COVID 19 UPDATES
The following comment inspired the blogmaster to expand the focus on data collection and discussion about the COVID 19 pandemic. Thanks to @Lyall@Amit
Blogmaster
David; re. your 4:41 am post;
You are correct but I have indeed considered that cohort of the population.
The reason that the US experts are beating the drum for testing, testing and more testing is to get a handle on what proportion of the general public has been compromised by the virus in any way and has left its signatures in body fluids including blood in the population. The virus is shed from the infected body as the disease is brought under control. When it is controlled it has been found that it takes around 7 days for all particles to be shed from the body. Infected persons are released back into the community when they test negative twice over a period of 2 days.
Barbados, like all of our island neighbours, did or does not have access to large numbers of tests and had to use what we had very sparingly. Thus, the only measure that we had for gauging the incidence of the virus in the population (and a very imperfect one, at that) might be by comparing the evidence of infection levels hinted at by a comparison of the graphs of the progress of the various Covid-19 outbreaks in our Islands.
Most of the world was in the same position as the Caribbean and used the data obtained by the minimal testing of infected people and their contacts and their contacts to produce the graphs we see on such sites as WHO and Worldometer etc. All these graphs give an imperfect picture and significant underestimation of infection levels in the county or country in which the tests are carried out, but, since they are carried out in the same way in each country they might provide some rationale for guesstimating the comparative levels of the infection in various groups of countries.
The data shows that, starting out at essentially the same levels, there was some divergence in relation to the rate of infection and therefore progress of the various outbreaks in various countries. The graphs for Barbados showed low and declining levels of infection from the beginning, peaking at the level of 13 positive cases per day and thereafter showing a slowly declining trend. The individuals who would have contributed to the declining trend would have been primarily from the contact testing but should also have included other individuals referred by Health professionals or who presented themselves to Government institutions because of concern that their symptoms might point to untimely death due to the dread Covid-19.
Amit, in an earlier post on this blog, reported on his initiative of graphing Covid-19 incidence over weekly periods throughout the epidemic, in several Caribbean Islands. If David thinks it is appropriate and Amit agrees I can post a subset of graphs clipped from his data for 6 Caribbean territories which I think could illustrate some of what I have presented above.
There was 1 more positive case announced today as well as 1 death. A slight uptick of the daily cases line is indicated in the graph by the blue line. The total cumulative number of positive cases from the tests carried out yesterday is 76 – Llyall Small
Attached is the updated C-19 graph for 2020-04-23. There were no additional positive cases from yesterday’s tests and therefore cumulative positive cases remain at 76 – Lyall Small
Two new positive cases were identified from yesterday’s tests. There are now 5 cases of contacts with a previously identified individual. The 5 cases are workers from a Government Institution. Tests are ongoing today (25 April 2020) – Lyall Small
Updated graph for 26 April 2020. No new +ve cases were found. Cumulative count is still 79 – Lyall Small
There was one additional +ve case identified today (27 April 2020) from the last tranche of NAB workers moving the cumulative total cases to 80. The graph is still essentially trending downwards – Lyallsmall
Graphing Covid-19 incidence in several Caribbean Islands – Source data: caribbeansignal.com
lol…ah ha….optics.
You are likely correct. I don’t think that way naturally, so I often need reminding.
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Another address from the president? Is it about CoVid? Where is Dt Walcott and his CoVid team?
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The news numbers are trending down
Borders remain open for visitors
Vaccine for health care workers and govt workers policeman and all essential workers
Wear your mask
Back to ABc planning
The one thing she said and what she must be challenged by media is her stating that a person cannot become infected if they come in contact with a asymptomatic person
That is not entirely true
I know of person who the opposite has occured from what the PM stated
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Dr Corey Forde, Barbados’ lone infectious diseases specialist, will be the first person to receive a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine if Government is able to secure at least four by this weekend.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said during an address to the nation a short while ago that Government is in deep discussion to try to secure a “handful” of vaccines in the first instance.
