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BU Covid Dash – Back to School II

The blogmaster is pleased to hear more urgent discussions taking place about agreeing to protocols and logistics to have face to face classes resume between stakeholders. From anecdotal chatter the majority of parents seem supportive of the effort to restart. The one group offering some resistance seems to be the teacher’s unions. A word to…

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The blogmaster is pleased to hear more urgent discussions taking place about agreeing to protocols and logistics to have face to face classes resume between stakeholders. From anecdotal chatter the majority of parents seem supportive of the effort to restart. The one group offering some resistance seems to be the teacher’s unions.

A word to the teachers. This is a risk reward kind of situation. This is a cost benefit kind of situation. There will be a price to pay if the current way of teaching our children continues. There will be a social cost. If the class size is to large, split is and teach each group on alternate days BUT do some rh thing. The virus from all accounts will be with us for the foreseeable future, let us agree (without the long talk) how the physical plant will be changed to mitigate the risks at play.

Time to get on with it!

127 responses to “BU Covid Dash – Back to School II”

  1. Eugene/John Avatar
    Eugene/John

    Damage to the heart by COVID is as bad as by syphilis!!

    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/medical/worse-than-expected-urgent-covid-syphilis-warning-over-very-serious-virus-damage/ar-AATLA0y?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=W069

  2. Critical Analyzer Avatar
    Critical Analyzer

  3. John Avatar
    John

    So, my advice to anyone who can’t get enough pricks is your luck may run out and you may end up like a syphilitic.

  4. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Nobody takes your advice.

  5. John Avatar
    John

    As the resident misandrist you don’t need to.

    It is only for those who cannot get enough pricks.

  6. David Avatar
    David

    Tomorrow on VOB there will be a discussion hosted from 11PM to discuss the nettlesome matter of back to school.

  7. David Avatar
    David

    https://youtu.be/PE3SNIlMnJo

  8. David Avatar
    David

    Curfew relaxed

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2022/02/12/curfew-relaxed/

  9. David Avatar
    David

    Schools undergoing cleaning, repairs

    https://www.nationnews.com/2022/02/13/schools-undergoing-cleaning-repairs/

  10. David Avatar
    David

    Schools undergoing cleaning, repairs

    The Ministry of Education is assuring Barbadians that everything is being done to ensure schools are safe for the resumption of face-to-face classes.
    Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw said Friday night that repairs and cleaning were ongoing at schools but all should be ready for February 21.
    “Industrial cleaning of the schools started on February 7. We recognised that there were some schools that required minor repairs so we have personnel working on those schools to bring them up to speed for February 21. But the schools that required those minor repairs would be ready for the 21st,” she said.
    Archer-Bradshaw said the ministry was satisfied with the progress of the work, pointing out that officials would be conducting tours this week to get a first-hand look at the state of the schools.
    She added that schools had health and safety committees and other education officers were also making sure that plans for the return of face-toface classes were on schedule.
    When asked to give an update on Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary School, she said the Pineland, St Michael institution was undergoing renovations.
    “We have identified four satellite sites for the students of that school and we have arranged transportation and identified school monitors and janitors.
    “We are putting measures in place to make sure that when those children go back to school that they go back to school safely.”
    Archer-Bradshaw said the sites were nearby and accessible by most students.
    Wilkie Cumberbatch has been plagued by several structural issues and has been closed for a long time. (SB)

    Source: Nation

  11. David Avatar
    David

    The stepchild affliction!

    BUT calls for urgent mental health session

    President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Rudy Lovell is calling on Ministry of Education officials to host some form of intervention for students and teachers ahead of the proposed February 21 restart of face-to-face classes.
    “We have a serious concern with regards to the schools that were used as isolation facilities. This concern does not rest in any way with the cleaning of the facilities, because we believe that the Ministry of Health did an excellent job in cleaning the facilities. However, we are concerned about the mental state of some of the children that would be returning to some of those facilities,” he said.
    Lovell explained that one of his daughters attended Blackman and Gollop Primary School in Staple Grove, Christ Church, which was used as an isolation centre twice since the start of the pandemic.
    “For some time now, she has been extremely disturbed at the fact that she has to return to school where there were 25 or more deaths. We are calling on the Ministry of Education to have an extensive mental health session with these students,” he said.
    “We want the ministry to come and have discussions with the students. They are meeting with the teachers, we understand that, but we want them to have a discussion and allay the fears of the students so when a return to school is ready, it would not be disadvantageous to them.”
    Lovell said some teachers were also fearful of going back out in the schools.
    “I have received several calls. We come up in a society where the presence of death was taught to be haunting. When you go into a classroom, you have to focus on the fact that instruction is being delivered, and not the fact that someone died in that same room, which is going to be difficult,” he noted. (RA)

    Source: Nation

  12. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    If the whole civid-19 conundrum does NOT drive home the FACT that, as a civilization in 2020, we are COMPLETELY LOST AND CLUELESS, and that radically different THINKING will be needed going forward, then we actually fully deserve all that is coming.

