in Singapore has not spread since it arrived on December 23?

    Isn’t it supposed to be ultra contagious?

    What is Singapore doing to prevent its spread?

    Is the UK Variant in Dominica and from when?

    Whether it is there or not no spread of COVID period!!

    WHY?!!

    Obviously something peculiar to Singapore and Dominica is at play.


  37. What is it?


  38. Nobody expects the vaccines to prevent the spread or eradicate the virus.

    The best people seem to agree is that it will prevent bad illness.

    It is amazing anyone would accept this outcome.

    My goal is to eradicate the virus!!

    It should be everybody’s.

    One way I have shown is to prevent it getting out of water treatment plants.

    It will die naturally and lockdowns won’t be followed by reinfections and further spreads.


  39. Cuhdear BajanMarch 2, 2021 8:19 PM

    @John March 2, 2021 7:44 AM “Why do some have zero deaths and very few cases? The most sensible explanation I can find is water supply.”

    In the case of Dominica very few tourists. And those tourists who do come to Dominica tend to come by cruise ships, and the cruise ships were infected early in the pandemic, and ceased sailing shortly afterwards

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Most days in Singapore ALL COVID new cases are imported, ie brought by business people, tourists and whatever visitors arrive.

    What separates us from Singapore is that those cases do not spread.

    Singapore has iron control over water.

    In Dominica too, there is no spread.

    Nature blesses it with a water supply that is difficult to infect.

    It would need a completely inept and utterly evil Government to screw it up.

    The simple truth is that visitors to any country do not want to be marooned with COVID.

    They will do everything in their power to avoid catching it.

    We could tell them, “DON’T DRINK THE WATER” but most don’t as they prefer bottled water!!

    This COVID thing needs a common sense approach to solution.

    Forget the old fake news and just look at the numbers worldwide.

    There is only one objective.

    To make the virus dead in the water.

    Then in all likelihood, we can join Singapore in their success.


  40. Keep deaths and spread separate in your thinking.

    Most of the deaths attributed to COVID have other contributing factors.

    The prime objective is to stop the spread via water.


  41. @ Quaker John

    Do we separate out those who die WITH CoVid and those who die FROM CoVid?


  42. Here is what the internet says about the polio virus.

    “The virus is found in saliva and feces of sick people. It can be spread by direct contact with sick persons or through the air when a sick person talks, coughs, or sneezes. It is also spread by food, water, or hands contaminated with infected feces.”

    I’m saying the spread of the virus that causes COVID must be similar, given observable facts.

    The fact of a spread not happening is just as important a fact to know as is the number of cases involved in the spread.

    Where in Barbados doesn’t it spread?

    That also is a key piece of knowledge.

    Where can I go in Barbados that there is NO COVID?


  43. The press in Barbados could help in the solution by reporting on COVID free and COVID compromised areas.

    The picture that is portrayed is that every square inch of Barbados is compromised by COVID.

    I know for a fact that is not true.


  44. @ Quaker John

    To your knowledge, does the government of Barbados separate out those who die FROM CoVid and those who die WITH CoVid?


  45. @ John March 3, 2021 8:23 AM
    “The press in Barbados could help in the solution by reporting on COVID free and COVID compromised areas.
    The picture that is portrayed is that every square inch of Barbados is compromised by COVID.
    I know for a fact that is not true..”
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Isn’t “every square inch of Barbados” supplied with “potable” water from the BWA distribution network except where you live, Johnny?

    Or do you get your daily requirements of (pure) water direct from God?

    What you are effectively doing is simply denigrating the country Barbados with the aim of destroying its main forex generator called tourism when you claim that the entire water system is seriously compromised with virus-breeding fecal matter especially in the sea water along the west and south coasts of the island.


  46. MillerMarch 3, 2021 8:53 AM

    @ John March 3, 2021 8:23 AM
    “The press in Barbados could help in the solution by reporting on COVID free and COVID compromised areas.
    The picture that is portrayed is that every square inch of Barbados is compromised by COVID.
    I know for a fact that is not true..”
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Isn’t “every square inch of Barbados” supplied with “potable” water from the BWA distribution network except where you live, Johnny?

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    NETWORKS!!!

    NOT NETWORK!!!!

    …. and each network is supplied from various wells according to their elevation

    Some will be also fed from the DESAL plant.

    … and each well has a ZONE 1 Restriction around it which is supposed to impose a travel time of 100 days or whatever on the water getting to it.

    … which means it is highly unlikely the virus will reach those well alive

    …EXCEPT THE DESAL PLANT WHICH HAS NO ZONE 1 RESTRICTION AROUND IT AND IS SITUATED IMMEDIATELY IN THE PATH BETWEEN AN EXTREMELY DENSE BUILT UP AREA AND THE SEA..

    Elementary my dear Watson!!

    … but clearly well above your head!!

    WHICH NETWORKS FEED COVID AFFECTED AREAS AND WHICH NETWORKS FEED NON COVID AFFECTED AREAS?

    This is not rocket science.


  47. Everything depends on how well the DESAL plant functions and whether or not it is equipped to prevent the live virus which arrives at it getting into the drinking water supplying whatever NETWORKS it supplies.

    We are just not a maintenance oriented society.

    It isn’t rocket science.

    If there is a single culprit it will in all likelihood be the desal plant!!

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