The others who would receive the vaccine are Medical Officer of Health – Ports of Entry, Dr Manohar Singh, who has been “the main person doing the testing and even going on cruise ships and boats and climbing”; and Minister of Health and Wellness Jeffrey Bostic, according to Mottley.
Mottley said she would receive the fourth vaccine if necessary.
The Prime Minister said Government will have word on the four vaccines in a few hours.
She said Government also hopes to have other vaccines available within the next four to eight weeks. ….(Quote)
What a revelation. One for the president.
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Don’t agree with the reintroduction of the alphabet system, think it will cause more crowding and lines. They only need to continue limiting the numbers in the building which I don’t think ever stopped and keep normal opening hours.
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Is there any policy that will get 100% support especially from the armchair critics?
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@Hal Austin January 8, 2021 5:46 PM
Good for them being the vaccine guinea pigs. They better hope they don’t have any serious adverse effects or nobody will be taking it.
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I am temporarily out of the COVOD-19 discussion.
If I wait long enough the GOB will regain the upper hand; of that I am certain.
Hopefully, at that time, the protocols will be more rigidly enforced.
Don’t forget to wear your mask, social distance and wash your hands.
BDS $ 6,000 is equivalent to JAM $426,102.46 (almost half of a million)
JAM $ 6,000 is equivalent to BDS $84
If sentencing is influenced by a person’s ability to pay, then it stands to reason that the magistrate thought the Jamaican was able to pay the $6000.00 BDS dollars. Perhaps the magistrate was talking Bajan and the other was talking Jamaican (dollars).
It appears that whatever formula the magistrate is using needs revising.
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“Good for them being the vaccine guinea pigs.”
Are they being guinea pigs? Isn’t the vaccine being used successfully in other places?
Do the words “essential workers” come to mind?
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Maybe if they had taken the time to listen more to the armchair critics instead of assuming they more qualified and non-qualified people could not contribute, we would not be where we are today.
One category missing from that Level 1 group for <24hour testing is any secondary or tertiary contact with symptoms.
They are now starting to realize they have to throw their coveted rulebooks out; stop the PR and blame game; identify the problem, look at where they want to be and figure out how to get there with the least wastage of time, money and people resources. All things that require critical thinking, a level of flexibility and cutting red tape which governments fail at.
It does not look like they had proper disaster scenarios and appropriate responses worked out. It took too long for them to catch up and get ahead of this thing. The bus crawl may have been the blessing in disguise to spur them into action.
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@TheOGazerts January 8, 2021 6:20 PM
Better them than me. Let who is pushing the vaccine be at the forefront. No long term effects testing and you will come and tell me it safe to take.
Can I sue them if I take it and something bad happen to me in the next year or two is what i want to know?
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What we really have to do to truly get in front of this thing is to start looking at all the early treatment studies out there repurposing the cheap drugs to treat this thing before people get sick.
We have that ability to easily catch people before they deteriorate.
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Four vaccines
I thought these shipments came out in special required batches to keep updated correct stastical amounts for batches delivered to each country
Amm not buying that four count talk
Mia had to say something positive to calm the people nerves
Amm four vaccines delivered to barbados
Well that is more than punching against its weight
Meanwhile countries like Jamaics still waiting
Don’t think what Mia said is true because the portocols for vaccination is not set by WHO and PAHO alone but drawn up by scientist and other medical organisations worldwide
Not only would barbados be setting an unheard precedent but one which other countries can demand
But then again Mia lives in a world set aside and apart from reality
Evident of how govt handling of the virus has been allowed to spread absent of being not prepared for the spike
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TORONTO — The Ontario government has extended all COVID-19 emergency orders until Jan. 20.
The premier said new modelling coming early next week will paint a potentially dire scenario in the province.
“We’re in a desperate situation, and when you see the modelling, you’ll fall out of your chair,” Ford said.
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If Barbados continues to allow tourist to visit it seems to me more doctors and nurses will be needed to treat patients as Covid 19 spreads.