    -World economies destroyed
    -Most deaths and devastation in the wealthiest countries on Earth
    -Least chaos in poor countries which were denied access to the ‘solution’
    -Overall death rate in USA now 40% HIGHER than pre-covid, even as ‘covid’ deaths have fallen..
    -Big Pharma profits up by multiples times
    -Millions fallen BELOW the poverty line and getting worse daily
    -Children’s future all but cancelled..
    -Two years on, we are no wiser as to a real solution.

    Nothing in ALL HISTORY …even when the idiot Pharaoh followed the Israelites into the parted Red Sea.. compares to the global idiocy that happened over the past 30 months.
    If we are in need of an even greater SIGNAL that we are on a path to DOOM, and in NEED of urgent and fundamental change -then we are indeed not worthy of continuing to waste the time and energy of existence.

  13. lyallsmall Avatar
    lyallsmall

    True Bush Tea!
    I think that the whole thing has been carefully preordained and encoded in the Book of Life, a program for all existence with all eventualities. I think that Covid is indeed big but it pales in comparison to what is to come.

  14. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Fortunately for you, Lyallsmall, you have an analytical mind and you choose to THINK for yourself.
    Most people, NOT SO MUCH.
    Therefore there has arisen a group of wicked demons who have undertaken the role of ‘thinking’ for these masses.
    Your last sentence is PROPHETIC.

    With less than 1% mortality rate, even with no treatment, Covid NEVER displayed the potential to create the level of mass extinction that these ‘demons’ envision. However they HAVE been able to generate a level of GLOBAL FEAR that has never before been experienced on this earth.

    There is an old book that predicted that when the ‘mass deaths’ finally DO come, it will be from men’s heart ‘failing them OUT OF FEAR’…
    hmmmmm!!

  15. John Avatar
    John

    The Brits will never it seems, beat COVID!!

    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/water-companies-are-releasing-raw-sewage-into-rivers-more-than-1-000-times-a-day/ar-AATObR6?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=W069

  16. John Avatar
    John

    It never rains, it pours sewage.

    Somebody should help the poor Brits and get them to see the folly of their ways.

    Investing long term in the propagation of COVID and God knows whatever else is a bad idea.

    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/when-it-rains-it-pours-with-sewage-villagers-agony-of-living-near-polluted-rivers/ar-AATO9eU?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=W069

  17. John Avatar
    John

    Once its in the rivers, the wildlife end up with it.

    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/how-serious-is-the-presence-of-the-covid-virus-in-deer-for-humans/ar-AATOIwH?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=W069

