Est.2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Banner promoting anonymous crime reporting with a phone and contact number 1 800 TIPS (8477), featuring the Crime Stoppers logo and a QR code for submitting tips.

COVID 19 Versus The Caribbean

← Back

Your message to the BLOGMASTER was sent

CONTACT THE BLOGMASTER ONLY

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

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

625 responses to “COVID 19 Versus The Caribbean”

  1. John Avatar
    John

    It’s all to do with travel time to the abstraction point.

    If it is long enough then the virus or bacteria will not be an issue.

    So if I get from a well that has adequate zone protection around it then I am cool!!

  2. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ John March 5, 2021 3:07 PM

    In other words you don’t mind ingesting a bit of the occasional shit in the water from Bajan black people especially those living close to the Belle as long as it is not coming from the Covid-infected desal plant?

  3. John Avatar
    John

    These are the Zones as they existed in 1977.

    Zone 1 is chosen to “ensure” 100 day travel time to a public water supply well.

    If the virus survives in water for 5 weeks, then we would not expect to see it in the public water supply wells as would have appeared in the 1977 map.

    The only abstraction point with no such zone protection is to feed the desal plant.

    So if the virus does appear in sewage from say the densely populated Cave Hill area, the desal plant will process whatever is taken out of the ground.

    The extraction pumps cannot differentiate between good fresh water on its way underground to Freshwater Bay, wastewater, sewage and of course seawater.

    We hope that the treatment process in the desal plant will reduce the concentrations of impurities to WHO approved levels.

    Notice, it is not expected to remove all, just enough to meet acceptable standards.

    So we do expect the desal plant to output some impurities.

    https://imgur.com/XJ2ZNc4

  4. John Avatar
    John

    Everybody ingests a bit of shit whether they know it or not.

    The human body will tolerate it, once it is not too much!!

  5. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ John March 5, 2021 5:00 PM
    “Everybody ingests a bit of shit whether they know it or not.

    The human body will tolerate it, once it is not too much!!”
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    No wonder you so full of shit yourself!

    You are basically swimming in it with the only release valve being you oral cavity of stinking self-contradiction.

    So why do you recommend boiling your water before consumption since the BWA quality control officers are incompetently incapable of detecting high level of shit in the Bajan water.

    You have just made out an excellent case for the GoB to ban the importation of foreign shitty water in plastic bottles the same way it has banned the importation of marijuana deemed dangerous to public health.

  6. David Avatar
    David

    Now the Turd is out of office 70% of Americans indicating they will agree to be vaccinated.

  7. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    angela cox March 5, 2021 12:49 PM #: “Govt ought to ashamed to put statements in the media in reference to the awful state of the NIS and Welfare Board.”

    Hahahahaha……….

    You never cease to amaze me.

    If you had read about “the awful state of the NIS and Welfare Board” on social media, you would’ve run to BU ‘talking’ about ‘government’ not being transparent and accountable.

    Now the information was made available to the public, you’re ‘saying’ “govt ought to (be) ashamed to put statements in the media” about the situation.

  8. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Artax
    Ad usual u cherry pick to place emphasis on a comment wherever u like
    I never said govt should not publish.
    However in so doing govt incompetence stares all in the face and there is where the “shame” is applied

  9. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Anyone headed for China….lol

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CMA8RENFXy8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

  10. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Miller……speaking about shit…..🤣🤣😂😂

  11. John Avatar
    John

    Here are the levels of fecal coliforms found in the 1978 Water Resource Study in some wells inspite of the zoning policy.

    https://imgur.com/FW4JYAs

  12. John Avatar
    John

    So if fecal coliforms could still reach those wells imagine if the well was in a built up area with the water table 10’s of feet from the surface.

  13. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    @ angela cox March 5, 2021 7:00 PM

    RE: “As usual u cherry pick to place emphasis on a comment wherever u like. I never said govt should not publish.”

    Come on, my friend. You made a comment to which I responded.

    Please indicate to me where in my contribution I

    (1). “cherry picked” your comments;

    (2). mentioned anything to suggest you “said govt should not publish.”

  14. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Artax

    My comments stand as what i meant.

  15. John Avatar
    John

    If there are two modes of infection masks may be totally useless!!

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/03/uselesss-joe-biden-epic-marjorie-taylor-greene-sports-new-face-mask-house-floor/

  16. John Avatar
    John

    Meanwhile over in the land of OZ

    Key points
    Testing of wastewater can show if SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19 – is present in a local community.
    Victoria has joined other Australian states and territories and New Zealand in collaborative research that will help us detect viral fragments in wastewater systems and use testing results with other health data as part of our response.

