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COVID 19 Update – Well Done Bajans!

Encouraging signs are to be seen of late from trending reflected on the Barbados Covid 19 Situation Report. Yesterday recorded 9 reported positive cases with the positivity rate falling below 2%. Compared to Jamaica, Bermuda and The Bahamas to use three regional examples of service economies highly dependent on traffic from outside of country, Barbadians,…

Encouraging signs are to be seen of late from trending reflected on the Barbados Covid 19 Situation Report. Yesterday recorded 9 reported positive cases with the positivity rate falling below 2%. Compared to Jamaica, Bermuda and The Bahamas to use three regional examples of service economies highly dependent on traffic from outside of country, Barbadians, including the government have done a good job to clawback from the precipice which beckoned a few weeks ago when all COVID hell broke loose.

Another encouraging sign is the rapid rate of penetration of Barbadians vaccinated. It has been reported that 1st dose stock of vaccinations were exhausted this week and the country is waiting on the next shipment to restart inoculation to satisfy high demand.

Clearly given the unknowns associated with COVID 19 and the virulent nature of the virus Barbadians cannot allow themselves to be lulled into complacency. The state of the economy combined with COVID fatigue by citizens everywhere must continue to motivate us to listen to the health officials in whom we must trust.

Congratulations Barbadians!

https://barbadostoday.bb/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/8489654E-2B04-47D7-A7B7-6981B281C163-730×456.jpeg

183 responses to “COVID 19 Update – Well Done Bajans!”

  1. John Avatar
    John

    DavidApril 7, 2021 1:45 AM

    Those countries with low deaths do not suffer from a high incidence of NCDs in the country.

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

    NCD’s are a separate issue from the spread of COVID and need to be addressed separately.

    If COVID is spread from the DESAL Plant and it is clear the possibility exists, shut it down irrespective of whether we have a high level of NCD’s or not.

    If we have a bunch of fat women (and men … I could lose some weight too) in Barbados then find a way to encourage them to exercise.

    Lockdowns are only going to make the situation worse.

    I can’t imagine, given the fact that COVID likes to kill people with NCD’s isn’t incentive enough to exercise and watch what you eat..

    It is clear that “Vaccines” are not likely to be a substitute to good health and wellness.

    Nor will masks and social distancing if it is spread by water as is becoming clearer by the day.

    I see India had 115K new cases yesterday …. four weeks ago the new cases were below 10K and the deaths are rising.

    … and the big bath days are yet to come in April.

  2. John Avatar
    John

    Up to 2018, pre COVID, in terms of the percentage of deaths accountable to NCD’s, Barbados (83%) is better off than both Australia (89%) or New Zealand (88%).

    Singapore is (74%) and USA and UK are about the same as Australia and New Zealand. (89% 88%)

    China is 89%, same as USA and UK.

    Italy and Spain are the worst off in this grouping. (91%)

    Haiti on the other hand is at 54% and Zambia at 29%!!

    No data for Dominica or Bermuda.

    Vanuatu is at 74%, like Singapore.

    https://www.who.int/nmh/countries/en/

  3. John Avatar
    John

    While COVID seems to relish killing people with NCD’s certainly it has to be able to spread to nail those who suffer from the malaise.

    One would think that Australia and New Zealand had a low incidence of NCD’s but that is not the case, they both have the problem, a bit worse than Barbados.

    Clearly they, like Singapore have been able to stop the spread and so protect those with NCD’s in their countries.

    Brazil is comparable to Singapore where NCD’s are concerned (74%) but it can’t control the spread of COVID.

    It is in the top 20 where deaths per 1 million of population is concerned.

    This is not a good sign for India in the coming months.

    Its rate of spread is tremendous at the moment though it still is #126 in cases/million of population.

    NCD’s are accountable for 63% of deaths in India, it remains to be seen if this keeps the death rate down.

    It is #120 in countries with deaths/million and for now, far from being in the top 20.