  18. David Avatar
    David

    Overseas jabs

    Some Bajans taking children to Miami to be vaccinated
    by MARIA BRADSHAW mariabradshaw@nationnews.com
    A NUMBER OF BARBADIANS and expatriates have been taking their young children overseas to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
    Since October last year when the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages five to 11, mainly well-to-do Barbadian parents have been flocking to Miami and other American states to have their young ones take the jab.
    The FDA stated the vaccine was found to be 90.7 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 in that age group.
    Last week Chief Medical Officer, The Most Honourable Dr Kenneth George, told teachers at a Ministry of Educationorganised meeting that Barbados was trying to source vaccines for the 5-11s but they were high in demand and supplies were limited.
    One parent who took her seven-year-old daughter to Miami last December for the jab, told the DAILY NATION she did so after extensive research and for “peace of mind”.
    “She had her first one on December 5 and the second one on January 2. We decided to stay in Miami until she received the second dose just in case she had any adverse reactions but she didn’t.
    She was fine,” she said.
    “I really did my research and I spoke to friends overseas whose children were vaccinated. A number of my expatriate clients in Barbados took their children overseas, so I was able to speak to them as well about the experience.”
    The mother said her decision was based on a number of factors.
    “We are older parents and I have comorbidities and her 93-year-old grandmother lives with us. I was also tired of her not being able to socialise and she goes back to school on February 28, so I needed that peace of mind.”
    The woman, who also travels frequently, added: “I needed to get on with my life. I needed to be able to have the flexibility of travelling knowing that she was fine. I also felt that children need to go back to face-to-face learning. I have no problem sending her to school now.”
    She said the vaccination process was free and basically no questions were asked in terms of citizenship.
    “I took all of my documents to the vaccination centre but they did not even ask for them. They said they are more concerned with people getting vaccinated. It is free in Miami so you can walk into any Walmart, Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy and get your child vaccinated. I would recommend it to anyone.”
    A father who too took his two children to Miami also spoke of the seamless experience.
    “My wife was getting treatment in Miami so when we were all down there, I took the opportunity to have our two young ones vaccinated. It was an easy process – there were no questions asked and the kids had no side effects. We stayed there until they received the second dose and we are happy we did it because the Ministry of Education has just announced the reopening of schools.
    “Our children go to private schools and we feel more comfortable with them interacting and socialising because at the end of the day, they are children and I do not believe you can restrict them to the extent that adults are restricted. They love
    running around and playing and interacting with their friends,” he said.
    The well-known businessman said a number of people he knew had also made the trip overseas to get their children vaccinated.
    “I would say if you can afford it, take the trip. With Omicron being so easy to contract and so many children getting the virus, my wife and I felt it was important that we do this for our children. They are six and ten years old.”
    Last year Barbados rolled out vaccines for the 12-18 age group. Dr Elizabeth Ferdinand, joint coordinator of the National Vaccination Programme for COVID-19, reported last month that around 53 per cent of eligible students already had a first dose and around 48 per cent had received a second.

    Source: Nation

  19. David Avatar
    David

    Education chief: PPE, fixes coming

    CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw is giving the reassurance that the Ministry of Education will be providing personal protective equipment (PPE) at schools, as well as complete minor fixes, as it phases in the resumption of face-to-face classes to ensure the safety of teachers and students.
    She was responding yesterday to some pushback from teachers’ unions and advocates, who have asked that Government delay its plan for the restart of in-person instruction on February 21 by two weeks.
    “We are working towards getting PPE; we are approaching various agencies and we are sealing the deal,” Archer-Bradshaw said during Starcom Network’s Brass Tacks Sunday.
    “The Ministry of Education does not have unlimited resources when it comes to funds. While we do have a maintenance programme in place where we check schools on a regular basis, the plumbing may not be working today so you fix it, but then when you go back you have to fix something else. However, we have been guaranteed that by February 21, those minor works should be complete.”
    She was one of many guests on the call-in radio programme which focused on the resumption of school.
    Political scientist Dr Kristina Hinds moderated the show, which featured president of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), Rudy Lovell, and his general secretary Herbert Gittens; president of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), Mary Redman; general secretary of the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA), Nicole Brathwaite; organiser of the Safely Open Schools Barbados movement, Marla Dukharan; paediatrician Dr Gillian Birchwood; spokesperson for the Concerned Parents Group, Paula-Anne Moore; and head boy of The Ellerslie School, Kamari Crichlow.
    Rapid testing
    Last week it was announced that students will be expected to sit three feet apart and that rapid testing will be carried out by Barbados Community College nursing students.
    Archer-Bradshaw said due to spacing requirements, the resumption would be done in a phased approach.
    “Some principals may employ Phase A or Phase B, where some children will be on the plant. Some children may be online, but at the end of the day, we shared with the principals that we want each child to have at least five days of face-to-face classes within a two-week period.
    “So you may have students in the classroom for three days in the first week, or two days off in the second week if there are capacity challenges. However, other schools are large enough to have everyone back out at three feet,” she added.
    Brathwaite said most of the people who attended an NCPTA meeting last week were on board with the decision and wanted to do whatever it takes to help.
    “They understand that not every school is at the same stage of readiness but they are saying they are on board,” she said.
    Crichlow, Birchwood and Dukharan all agreed that schools should be reopened and asked the ministry to stick to the date,
    while Moore and the unions asked for more time.
    Both the BUT and BSTU presidents stressed that teachers were not against returning altogether.
    Existing hazards
    However, Lovell, the newly elected BUT leader, maintained that the focus should be on fixing the schools and thus delaying the opening. “There were existing hazards before but fix those issues. You may not be able to rectify but at least make an attempt to ensure the safety of the students and teachers.
    “I don’t know why teachers are being castigated over the closure of schools. All we have been saying is that we are willing to return to school but we want our return to be safe. We don’t want to be in a position where when we go back, school has to stop and start over and over again,” he said.
    Redman expressed concern about the COVID-19 positivity rate which she said was still too high.
    “Our contention is that the timing of the return and the change in the proposed structure as it relates to phasing in is a problem for us. We can’t expect everything to be perfect or that there has to be zero transmission before we return. We are not operating in that mindset.
    “We, however, are very concerned about the numbers they say are dropping. These numbers are dropping and they seem less, [but] when you compare them to the decreasing number of tests being done, we see the positivity rate has remained stable,” Redman said. (TG)