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Source: Nation
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Source: Nation
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Source: Nation
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“The protocols have worked for Barbados for a long time. But internal mixing and persons starting to disobey the laws have led to . . . this situation. There have been breakdowns with regard to how the public moved around in December, with all the parties taking place,” he noted.
There are two ideas in what follows. Don’t just bite on on of them
1) Indeed it appears that the protocols controlling the spread of covid-19 from the new arrivals.
2) It appears that the protocols did not (could not) factor in disobeying the laws.
I arrive at the conclusion that follows some time ago, but I held back….. The failure that we are experiencing is not due to ineffective protocols, it is due to the outrageous behavior of people. Yes, people.
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“CURFEWS DOES NOT WORK IDIOTS BECAUSE THE VIRUS IS AROUND FROM BOTH ASYMPTOMATIC AND SYMPTOMATIC CARRIERS 24HRS A DAY NOT 8HRS AND CAN BE TRANSMITTED ANYTIME DURING THE 16HRS PEOPLE CAN FREELY MOVED AROUND.”
There is some truth in the statement and if it was just a one prong approach to combating the virus then I would agree 100%.
But a multi-prong approach is being employed.
**New arrivals
Testing
Quarantining of active cases
A second test for those who are nrgativr
**Local population/All
Quarantining of active cases
Masking
Social distancing
Emphasizing proper hygiene
Let us agree that no policy will be 100% effective, but surely you must agree that adherence to this approach will limit and eventually control the spread.
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The administration has my sympathy
No numbers – hiding information
Low numbers -under reporting.
High numbers – those guys don’t know what they are doing
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“There is a backlog and we apologise for it,”
Simple, self explanatory, honest and an apology.
A reason for the backlog was also given. But most likely this will be inadequate as it doesn’t fit a sexy conspiracy theory.
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Theo when all is said and done you will be the last man standing on the deck trying to out this raging inferno
Good luck
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The charts for this last week graphically illustrate the rapid escalation in Covid19 incidence in Barbados taken from the Worldometer site and compares the active cases in Barbados versus four Caribbean neighbours. The charts show an explosive increase in cases here and fluctuations at a high level at one week after the outbreak. N.B similar rapid increases in Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana took around 5 weeks before they were stabilized and then showed their current decreasing trend. Barbados has been in this phase for only one week so far but a variety of aggressive measures have been taken by Government to control the outbreak and it is hoped that we will see a definite trend towards consistent reductions in active cases even before 5 weeks – Lyall Small
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@Mariposa
Good to see that you are still fighting the good fight.
The best made plans can go awry, but men with intelligence can adapt and tweak the plans. I continue to have confidence in the team.
Life goes on regardless of what side we find or place ourselves on. Time was your friend and it will be mine also.
In the end, I hope the winners are the people of Barbados.
Stay strong.
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New mutation found in Peru.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Peru-Identifies-the-First-Case-of-the-New-Sars-Cov-2-Mutation-20210108-0025.html
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Read the last paragraph… thousands
“All viruses, including the one that causes Covid-19, mutate.
These tiny genetic changes happen as the virus makes new copies of itself to spread and thrive.
Most are inconsequential, and a few can even be harmful to the virus’s survival, but some can make it more infectious or threatening to the host – humans.
There are now many thousands of different versions, or variants, of the pandemic virus circulating. But experts’ concerns focus on a small number of these.”
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Full article
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55534727
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Theo sumbody has to push against this leadership stubbornness
If not the end result could lead to wholesale devastation especially amongst the poor
Presently too many Covid fires are being lighted and not many hoses available to out them
Stay tuned
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Truly I am not having trouble being “shut-in” because I love my myself. I enjoy my own company. I am astonished that there are human beings who cannot stand their own company for 96 hours. If they can’t bear their own company for 96 hours, how on earth do such people expect their spouses to bear their company for 30, 40, 50 years and more?
No wonder there are so many divorces.
I should have trained to become a divorce lawyer. All like now I would be filthy rich separating the idiots from their spouses AND their money.