    People who have or have recently had COVID-19 may shed fragments of the virus. These fragments can enter wastewater through toilets, bowls, sinks and drains. This viral shedding may come from different sources such as used tissues, off hands and skin, or in stools. This may last for a number of weeks beyond a person’s infectious period.

    Samples of wastewater are collected from treatment plants and in the sewer network, both in metropolitan and regional locations. These samples are analysed for fragments of coronavirus.

    If viral fragments are detected in the wastewater of an area where there have not been recent COVID-19 cases, local communities can be more vigilant, increase clinical testing, and help health authorities to target public health advice to minimise transmission.

    https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/wastewater-testing-covid-19

  17. John Avatar
    John

    This is good too.

    https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/wastewater-testing-covid-19#wastewater-testing-results

    Does the detection of viral fragments in wastewater always mean there is an active case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the area?

    Viral fragments in wastewater can be due to an active infectious case but it can also be due to someone who has had COVID-19 continuing to ‘shed’ the virus. While they may not be considered infectious, it can take several weeks for someone to stop shedding the virus. The person or people shedding the virus may be local or visiting the area.

    No matter where you are in Victoria, it is important that anyone with any symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild, gets tested. For more information on symptoms, visit the Getting tested page.

  18. John Avatar
    John

    We may not be able to stop it getting into the desal plant but given what is happening in Singapore, Australia and NZ, we can stop it getting out.

    We need to understand the technology which may be the old UV light trick a la the Donald.

  19. David Avatar
    David

    Attached are updated Covid-19 charts for the week ending 2021-03-05. The positivity chart indicates that positivity is generally trending in the right direction for Barbados as is also true for the Active cases chart. The Jamaica Active cases chart is still moving upwards. Trinidad’s chart continues to indicate admirable control. The fight to get back to a steady state control situation in Barbados continues. If you think it is useful I could update the positivity chart on a daily basis – Source: Lyall Small
  20. John Avatar
    John

    Jamaica’s got a problem.

    How’s their water?

    Hiked there too, up Blue Mountain Peak.

    The problem with accepting water as a second means of infection is that to accept that it is a problem means you also have to accept the country is backward which is politically incorrect.

    It also blows apart the efficacy of a mask into which so much faith has been invested.

    So the COVID problem won’t be easily addressed in many countries, America and GB etc. included.

    Meanwhile, people continue to die.

    Those countries, in a minority, who really have a handle on their water supply will breeze through.

  21. David Avatar
    David

    You should take not how Lyall is using data to support his submissions. It is what a scientists do.

  22. John Avatar
    John

    DavidMarch 6, 2021 5:48 AM

    You should take not how Lyall is using data to support his submissions. It is what a scientists do.

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

    Meaning precisely what?

    Can you translate into english?

    What exactly is Lyall’s submission?

  23. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Here is a translation…
    Your desal plant (brain) is not working and you are sending wastewater to BU.

  24. John Avatar
    John

    If you can’t simply look at the map with the zones drawn in and not see what the problem is then you obviously can’t play this game!!

  25. John Avatar
    John

    .. and you haven’t got a clue about your own country!!

  26. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Austria has suspended vaccinations with a batch of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus jabs as a precaution following the death of one person and the illness of another after the shots.

    The Federal Office for Safety in Health Care (BASG) said a 49-year-old woman died as a result of severe coagulation disorders.

    It also confirmed another 35-year-old woman developed a pulmonary embolism and is now recovering.

    The agency said it had received two reports ‘in a temporal connection’ with a vaccine from the same batch in the district clinic of Zwettl, Lower Austria…..(Quote)

  27. John Avatar
    John

    I started asking around to discover where the COVID hotspots are and see if my theory is a fit.

    It is unscientific and hearsay but I got two that fit.

    One is in the Black Rock area, the other is the Bridgetown area.

    All I ask is “Do you know of anyone who has had the COVID and where do they live?”

    Both areas fit.

    The water from the desal plant will be raised MOST LIKELY” to the nearest reservoir which would be the new one at St. Stephen’s Hill above Cave Hill University.

    From there it will be distributed to other reservoirs at similar elevations and then gravity fed to customers to the coast.

    I hope I am wrong but so far it is a fit.

    I am checking on a third one, same kind of elevation.

    However it is rather far away but the elevation is a fit.

    I know from my reading that water from the various pumping stations is sent to various reservoirs to build in redundancy.

    So it is likely St. Stephens Reservoir will receive from other well sources.