    Source: Nation

  20. David Avatar
    David

    Doc says return to school can lift kids’ spirits

    THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES children have been experiencing because of online classes will not magically disappear if schools reopen next week, says paediatrician Dr Gillian Birchwood.
    However, she believes face-to-face teaching can help with their mental health and wellness.
    “Globally, there have been numerous studies that showed spikes in cases of depression and anxiety, and children who had pre-existing [conditions], there has been an explosion and an epidemic that mirrors the COVID-19 epidemic “My colleagues and I have frequently discussed the spike we have seen in our offices in the last two years. I have never seen so many children with anxiety and depression. So many of them have had to be referred to mental health specialists; it is quite startling. However, when school restarts, these issues won’t suddenly disappear, they are likely to have long-term challenges,” Birchwood said during Starcom Network’s Brass Tacks Sunday call-in programme yesterday, on which there was a robust debate on the resumption of face-to-face teaching on February 21.
    Birchwood made the point that according to various international studies, transmission rates had not been high at schools if protocols such as three-feet distancing, mask-wearing and proper hand sanitising were in place.
    “We should not hesitate to go back out to school because we fear for our children’s safety or teachers. The transmission rate is low at schools even when the transmission is high in the community,” she said. (TG)

    Source: Nation

  21. David Avatar
    David

    Cruisers eager to party

    by TRE GREAVES
    tregreaves@nationnews.com
    TWO PLEASURE CRAFT OWNERS are eagerly looking to setting sail again after Government pulled up the anchor in the latest COVID-19 directive.
    On Saturday, during a press conference, Minister of Health Ian Gooding-Edghill announced that those vessels and private boats could resume sailing at full capacity when the new regulations kick in from today.
    However, patrons of the party cruises will have to show proof of vaccination or take a rapid antigen test. In addition, an official from the COVID Monitoring Unit must be on board.
    Owner of the MC Buccaneer, Randall Armstrong, told the DAILY NATION he was grateful but would need a few more weeks to ensure the vessel is fully ready, as it had been over a year since they took passengers out to sea.
    “I really couldn’t handle it much longer, so at least it’s a start and we will get it done. [Today] I will be calling all the promoters who had bookings to sort it out and we will get it to work.
    “I will have to get the engineers to run through everything and make sure everything is ready to roll; that’s why I need the three weeks,” he said.
    From Saturday, Russell Wilson, one of the owners of MV Dreamchaser, was busy taking calls from promoters eager to get back on the seas.
    He thanked his Member of Parliament Ryan Straughn, who is also Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, and the Ministry of Health for responding.
    “We are happy to be afforded the opportunity to serve the Barbadian public. We believe the opportunity to have dialogue with the relevant authorities was instrumental in getting us back sailing. To this end, we are most grateful to Minister Straughn for his representation, along with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health for their attention and understanding to get us back operating in a manner that protects the health
    and safety of Barbados, but also reopens an avenue to advance livelihoods,” Wilson said.
    Barred from sailing
    Since a spike in COVID-19 cases in late December 2020, both the MC Buccaneer and MV Dreamchaser were not allowed to sail as usual.
    However, both vessels, operated as dockside bars and restaurants, but the owners said that business model had not been sustainable. In early January, management of the Dreamchaser announced they would be divesting the vessel.
    Armstrong said though they were heading back to the seas soon, he would try to find a way to continue the dockside bar and restaurant.
    “I will try to see what we can do with the bar because you never know when we might get shut down again because of another outbreak.”
    Late last month, Dreamchaser management said they had already put facilities in place, including an on-site testing area, which fell in line with the protocols.
    Wilson said he was hopeful their return could lead to positives for clothing stores, beauticians, entertainers and other sectors impacted by their absence.
    “It has been a difficult time which we believe is a sentiment shared by most Barbadians throughout the pandemic, but we have been heartened by the many messages we have received from persons who wanted to see our vessel join other pleasure crafts operating along our beautiful coastline. We hope that our reopening can be a catalyst to both economic growth but also lead to a distribution of growth across multiple sectors.”