P.S. Even while being “shut-in” I did five hours of outdoor work yesterday. Got my daily mega dose of fresh, free vitamin D. Did not as Critical Analyzer calls them, did not have to spend a single cent with Big Pharma to do so. People are talking about Vitamin C, but it is likely that free sunshine is the principal immune system booster, and in Barbados abundant free vitamin is available to all every single day of the year. Will do another 2 hours or so of outdoor work today.
Free vitamin D
Free exercise
Free food
A sibling who lives in the great white north, and who at time was 60+ [is 70+ now] went to the doctor to get a bone density check, the doctor basically told her “get out of here”. Your bone density is that of a 19 year old. She like me spent her childhood working on the family land. My dad fell out of bed in his 90’s. People asked “did he break his hip” No he did not break anything. He got up brushed himself off, went to work on his land and lived happily for a few more years.
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Apparently the tourist are given a form to sign which contains the covid rules, yet the liars are appearing before the court and saying that they did not know. The form should be available on line also and in multiple languages for those few of our visitors who can’t read English. The government needs to put in big, bold red at the top of the form “we will heavily fine you if you are caught breaching the rules” and if you are not a Bajan or a permanent resident we will NEVER permit you to enter Barbados again. NEVER. That shoud take care of most of these low class scofflaws. And when I say low class know that class has nothing to do with money or with education or citizenship or color.
Low class is lying bad behavior. There are high class maids and laborers and low class Presidents, Prime Ministers and billionaires.
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Source: Nation
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Nuff nuff PR
Govt feet must be held to the fire
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The Ministry of Health and Wellness said today that on Saturday, 70 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded, while 16 people were released from isolation.
70 new cases
https://www.nationnews.com/2021/01/10/70-new-cases-virus/
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The time in now to put much more emphasis on treatment so we can all get on with our lives.
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Sandals Resort no longer de-listed
SEVEN DAYS AFTER it was dropped as an approved quarantine hotel, Sandals has been restored to the list.
The site visitbarbados. org is again showing the listing of Sandals Barbados Resort & Spa and Sandals Royal among those approved by Government.
On December 29 in a press release, the Chief Medical Officer announced that Sandals was off
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David;
Holy Moses!!!
This seems to be very serious.
I wonder, by its timing, if it is a ploy to stir up bad blood between the USA and China since its diplomacy leakage might well be unprecedented. Or could it be fake? Any information on its provenance would be interesting! I couldn’t find any further info on Google.
I wonder what GP’s reaction will be
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@Lyall
Document sent by a source.
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Prominent family physician Dr Adrian Lorde has urged health authorities to stop giving Barbadians false hope and tell the truth about the fight against the virus.
https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/01/12/family-doc-seeks-answers-on-covid-19-fight/
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@David
Do you know where data on annual mortality in Barbados can be found?
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@ David January 12, 2021 9:43 AM
David, this is a last gasp/last grasps from the Trumpists.
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@Simple Simon
As you know BU is an equal opportunity forum.
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One of the people who signed this diatribe to the FBI is:
Robert S. Spalding III is a retired United States Air Force brigadier general. He currently serves as a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. The Hudson Institute is a politically conservative, American think tank based in Washington, D.C. from May 2017 to January 2018 [that is under the Trump administration he served as] Senior Director for Strategic Planning, National Security Council, White House, Washington D.C.While at the National Security Council, Spalding notably wrote a memo calling for nationalizing the development of 5G wireless network. Spalding’s advocacy was reportedly deemed outside his authority and he was subsequently asked to leave the NSC.He has since been notable as a critic of China.
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@Dullard
Should be with the AG’s office.
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Also signing the diatribe is Randy Hillier.
Hillier’s education: Hillier is a licensed construction electrician with a diploma in electrical engineering technology from Algonquin College. Algonquin College is NOT the same as Harvard College.