    So I can’t say for sure I am right but I am seeing a pattern developing here that suggests that I am.

  28. John Avatar
    John

    https://hu-hu.facebook.com/bwa.bb/videos/the-new-proposed-zoning-changes/469967067714947/?__so__=permalink&__rv__=related_videos

    Where would you say this interview is being conducted?

    Did you notice the Zone A around the Desal Plant?

    Recommended since 2006, now being discussed 15 years later.

  29. John Avatar
    John

    Singapore has the same 29 deaths, 110 active cases. There is 1 serious/critical case.
    Last death was November 29th 2020.

    New Zealand has the same 26 deaths, 78 active cases. No serious/critical cases.
    Last death was February 27th, 2020, and before that September 18th 2020.

    Dominica has the same 0 deaths, 14 active cases. No serious/critical cases.

    Grenada has 1 death, 0 active cases. No serious/critical cases.
    The single death occurred on January 5th, 2020.

    There is NO SPREAD in any of these countries.

    COVID may be present, BUT NO SPREAD.

    Water fits for these exceptional countries like a glove.

  30. John Avatar
    John

    Got to be another means through which it is spread.

    Water fits.

    The countries in control of their water supplies don’t have the spread.

    It follows those with the spread are not in control of theirs, so called developed countries included.

  31. John Avatar
    John

    The Governments around the world are infecting their own citizens, whether unknowingly or not.

  32. John Avatar
    John

    Australia with 909 deaths, same as when I started discussing these countries with no spread, obviously did something to fix their problem.

    You can see it in their graphs.

  33. John Avatar
    John

    Australia says that COVID can be licked with a little common sense.

    The other countries I raised show it need not have even spread.

  34. David Avatar
    David

    Here is how Australia authorities reported they have successfully managed to combat COVID 19 so far. Nothing John the Barbados scholar has posted is mentioned.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/australia-coronavirus-cases-melbourne-lockdown/2020/11/05/96c198b2-1cb7-11eb-ad53-4c1fda49907d_story.html

  35. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    @ John March 5, 2021 1:28 PM #: “I told you from the beginning that the GOB was going to break the NIS. It needs a solution and I believe I am giving it one. Lock down the desal plant and see what happens.
    Link the 11 or more hot spots to one or more reservoirs and see if the desal plant is the common denominator. Learn from the countries that have overcome it.”

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

    I understand the intended purpose of Ionics Freshwater Ltd.’s desalination plant in Spring Garden was to convert brackish water to potable water. I also understand 80ft deep wells were dug behind the plant to ‘capture’ the combination of sea and fresh water, which goes through a series of pre-treatment, desalination and post-treatment processes, before the fresh drinking water is distributed.

    There is a BWA pumping station in Free Hill, Black Rock, as well as a reservoir in Cave Hill, which was built a few years ago and another one in Lodge Hill.

    Are you’re suggesting the system has changed and they’re now converting sewage water to potable water?

  36. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Little island Hitlers………

    A businessman remanded to prison for breaching COVID-19 protocols has been hospitalised for more than a week and his shocked family say they were never made aware that he was ill.

    Hamenauth Sarendranauth’s son Surrendra said he heard about his father, who was remanded on February 17, being shifted from HMP Dodds to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on March 2 through attorney Michael Lashley…..(Quote)

  37. John Avatar
    John

    ArtaxMarch 8, 2021 8:24 AM

    I understand the intended purpose of Ionics Freshwater Ltd.’s desalination plant in Spring Garden was to convert brackish water to potable water. I also understand 80ft deep wells were dug behind the plant to ‘capture’ the combination of sea and fresh water, which goes through a series of pre-treatment, desalination and post-treatment processes, before the fresh drinking water is distributed.

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

    Here’s where we differ.

    You say seawater and freshwater.

    I say seawater, freshwater, wastewater and sewage.

    I’ve factored in the effect of gravity on the wastewater and sewage.

    You have not.

  38. John Avatar
    John

    DavidMarch 8, 2021 4:26 AM

    Here is how Australia authorities reported they have successfully managed to combat COVID 19 so far. Nothing John the Barbados scholar has posted is mentioned.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/australia-coronavirus-cases-melbourne-lockdown/2020/11/05/96c198b2-1cb7-11eb-ad53-4c1fda49907d_story.html

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

    Once you accept there are two modes of spread, eradicating it is an exercise in commonsense.

    Keep the virus out of the drinking water by any means necessary.

    If it is allowed into the distribution mains all the locking down in the world will not eradicate it.