    Barbados is slightly worse off than India where deaths and cases per million are concerned but its numbers are tiny so there may not be much significance in that ranking.

    We’ll see what happens with India over the ensuing months given the rapid spread which seems to have been caused by water.

  4. John Avatar
    John

    India going ballistic, 136K cases to date, deaths have increased almost 10 fold in 4 weeks and the big bathing days are yet to come.

    Dominica still at zero, Singapore not changing and New Zealand and Australia firmly in the driver’s seat.

    Clearly some countries are doing something different to others.

    What is it and how can we learn?

  5. John Avatar
    John

    You can look at Brazil’s graph of daily cases and see two factors at work.

  6. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @John April 8, 2021 7:32 PM “Clearly some countries are doing something different to others. What is it and how can we learn.”

    Wash your hands
    Wear your mask
    Watch your distance

    Don’t drink or bathe in dirty untreated water. It is ok though to bather in the Caribbean Sea or the Atlantic Ocean.

  7. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @John April 8, 2021 3:01 AM “Brazil is comparable to Singapore where NCD’s are concerned (74%) but it can’t control the spread of COVID.”

    I am here wondering if that is because their President is a right wing Trumpist?

  8. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @John April 7, 2021 9:47 AM “If we have a bunch of fat women (and men … I could lose some weight too) in Barbados then find a way to encourage them to exercise.”

    Sensible.

    If like me you are retired and have nothing better to do, try field labor. Knocks the weight off and keeps it off like nothing else. I tried walking [fair] swimming [god] and field labor [excellent]

  9. John Avatar
    John

    https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301202635_Environmental_impacts_of_runoff_on_the_Bellairs_fringing_reef_Barbados

    Abstract and Figures
    The fringing reefs of Barbados have been suffering chronic disturbances of eutrophication and sedimentation for more than 25 years. These processes are driven by the addition of sediments and nutrients to the oligotrophic marine environment. The contributions of runoff to these processes were documented by event-based sampling of flow at an outlet through Holetown and the adjacent nearshore area including the Bellairs Reef. The following parameters were monitored and their contributions to coastal water quality degradation assessed: turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), nitrate-nitrite nitrogen (NO x-N), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), nearshore sedimentation, salinity, and terrestrial discharge. A significant northward dispersion trend was observed directing plumes towards the Bellairs Reef. All 4 events documented produced detrimental levels of turbidity, or TSS, or both above the reef. Water quality in the area of the outlet and above the reef significantly varied among events in correspondence to total TSS loads and discharges from the outlet, though temporal variation above the reef also depended on wind stress. While excessive turbidity levels lasted less than 2-3 days, excessive TSS levels reaching the reef lasted at least 3 days. Estimated suspended sediment loads ranged between 32-187 metric tonnes. Nearshore sedimentation was in excess of guidelines for 35 of the 118 days monitored, presenting a chronic stress in addition to that of reduced surface water clarity. Dissolved nutrient loads were estimated to range between 8.5-32.4 kg-SRP and 17.6-66.7 kg-NO x-N. It is expected that these loads make large contributions to coastal eutrophication, especially that of the limiting nutrient, phosphorus.

  10. John Avatar
    John

    http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/482391554225185720/pdf/Marine-Pollution-in-the-Caribbean-Not-a-Minute-to-Waste.pdf

  11. John Avatar
    John

    Three more major bathing days in the holy River Ganges before the end of April.

    Haridwar Kumbh Mela
    Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering in the world, is held every 12 years in rotation at the four holy places of Haridwar, Allahabad, Ujjain and Nasik. The 2021 Maha Kumbh Mela will be held at Haridwar. It will witness the coming together of millions of pilgrims, accompanied by sadhus and different akharas, to take a dip in the holy River Ganges. The bathing dates for this mega event have already been announced and they are mentioned below.