In June 2020, Hillier came under fire for appearing to trivialize Minister Ahmed Hussen’s experience with racism, when in response to a CTV article where Hussen discussed experiences of prejudice while shopping, Hillier tweeted “A guilty conscience?” The tweet has since been deleted but has been met with sharp criticism online and multiple accusations of racism, including by Andrea Horwath who commented “At a time when Black people are protesting for their lives, you’re denying the reality of Black, Indigenous and racialized people.” That same month he took part in a rally protesting COVID-19 lockdown measures in Ontario at Queen’s Park, and was later condemned by [Conservative] Premier Doug Ford who described Hillier’s participation in the rally as “totally irresponsible” and said it goes against “what everybody has been working for.”
In October 2020, Kingston public health officials sent a letter to Hillier expressing concerns regarding his spreading of disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic. Hillier had previously refused to say whether he thought the pandemic was real, said he was anti-mask and likened the pandemic to a bad flu season. He had also asserted on Twitter that public health officials were guilty of crimes against humanity.
On November 26, 2020, Hillier organized an anti-COVID-19 lockdown rally at Queen’s Park. [Ontario’s provincial government meets at Queen’s Park] Unlike the first such rally that Hillier organized (on October 21), this rally led to Hillier being issued a court summons by police, for violating the lockdown restrictions in place in Toronto at the time, which limited outdoor gatherings to 10 people. His court date is set for January 7, 2021.
On December 29, 2020, Hillier tweeted a Christmas photo of a gathering at his home with 15 people from multiple households. At the time, Ontario was in a province-wide lockdown and the number of people allowed to gather indoors had been restricted to only members of a family living in the same household.
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@ Dullard
Normally, it should be available from the statistics department, the CMO’s office, the coroner’s office, the coroner’s officer, the registrar of births, marriages and deaths, etc.
Maybe Liz Thompson will give us up-to-date figures. We also want the causes of death.
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@ David
Are you referring to the Registry?
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@Dullard
The ministries of Attorney General and Home Affairs.
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Simon Dolan also signed
On 1 May 2020, Simon Dolan started proceedings to challenge the UK Government’s lockdown decision, suggesting the Government had acted illegally and disproportionately over the COVID-19 lockdown. He began a crowdfunding campaign to fund the proposed action, writing on the crowdfunding page: “By forcing people to stay at home, and forcing businesses to close, they are, we believe, in contravention of basic Human Rights offered under English Law, that of the right to enjoy your property peacefully.” As of 10 June it had raised over £210,000 with almost 7,000 people contributing.
On 6 July 2020, Dolan was initially refused permission for judicial review by the Honourable Mr Justice Lewis, who said the governments actions were legitimate because they had the good intention in mind of wanting to reduce the spread of the virus. On 9 July, Dolan launched an appeal against the decision.
Dolan’s appeal against the initial decision was successful and on 5 August the Court of Appeal ruled that the challenge against the UK Government lockdown would continue to be heard with Lord Justice Hickinbottom who stated that he was persuaded that the grounds should be considered by the full court in open court, and the claimants “given an opportunity to make good their case, at least on arguability”. The Judicial Review will now proceed to a rolled-up hearing expected to be held at the Court of Appeal during the week commencing on 28 September.
On 14 September 2020, Dolan’s judicial review legally challenged the then new UK rule of a limit of six people per group otherwise known as the rule of six.
Dolan joined forces with wedding venue operator Cripps Barn Group Ltd to halt the Government’s latest lockdown. On 15 October there was an Interim Injunction Hearing that was denied by the Judge. Following this hearing, the Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle intervened in the case because it raises issues of ‘constitutional importance’
On 29 October 2020, Dolan was suspended from Twitter after he expressed concern about plans for Chinese involvement in the HS2 project and the building of 5G infrastructure. Twitter later reinstated the account saying it had been suspended in error.
On 1 December, it was ruled that the Government should not face a Judicial Review regarding the initial lockdown measures. Dolan is now seeking permission to escalate to the Supreme Court.
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Anybody can write to the FBI. After all the FBI’s contact information is in the public domain. Anybody can ask for an expedited investigation, but the bright women and men of the FBI will decide whether an investigation is warranted.
And just because a bunch of people send a 40 page letter that does not mean it warrants an investigation, no more that if you or I had sent the FBI a single sentence.