    It needs to be confined and allowed to die.

    It cannot be allowed to reinvade humans.

  39. David Avatar
    David

    Going with the scientists!

  40. John Avatar
    John

    Look at this graph from Singapore.

    Nearly all of their cases are imported.

    There is very little spread locally.

    That’s the key.

    Confine it and let it die.

    If we can’t with certainty say that a particular water source is Covid free, shut it down.

    The most obvious contender is the desal plant.

    https://imgur.com/71JiejL

  41. John Avatar
    John

    DavidMarch 8, 2021 12:36 PM

    Going with the scientists!

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

    I’m not only a Scientist but also a Technologist, Engineer and Mathematician!!

    For me it is common sense!!

    Same thing.

  42. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    John March 8, 2021 12:28 PM #: “Here’s where we differ. You say seawater and freshwater. I say seawater, freshwater, wastewater and sewage. I’ve factored in the effect of gravity on the wastewater and sewage. You have not.”

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

    So, you’re essentially implying Ionics’ personnel “have not factored in the effect of gravity on the wastewater and sewage” as well. This leads me to ask if you’re aware of how water is desalinated?

    The desalination plant is located in Spring Garden and, if I’m not mistaken, it services areas that are within its proximity, such as from Fresh Water Bay, Pile Bay, Brandons, North and South Brighton, Brighton Road, Spring Garden, Straker’s Tenantry, Brighton Terrace, Farm, Deacons, Bird’s River, Land’s End, etc.
    Then, there are the other areas from Walmer Lodge going towards Black Rock Main Road to probably as far as Eagle Hall, including Black Rock Main Road, Danesbury, Free Hill, Retreat, Stanmore, Ellerslie Gap, St. Stephen’s Hill, Goddard’s Road, Cave Hill, Applegrove, Dear’s Land, Clevedale, Wavell, Grazettes, Fairfield, Belfield, Seclusion and the surrounding villages.

    There are five schools within this perimeter, St. Stephen’s Nursery, St. Stephen’s Primary, Ellerslie Secondary, Deacon’s Primary and we could include UWI; as well as several businesses, including Barbados Light & Power, SOL, Cockspur, RUBIS, ESSO, KFC, Carlton Supermarket, village shops, mini marts, bars, restaurants, doctors, lawyers, guest houses and others too numerous to mention……. many of which employ people who do not live in the area.

    I’m trying to understand something here. If your theories were accurate, then, judging from the size of the ‘catchment area,’ which is also densely populated, wouldn’t those villages be ‘hot-spots’ for COVID-19? And, if so, wouldn’t there have been many more reported cases of the virus or even an increase in the number of deaths as a result?

    So far, Ellerslie was forced to close sometime last year as a result of someone who did not reside within the ‘catchment area,’ being diagnosed with corona virus. There weren’t any reported closures of businesses as a result of the virus, other than what was enforced by ‘government.’

  43. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    This time last year, when the CoVid pandemic first broke, and the high rate of black deaths in the UK was made public, I challenged the official explanation about co-morbidities and being frontline jobs done by black people.4esz
    I said then that doctors were killing black people and explained this by saying that doctors had enormous discretion in who they treated and who they allowed to die. I was ignored.
    The explanation I found hard to accept was the nonsense about black Brits being overweight and suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes as if these were unique to black people. Britain has the heaviest (ie fattest) people in Europe.
    A new book, by Jonathan Calvert, Failures of State: The Inside Story of Britain’s Battle with Coronavirus, now exposes how doctors, in an attempt to prove that the NHS could cope with the plague, refused people ICU treatment.
    I know Jonathan as a very thorough journalist, having worked briefly with him on the Sunday Times investigative Insight team as a freelance.
    I have said that medical racism is an ever-present evil we must face, and local doctors telling people to take vaccines and other forms of treatment have got to be very careful. The politics of medicine is real.
    Even mental illness: a higher proportion of black people are sectioned; a higher number are given the toughest treatments; fewer get so-called talkative treatment, the psychiatrist as to the psychologist.
    Learning by rote means quite often accepting what you are told by officials as the truth, whatever the discipline; we must challenge them, even when on the operating table.

  44. John Avatar
    John

    ArtaxMarch 8, 2021 2:36 PM

    I’m trying to understand something here. If your theories were accurate, then, judging from the size of the ‘catchment area,’ which is also densely populated, wouldn’t those villages be ‘hot-spots’ for COVID-19? And, if so, wouldn’t there have been many more reported cases of the virus or even an increase in the number of deaths as a result?