    January 14 to April 27, 2021

    Makar Sankranti (Snan) 14 January 2021
    Mauni Amavasya (Snan) 11 February 2021
    Basant Panchami (Snan) 16 February 2021
    Magh Poornima 27 February 2021
    Maha Shivratri (Shahi Snan) 11 March 2021
    Somvati Amamvasya (Shahi Snan) 12 April 2021
    Baisakhi (Shahi Snan) 14 April 2021
    Ram Navami (Snan) 21 April 2021
    Chaitra Purnima (Shahi Snan) 27 April 2021

  12. John Avatar
    John

    If the authorities in India do not control the Hindu pilgrims in the exercise of their faith over the next two to three weeks it is likely that new cases in India will continue to rise over the next few months.

    My bet is they cannot.

    Today the count was 144K.

    It is clear that the rise to 144K was alot sharper than the rise in the “first wave”.

    The number of daily new cases could very well exceed 200K within a matter of days and remain over 200K and likely rising for a couple of months.

    Deaths will follow until the spread is controlled but India is also cursed by Malaria and uses anti malarial medicines so I suspect the deaths may not be as severe as in countries which are malaria free..

    It may be that the spread will be controlled by natural forces and not by authoritarian measures, in other words, the spread will have a mind of its own and all the authorities can do is to wait it out.

    Strong arm measures to control the population’s behaviour will probably not work.

    The best the Indian authorities can do to prevent succeeding waves is to gain control of sewage and reduce the ability of the virus to end up in the rivers and the drinking water.

    https://imgur.com/phbVutN

  13. John Avatar
    John

    It maybe the deadly second wave of the Spanish Flu epidemic occurred because of spread via water.

    Same principle of sewage ending up in rivers and ground water.

    There was also a third wave but not as deadly.

    By then most of at risk population was dead already.

    Also, by then people were more careful about airborne spread, social distancing and masks.

    Clearly we need to eradicate it, or create conditions where it eradicates itself.

    https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-commemoration/three-waves.htm

  14. John Avatar
    John

    It is interesting to read (wiki) what happened in India during the Spanish Flu epidemic, 1918 to 1920.

    There were so many dead bodies to dispose of and not enough fuel for cremation.

    The method of disposal was to put dead bodies in rivers which then became clogged.

    Little did they know back then they were probably making a bad situation worse as in all likelihood, water was a means of transmitting the virus.

    “1918 flu pandemic in India was the outbreak of an unusually deadly influenza pandemic in India between 1918–1920 as a part of the worldwide Spanish flu pandemic. Also referred to as the Bombay Influenza or the Bombay Fever in India,[1][2] the pandemic is believed to have killed up to 17 – 18 million people in the country, the most among all countries.[3][4] David Arnold (2019) estimates at least 12 million dead, about 5% of the population.[5] The decade between 1911 and 1921 was the only census period in which India’s population fell, mostly due to devastation of the Spanish flu pandemic.[6][7] The death toll in India’s British-ruled districts was 13.88 million.[8]

    In India, the pandemic broke out in Bombay in June 1918,[9][10] with one of the possible routes being via ships carrying troops returning from the First World War in Europe.[11][9] The outbreak then spread across the country from west and south to east and north,[11] reaching the whole of the country by August.[12] It hit different parts of the country in three waves with the second wave being the highest in mortality rate.[9][12] The death rate peaked in the last week of September 1918 in Bombay, in the middle of October in Madras, and in the middle of November in Calcutta.[10]

    The outbreak most severely affected younger people in the age group of 20–40, with women suffering disproportionately.[12] According to the Sanitary Commissioner’s report for 1918, the maximum death toll in a week exceeded 200 deaths in both Bombay and Madras.[10] The spread of the disease was exacerbated by a failed monsoon and the resultant famine-like conditions, that had left people underfed and weak, and forced them to move into densely populated cities.[2] As a result of the severity of the outbreak, the year 1919 saw a reduction of births by around 30 percent.[12] The population growth of India during the decade from 1911–1921 was 1.2%, the lowest among all decades under the British Raj. In his memoirs the Hindi poet, Suryakant Tripathi, wrote “Ganga was swollen with dead bodies.” The sanitary commissioner’s report for 1918 also noted that all rivers across India were clogged up with bodies,[9] because of a shortage of firewood for cremation.[12]

    Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India’s independence struggle, was also infected by the virus.[4] The pandemic had a significant influence in the freedom movement in the country. The healthcare system in the country was unable to meet the sudden increase in demands for medical attention. The consequent toll of death and misery, and economic fallout brought about by the pandemic led to an increase in emotion against colonial rule.[4][9]”

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic_in_India

  15. John Avatar
    John

    India passed the 150K mark yesterday for new cases, 152,682, and 838 deaths.

    Will there be a slackening between now and the time, ~ 2 weeks, for the effect of the 14th April bathing to be felt?

  16. John Avatar
    John

    It is amazing to see what sort of impact water borne disease had on various Kumbh Mela in India.

    In 1891, 724K pilgrims died from cholera.

    Cholera is not airborne so one can only appreciate how effective the waterborne route for disease spread is by this fact.

    India is lucky that COVID is not nearly as deadly as Cholera or Spanish Flu.

    What is apparent is that it is not nearly as contagious as Cholera being spread by water or Spanish Flu being possibly spread as it is by both water and air..

    New COVID cases in India reached 100K in the first wave of infection.

    I suggest it then got into the water supply as it did in other countries via sewage.

    The events in India this particular year allowed it to spread via its second route, water.

    Cases are now at 150K and rising, inline with the rapidity of spread of other waterborne diseases.

    The lesson for us in Barbados to learn from India’s experience, is that we must improve our water supply and do nothing to create a situation where disease can be easily spread.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haridwar_Kumbh_Mela

  17. John Avatar
    John

    Back in 1978 the Water Resources Study recognised how important Zoning was on the water quality in Barbados.

    “No significant pollution problems have been experienced at any of the water supply wells since the development control zone restrictions were imposed in 1963; the zoning policy may thus be considered successful. The zoning system was, however, examined to determine whether it could be modified to allow residential development in the bacteriological protection zone (Zone 1) should development pressures indicate the desirability of this course of action. Four alternatives
    were analyzed:

    a. provision of sewers within Zone 1 and disposal of treated effluent outside Zone 1;

    b. reduction in the size of Zone 1 and provision of improved treatment at each well;

    c. allowing sub-surface disposal of wastewater in properly designed percolation beds;

    d. reduction in the size of Zone 1, based on recent data regarding pollution survival times.

    From what I have seen in my lifetime there have been constant encroachments on Zone 1.”

    We must pay careful attention to the zoning changes being proposed for Barbados.

    https://sq-al.facebook.com/bwa.bb/videos/766051357372690/

  18. John Avatar
    John

    India had 169,914 new cases today and 904 deaths.

    No slackening in the increase of new cases and unfortunately, deaths are also rising too.

  19. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    What is killing them – the DEMOCRAT HOAX????????

  20. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    It is always good to pay attention to zoning of water supply and NCD’s but ain’t nobody taking you seriously anymore because you damaged your credibility with Trump Trash.

    I only scan as I scroll. Can’t bother with a tired old troll.

  21. John Avatar
    John

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/04/12/bwa-urges-non-use-of-potable-water-as-low-reservoir-levels-impact-some-customers/

    Hmmmmmm!!

    Possibly one or more of the supply wells out of action … maybe even the desal plant!!

    Two months is all they need!!

  22. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    I get my second Moderna shot today.
    Hoping this shit really works.
    Will still be
    Masking
    Hand sanitizing and
    Social distancing
    Using my vitamin D
    And tonic water.
    Will not go as far as my sister… She put vicks up her nostrils

  23. #Invicta Avatar
    #Invicta

    #BEWARE
    https://www.msn.com/en-xl/asia/top-stories/low-efficacy-of-chinese-shots-sows-concern-on-global-rollout/ar-BB1fzpHx?ocid=msedgntp
    #HYSTERIA
    https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/world/english-variant-not-linked-to-more-serious-infections-study/ar-BB1fzZXF?ocid=msedgntp

  24. John Avatar
    John

    I suspect we will find that COVID is very much an Urban disease.