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You Tube video.
Koffee – Lockdown (Official Video)
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Ontario COVID-19 cases at ‘dangerous point,’ models show, as new restrictions to be announced
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-covid-modelling-jan-12-1.5868797
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@Hal
Thanks. I do not see anything online. The Barbados Statistical Service does not have a functioning website in 2021 which is totally absurd.
On another note…
Is the govt’s testing regime in order? Perhaps they should make sure it is before they fling open the door to more tourists.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/12/negative-covid-test-required-to-enter-england-from-friday
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@ Dullard
I am sure there is a reasonable explanation for this, but it raises suspicions.
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… And not just the testing regime but the entire protocol framework. This new directive from the UK has the potential to cause even more problems beyond putting strain on testing capacity. For example,
The rules will also apply to British nationals, who would need to stay abroad and follow local rules on self-isolation if testing positive
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” British nationals in Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and St Lucia can return home without a negative COVID-19 result, at least until January 21.”
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If the Gov’t is so forward looking as to establish a primary site and several alternative or satellite treatment centres to treat those who tested positive for the virus why is it relying on a single lab to complete the testing of samples for this disease? One of the lessons of 9/11 is for private as well as public corporations to have “back up” which means the ability for work to continue in the event of accident, unrest or natural disaster. There should be another lab contracted to perform testing and they could both act as each other’s “back up”.
A single lab is a liability as the very work environment could expose workers to organisms that could make them sick and compromise and delay the completion of tests. It is not surprising that it is having problems given the recent uptick in volume as the staff is probably overworked and overwork in a lab is a recipe for disaster.
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@ Sargeant,
More lock down in Ontario. Here watching CP24. Major announcements coming.
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Ontario Declares Second Provincial Emergency to Address COVID-19 Crisis and Save Lives
Province Issues Stay-at-Home Order and Introduces Enhanced Enforcement Measures to Reduce Mobility
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/59922/ontario-declares-second-provincial-emergency-to-address-covid-19-crisis-and-save-lives
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@Hants
The lockdown easier to take in winter although I go for an occasional walk, but you can walk your dog
Did you read about the woman in Sherbrooke Quebec who put a dog collar on her husband and “walked” him to break curfew? We won’t talk about the optics of a man doing the same to a woman but it is a funny story, not so funny to the couple they were each fined $1500.00 for breaking curfew
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COVID-19 UPDATE: Barbados records 84 new cases
The island recorded 84 new positive cases of COVID-19 on Monday.
https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/01/12/covid-19-update-barbados-records-84-new-cases-9-leaves-isolation/
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CDC Expands Negative COVID-19 Test Requirement to All Air Passengers Entering the United States
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expanding the requirement for a negative COVID-19 test to all air passengers entering the United States. Testing before and after travel is a critical layer to slow the introduction and spread of COVID-19.
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Jamaica 2020 population is estimated at 2,961,167 people at mid year
Barbados 2020 population is estimated at 287,375 people at mid year according to UN data
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@Hant
All countries are fighting a war against the virus. Balancing Livelihoods and Public Heath.
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@ David,
In Ontario here I live.
” As of tomorrow, residents will have to stay home except for essential purposes such as grocery shopping, accessing health care and exercising.”
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@Hants
Heard from a friend over there yesterday.
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It’s very difficult to get a grasp of how things are in Barbados.
However, I still have confidence in the team.
Let me use a silly saying… Things will be out of control until we get them under control.
Come on guys.
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Boss move by Bosstic
https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/01/13/hazard-pay-for-all-frontline-qeh-staff-bostic/
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Pingback: Fighting the Good Fight Against Covid 19 | Barbados Underground
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David;
The authorities appear to be having some difficulty in disseminating cogent information on the spread and development of the pandemic in Barbados. Here are some suggestions whereby this might be improved:-
Develop a new dashboard that would reflect the same info on the current daily GIS dashboard as they are discussing on the “every-other-day” press conferences. i.e. the data being discussed would be the last data generated.