    Source: Nation

  22. John Avatar
    John

    Looks like it persists in cadavers for at least 6 weeks.

    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/body-of-drowned-ukrainian-man-tests-covid-positive-28-times-over-6-weeks/ar-AATPMCC?ocid=msedgntp

  23. John Avatar
    John

    Any cemeteries close to our water supplies?

    St. Stephen’s maybe.

    … Westbury?

  24. GreenMonkey Avatar
    GreenMonkey

    Widespread vaccinations following the initial 18th cenury vaccination experiments of Dr. Edward Jenner are what eventually brought an end to the dreaded disease of smallpox. At least, that is what we are often told. Were those first attempts at deploying an undertested and ad hoc vaccine (which was often declared mandatory for adults, children, and even babes in arms by 19th century governments) really that effective, and was it safe? Some medical experts do take issue with today’s commonly accepted notion that smallpox vaccine campaignss were an unmitigated success and accomplished what no other methods could, i.e. the eradication of smallpox.

    Are there any lessons to be learned from the mandated smallpox vaccine campaigns of the 19th century for governments thinking of mandating Covid vaccines for a countrys’ citizenry today?

    From the Steve Kirsch newsletter:

    Today’s pandemic response is eerily similar to the smallpox pandemic response
    Do you remember how we got out of the mandates for smallpox? Most of my readers won’t remember it, probably because it happened over 135 years ago. Here’s the amazing story of what happened.

    This insight comes from one of my readers, A Midwestern Doctor who Writes A’s Newsletter (which was just launched 3 hours ago).

    In turn, he got it from the amazing book “Dissolving Illusions” by Dr. Suzanne Humphries and Roman Bystrianyk which describes the history of vaccines, public health, and the anti-vax movement (which started in the 1700s).

    I wanted to share it with all of you because what happened over 135 years ago is very similar to what is happening now.

    How they solved it 135 years ago
    The solution then was not trying to convince decision makers using rational scientific arguments. It was a mass public protest that resulted in the abandonment of what the “experts” were saying to do and adoption of new methods that worked that were opposed by the medical community. ( my emphasis /GM).

    Here’s what A Midwestern Doctor wrote in the comments of my last article:

    What is currently happening with the COVID mandates and protests is nearly identical to what happened 135 years ago with the smallpox vaccine campaigns, where the vaccination made smallpox epidemics worse, the vaccines killed a lot of people, the public refused them and governments responded by harsher and harsher mandatory vaccination laws. (My emphasis /GM)

    Eventually one of the largest protests of the century broke out in 1885, vaccine mandates were scrapped in one area in favor of alternative management of smallpox, and this is what actually ended smallpox.

    My belief is that this is a very important message to get out to the current protest movement and will do a lot of good if it does.

    https://stevekirsch.substack.com/p/what-we-can-learn-from-the-smallpox

  25. David Avatar
    David

    https://twitter.com/paulkrugman/status/1492881616909348870

  26. Critical Analyzer Avatar
    Critical Analyzer

    @David February 14, 2022 5:06 AM

    I can’t believe Bajans actually took their children overseas to get jabbed with a vaccine based on completely new technology that has not been fully tested and approved for children. Did any of them bother to read the EUA or did they simply sign away their rights.

  27. Critical Analyzer Avatar
    Critical Analyzer

    @David February 14, 2022 4:55 PM

    Denmark is at 81% vaccinated now. In October, they were at 75%. This indicates to me the vaccines do not work and are weakening the vaccinated person’s immune system long term.
    https://ycharts.com/indicators/denmark_coronavirus_full_vaccination_rate

  28. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    CA..
    The case of Israel has long ago demonstrated the ineffectiveness of the vaccines.
    Israel not only vaccinated widely, but kept detailed and extensive records.
    At the SAME time, Africa (except South Africa which could best afford them) were deprived of the vaccines …and has experienced relatively minimal impacts.
    ANY rational, science-based assessment would have LONG AGO (months) dismissed the vaccines as useless and perhaps even counterproductive.
    This ALONE should speak volumes as to the ‘complexity’ of this whole matter….
    What are they to do with the $$$ billions of stockpiles of ‘vaccines’?
    …with the billion-dollar industry now associated with the Covid panic?
    ….and who is going to stand up and admit that ….
    …and say what??!! …sorry..?