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

    What matters is the distribution area, not the catchment area.

    For example, The Belle’s water catchment is as far away as St. Joseph.

    But St. Joseph is not supplied from the Belle!!

    What we could say is that water from St. Joseph arriving at the Belle will not have many bacteria of viruses left living after the long travel time.

    On the other hand, water arriving from the Warrens Catchment would have a lot of bacteria and viruses still living. At one time it was suggested that Warrens be sewered but it never was..

    Hampton receives water from Massiah Street in St. John.

    But Massiah Street is not supplied from Hampton, more than likely Bowmanston.

    Similarly, water from Massiah Street arriving at Hampton will have low concentrations of bacteria or viruses.

    You are confusing the two areas.

    I’ll see if I can post the 1978 allocation of water from pumping stations at reservoirs.

    That is prior to the desal plant.

    There were 16 distribution areas all organised by elevation and fed by their respective reservoirs.

  45. John Avatar
    John

    Each reservoir was fed from various sources.

  46. John Avatar
    John

    Let’s look at St. Lucy.

    In 1978 the projections for demand and the population expected is shown.

    St. Lucy would be supplied from three reservoirs Half Acre, Lamberts and Mount Stepney.

    Each would deal with a contour interval

    ALL of the water for St. Lucy back then came from Alleynedale Pumping Station.

    Alleynedale as will be shown is not supplied by the St. Lucy Catchment.

    https://imgur.com/ObJsYnT

  47. John Avatar
    John

    These are the catchment areas in Barbados.

    The three catchment areas in St. Lucy, Bourbon, Content and St. Lucy do not yield sufficient underground water to justify a public water supply well.

    Not enough rain!!

    So the Alleynedale catchment is used to supply St. Lucy.

    https://imgur.com/jQWIyD5

  48. John Avatar
    John

    ArtaxMarch 8, 2021 2:36 PM

    So far, Ellerslie was forced to close sometime last year as a result of someone who did not reside within the ‘catchment area,’ being diagnosed with corona virus. There weren’t any reported closures of businesses as a result of the virus, other than what was enforced by ‘government.’

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

    https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/the-ellerslie-school-closed-for-two-weeks/

    I would suggest the pupil may have got the virus from the water from the reservoir at Free Hill.

    The water in the reservoir at Free Hill may come from the desal plant and perhaps Belle as an element of redundancy would be engineered into the system.

    Belle has zone protection, the desal plant does not.

    It all comes down to concentrations and luck, or lack thereof.

    A student drinking water from a tap in Ellerslie may get water which may or may not have enough virus to infect him/her.

    It may have none by the time another student uses it.

    Maybe the groundsman used the infected water to water the garden.

    The school was closed, the students rejoiced, the student did not spread the covid to his/her school mates and recovered as expected.

    The authorities rejoiced at their decisive action and the lack of spread.

    “We got this” they may have said.

    Two weeks later the school was reopened.

    Same source of water as before.

    The possibility of a second mode of infection has to be eliminated.

    Were there any other infections in the area of the Ellerslie School?

    My non scientific survey says YES, Blackrock is a hot spot!!

    It is water!!

  49. John Avatar
    John

    ArtaxMarch 8, 2021 2:36 PM

    There are five schools within this perimeter, St. Stephen’s Nursery, St. Stephen’s Primary, Ellerslie Secondary, Deacon’s Primary and we could include UWI; as well as several businesses, including Barbados Light & Power, SOL, Cockspur, RUBIS, ESSO, KFC, Carlton Supermarket, village shops, mini marts, bars, restaurants, doctors, lawyers, guest houses and others too numerous to mention……. many of which employ people who do not live in the area.

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

    https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/the-ellerslie-school-closed-for-two-weeks/

    “She cited the clusters which took place a few months ago within churches, at the National Assistance Board and a case where the Ministry of Health and Wellness had to conduct contact tracing of approximately 30 students at the University of the West Indies when a student who returned to Trinidad from Barbados tested positive for the virus.”

    There’s your UWI!!

    The student who tested positive on return to Trinidad may have contracted it from the water at UWI before he/she left to return to Trinidad.

    Possible also the student got it from droplets from another student who caught it from the water!!

    You see how important it is to lock down any source of water that may in all probability be a super spreader.

    The NAB I see is in Country Road, Bridgetown where my unscientific survey suggests to me that is a hot spot.

    Water perhaps from way back in May 2020?

    https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/tag/national-assistance-board/

  50. John Avatar
    John

    I think it is way past time we accept the possibility that there are two types of spread.

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading