Health authorities in Barbados are currently monitoring 13 persons who are quarantined in their homes after arriving from regions impacted by the novel coronavirus.
Statistics provided by the Ministry of Health and Wellness indicate that 44 people entering Barbados have been screened since the outbreak of the highly contagious respiratory illness in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China last December.Â
While 13 remain in quarantine, others have completed their 14 days of quarantine, or have departed the island, including some who were in transit.
Meanwhile, the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory now has the capacity to conduct definitive testing for the COVID-19 after receiving testing kits and technical assistance from the Pan American Health Organisation.
So far, all persons in quarantine have remained asymptomatic, except one who developed a fever. Public health personnel visited the patient and took a sample which was tested by the laboratory, and proved to be negative for the virus.
The Ministry has activated its Emergency Operations Centre, which meets daily to collate all available information and devise responses to the public health challenge. (BGIS)