  29. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Noted on the CDC website a a COvid travel advisory for Barbados at a level 4 was posted in December
    No change.indicated as of present
    Makes for wonder how govt has been so quick in lifting curfew when CDC shows a level 4 indicating that the country COVID Levels are high enough for traveller’s to be concerned

    Barbados
    12/14/2021 – https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/barbados-travel-advisory.html
    Do not travel to Barbados due to COVID-19.Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel. The has issued a Level 4 due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country. Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an . Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC’s specific recommendations for and travelers. Visit the Embassy’s COVID-19

  30. John Avatar
    John

  31. John Avatar
    John

    Bush TeaFebruary 14, 2022 8:54 PM

    CA..
    The case of Israel has long ago demonstrated the ineffectiveness of the vaccines.
    Israel not only vaccinated widely, but kept detailed and extensive records.
    At the SAME time, Africa (except South Africa which could best afford them) were deprived of the vaccines …and has experienced relatively minimal impacts.

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

    It’s simple.

    COVID is an urban disease.

    Once it gets in the water supply it infects tens of thousands.

    Many of the infections are in fact reinfections.

    Lockdowns won’t work …. Clear evidence

    Masking won’t work ….. Clear evidence

    Social distancing won’t work … Clear evidence

    South Africa has had floods which like most other countries have messed up their water supplies and most of the rest of Africa is not “advanced” enough to have municipal water supplies.

    Israel is super “advanced”.

    It has 55% of its water taken from the sea which is where all the sewage, wastewater and run off ends up.

    It is simple to understand, perhaps for those with the “advanced” water supplies expensive to fix …. plus it will make the Governments look like crap as having deliberately infected their own citizens.

  32. John Avatar
    John

    How high is the highest point in Denmark?

    Less than 600 feet.

    That’s all you need to know in understanding why Denmark has such a problem.

    It is that simple!!

  33. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Residents living in Government-owned units at St Matthias, Christ Church are at their wits’ end over almost daily overflows of sewage which they attribute to a lack of proper maintenance.

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2022/02/15/nhc-concerned-overcrowding-in-units-causing-problems/

    DOES ANYBODY GIVE A FLYING HOCKEY PUCK about people living in NHC units ?

  34. John Avatar
    John

  35. John Avatar
    John

  36. John Avatar
    John

    What we need now is for someone to do a parody on the GG/President and Ms. Mockley!!

  37. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Since October last year when the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages five to 11, mainly well-to-do Barbadian parents have been flocking to Miami and other American states to have their young ones take the jab.

    https://www.nationnews.com/2022/02/15/overseas-jabs/

  38. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    A total of 271 people – 121 males and 150 females – tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, February 13, from the 1,331 tests

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2022/02/14/covid-19-update-271-new-cases/

  39. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    415 new COVID-19 cases (191 males and 224 females) on Monday, February 14, from the 1 844 tests conducted.

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2022/02/15/barbados-records-415-new-covid-19-cases/

  40. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    ” Two of them, a 75-year-old unvaccinated man and an 84-year-old fully vaccinated man, died on Monday, February 14. Additionally, a 67-year-old woman succumbed to the virus today, Tuesday, February 15. She was unvaccinated. They all passed away while at the Harrison’s Point Isolation facility.

    The number of deaths recorded from COVID-19 now stands at 303. “

  41. John Avatar
    John

    The Brits will never be rid of COVID at this rate.

    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/river-pollution-investigation-will-take-years-regulator-admits/ar-AATTFle?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=W069

  42. David Avatar
    David

    Finally!