Use the new dashboard to give some clarity to the often bewildering data from different experts at the press conferences; i.e. use the dashboard as a backdrop for the information being discussed.
Segregate and publish the incidence of local and imported cases . This would, in one fell swoop, give some indication of the dynamics of daily and running totals of case incidence in these 2 very different locales.
Consider adding the following info to the official dashboards:
Date of test reporting;
Imported vs. Local cases;
Active cases
Number of available beds per covid quarantine site, ventilator equipped beds, PPE equpment,
Clusters (by name); New daily cases; cumulative cases; number of cases released from quarantine.
The Regular Press conferences should be no more than half hour preceding the News at 7:00:PM unless. Press conferences for discussion of policy and new information could be in any format necessary but if data on case incidence is being presented the Dashboard for that date should be used.
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@Lyall
That is correct. Dr. Anton Best was frank in the admission such is the case.
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Source: Nation
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Attached are graphs for the most recent data. For Barbados, positive cases are fluctuating and seem to be trending downwards but it is too early to make such a call definitively especially since the data might not accurately represent the situation on the actual dates to which the cases are attributed. A clearer picture should be available in a few weeks time – Lyall Small
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You try to put words in people’s mouth and then try to pedal way from your lying words
You take the smallest point and then act as if you have Gideon’s trumpet
You will not let a ‘debate’ die a decent death. You carry-on until only your voice is heard (last word, in your mind, you won)
You update your resume every few weeks on BU.
I will not mention name calling/dropping.
I spent some time on you this morning. Hopefully, you will mend your ways.
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Oops
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@lyallsmall January 14, 2021 1:44 PM
I fully agree with you on the structure of the press conferences. The presentations should be mostly prepared as the various speakers can tend to get carried away sometimes.
I also agree in principle with your assertion of needing a new dashboard however your dashboard is still too detailed for my liking and should be focused on active cases. Showing Total Cases confuses the numbers and scares people.
1) The dashboard should show numbers in columns as follows
Today’s Changes – New Positive Cases, New Recoveries, New Deaths, Outstanding Tests
Active Cases Breakdown – Mild Condition, Serious Condition
Total Cases Breakdown – Imported Cases, Local Cases, Community Cases, Under Investigation
2) The historical statistics can be left to Worldometer like (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/barbados/) which are already taking our official numbers from the GIS website/facebook page and providing wonderful histograms.
3) Definitions, Frequently Asked Questions and Current Health Guidelines
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@CA
What is your view of the utility of a dashboard with the backlog we have? It means by the time active cases are know the quarantine/isolation terms have been served?
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@David January 17, 2021 12:31 PM
Dashboards work extremely well but only when they show the correct stats. Showing the backlog number under Today’s Updates in my dashboard solves the trust and confidence problems the authorities currently have since everyone the world over can see the backlog numbers and how they change on a daily basis over time.
Test delays become less of an issue if they properly prioritize tests according to a risk stratification process like what Dr. Zelenko used to figure out which of his patients to treat and monitor closely when he encountered testing delays of several days.
Our authorities said they prioritize based on job and exposure level. Commonsense would also dictate they treat symptomatic people awaiting test as level urgent but I don’t know if that is being done since they have not specifically stated if that is done as part of their initial assessment at testing sites.
Our sole focus must be on identifying and treating symptomatic people and monitoring their blood oxygen levels to catch them in the early in case they are on the road from mild to serious condition. I bet the only reason we have not had anyone die since last March/April is because our isolate and monitor all positive cases policy has allowed them to catch persons and quickly treat them while they are on the decline.
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Our authorities are only going to regain their credibility if they use a simple, robust, daily case statistics reporting standard.
All the fancy speeches and interviews mean nothing to people like me and Hal who use what and how you choose to report your statistics to gauge your credibility.
Political and PR spin does not work in any pandemic, only honest up-to-date and accurate statistics do. Good, bad or ugly does not matter, only numbers because people are basing their decisions on those numbers. Sooner or later you will be found out if you try to hid.
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