    Proximity increases airborne spread and the need to supply large volumes of treated water which is in contact with the sewage of urban centres makes the rate at which it spreads that much greater.

    It will be with us for along time to come unless radical ways are found to make it disappear.

  25. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/04/13/covid-19-update-6-new-cases-10-recovered/

    220 Covid19 tests were done on Monday 12th April. The positivity rate was 2.72%
    6 new cases of Covid19 were discovered
    91 people are in isolation
    0 new deaths
    More here: https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/04/13/covid-19-update-6-new-cases-10-recovered/

  26. John Avatar
    John

    How do we interpret this data for Barbados?

    Two days ago there were 4 new cases.

    Is it getting worse or better?

    Are there enough numbers to make any meaningful interpretation?

    To date, Barbados has performed over 146K tests, lets say 150K since probably around February last year.

    Let’s say 500 days so average number of tests ~150K/500 = 300 per day.

    220 tests in a day seem low, the early part of last year very few tests were being done.

    3,740 cases detected to date so on average, about 7 per day assuming 500 days.

    What we can say for sure is that COVID is still present in Barbados.

  27. John Avatar
    John

    No new cases in Dominica for the past 2 days.

    Of the 165 cases found to date, 159 have recovered, 0 deaths.

    Singapore had 14 new cases yesterday and 25 the day before.

    Zero deaths and to date they have tested about 8.8 million, about 50 times more than Barbados.

    New Zealand has had 2,573 cases to date, about 2 million tests.

    About 1000 fewer than we have had.

    No deaths in the past 2 days.

  28. John Avatar
    John

    I’m hopeful that the anti malarial medicines will curb the rate of increase in deaths.

  29. John Avatar
    John

    JohnApril 12, 2021 5:50 PM

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/04/12/bwa-urges-non-use-of-potable-water-as-low-reservoir-levels-impact-some-customers/

    Hmmmmmm!!

    Possibly one or more of the supply wells out of action … maybe even the desal plant!!

    Two months is all they need!!
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    There you go.

    I thought the “desal” plant in St. Lucy had not worked because of the high salinity but it obviously did.

    All I can say is get someone from Singapore to audit the production process and advise on what needs to be done.

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/04/14/emergency-shutdown-of-hope-desalination-plant-in-st-lucy-bwa/

    “The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) wishes to inform there has been an emergency shutdown of the Hope Desalination Plant in St. Lucy.

    This plant has been taken out of service to allow for urgent maintenance including the necessary change of filters and membranes within the facility. The recent ash falls have made cleaning all of the infrastructure even more critical. The extensive work being carried out at this location is anticipated to last until Sunday, April 18th, 2021.

    While the facility is offline, customers in some northern districts will be impacted by the loss of pipe-borne water as some of the Authority’s systems in the north experience low water levels. The Authority will try its best to assist residents of these areas via water tanker in the interim. The BWA apologizes for the inconvenience the emergency shutdown of this facility has caused. (BWA)”

  30. John Avatar
    John

    https://imgur.com/9Qh7Zp9

    Top 3 COVID countries for cases.

    Tells you alot if you know what to look for.

  31. David Avatar
    David

    The facts:

    http://www.loopnewsbarbados.com/content/coronavirus-cases-caribbean-date-648321-2

  32. John Avatar
    John

  33. John Avatar
    John

    Dominica- 165 cases, 159 recovered

    Saint Kitts and Nevis- 44 cases, 44 recovered

    Anguilla-25 cases, 22 recovered

    Sint Eustatius- 20 cases, 20 recovered

    Saba- 6 cases, 6 recovered

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

    No deaths!!

    Why??

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