    Phase 1 from Monday

    STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE to have their full uniforms or be vaccinated to attend faceto- face classes next week.
    In addition, the Ministry of Health is advising that transmission of COVID-19 is “unlikely” to happen at school compounds.
    Those were some of the announcements made yesterday at a press conference during which Minister of Education Kay McConney informed the country that classes will indeed resume on February 21.
    This was despite calls from teachers’ unions for a twoweek delay so more repairs could be done at schools and the environment made safer for teachers, other staff and students.
    When contacted yesterday evening, Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) president Rudy Lovell told the MIDWEEK NATION: “All I am willing to say is that the [union] is hoping for a safe return to face-to-face classes and we will monitor the situation as things progress.”
    He added: “We were part of the discussions. Even though we did not agree to everything, we would not want to come out so soon after the press conference and make a statement. We want to review what was said as an executive and only then will we issue a statement.”
    Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw announced during yesterday’s media briefing that in the first phase of the resumption, special needs students, Nursery, Reception, Infants A, Infants B and Class 4 primary pupils, as well as first, fourth, fifth and sixth formers at secondary school would be expected in class.
    Second phase
    In the second phase, Class 1, 2 and 3 at the primary level, and second and third forms at secondary school will return. Schools that cannot accommodate all students have been encouraged to use a Group A and Group B system, which allows for the children to have at least five days of face-to-face classes within a two-week period.
    It was also reiterated that students will be asked to sit three feet apart, wear masks and utilise the sanitising stations to reduce the possibility of transmission.
    Chief Medical Officer The Most Honourable Dr Kenneth George, who also took part in the press conference, said COVID-19 transmission in schools “is an unlikely event”.
    “Transmission is more likely to occur in your homes where people socialise and where people live. Based on the protocols, the Ministry of Health strongly believes that schools are relatively safe environments for learning,” he said.
    “Once the protocols are adhered to, there shall be no mass spread of COVID or Omicron in schools. Fortunately, we have gotten support from the Pan American Health Organisation, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and we managed to get the perspective of a large group of paediatricians, who are highly supportive.”
    Vaccination rate
    The Chief Medical Officer said the COVID-19 vaccination rate for teachers was currently between 62 and 65 per cent, while about 10 000 eligible students had received the jab. However, while pointing out that vaccination was not required for entry to school, George urged more people to get inoculated.
    “The Ministry of Health will continue to promote vaccinations. Ideally, we would like to see it nationally at 70 per cent but it is not a requirement for the restart of schools at this time.
    “From where I sit, there is no reason why teachers should not be vaccinated, so we would like to see that number well over 80 per cent. With respect to schools, we’ve had
    around 10 000 students, representing half the student population that could be vaccinated, receiving an immunisation,” he added.
    On random testing of students and staff, George said it would be “non-invasive”.
    “Therefore, parents can be assured that when their child is tested, it will be done in a professional manner and a manner that will protect the child who is receiving the test,” he said.
    Archer-Bradshaw, who previously said Barbados Community College nursing students would carry out the testing, said the exercise would be delayed by a few weeks.
    “The random testing will not occur during the first or second week. We are awaiting the swabs and when training has taken place, the random testing will occur for students. We require parental consent and the parental consent forms will be made available.”
    In relation to uniforms, Archer-Bradshaw said she was aware some parents might be unable to afford them at this time and some flexibility would obtain. She said students could be allowed to wear physical education uniforms or, in some cases, suitable casual attire.
    Case-by-case basis
    “We understand some parents may have lost their jobs, some parents are working reduced hours and may not be able to afford uniforms. On a case-by-case basis, the principals will evaluate and allow students, for example, to come to school with soft shoes or sneakers if they don’t have the proper school shoes.”
    McConney said the decision to return to the classroom was made following consultations with various groups, including the National Council of Parent-Teacher Association, National Union of Public Workers, BUT and the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union.
    She acknowledged that some individuals were still apprehensive about returning to school but asked that they fully explain why, at least by Friday, so they could receive any assistance. (TG)

    Source: Nation

  43. David Avatar
    David

    The following received from Lyall with thanks.

    https://i.imgur.com/tfPfLkH.png

  44. lyallsmall Avatar
    lyallsmall

    David;
    Thanks!

  45. David Avatar
    David

    https://youtu.be/_ZyrC9Iaj3I

  46. John Avatar
    John

    It is amazing how well the deaths in Barbados track with the vaccinations.

    https://imgur.com/5LuBhxr

  47. Critical Analyzer Avatar
    Critical Analyzer

    Sudden Q&A session LIVE all now

    COVID Advisor David Ellis will host Deputy CMO, Dr. Anton Best & Infection Control specialist Dr. Corey Forde

  48. John Avatar
    John

    Brazil can’t catch a break.

  49. John Avatar
    John

    We’ve seen enough to know what follows.

  50. David Avatar
    David

    @CA

    We have a situation the majority of Covid related deaths are old people, any thoughts?

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