There are no overnight cases of COVID-19 in Barbados at this time and the two people who are undergoing treatment in the isolation centre have mild symptoms.
Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic, and acting chief medical officer, Dr Anton Best, spoke during the first daily briefing on COVID-19 today at Ilaro Court, St Michael.
Best said one person had bronchial asthma but there was no chronic illness. He also said there was one person in quarantine who needed to be monitored, while others were being observed as part of the Ministry’s self-quarantine process at home.
The two cases in Barbados are a 48-year-old American and a 39-year-old Barbadian woman.
The senior health official also advised against taking Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or ibuprofen as new evidence coming from the medical fraternity indicated Paracetamol was more effective in treatment.
Meanwhile, Bostic said they started tracing those who would have come into contact with the two people who have COVID-19. Yesterday, they tested 13 people and 11 more were scheduled to be tested today.
Bostic said although testing kits were in short supply worldwide, Government received a donation from the Pan American Health Organisation today and had placed three orders for more kits. The first set is due to arrive on April 4.
He urged Barbadians not to panic and told them to exercise patience when calling the COVID-19 hotline (536-4500) as there might be a queue. He said the lines were being manned.
Another briefing will be held tomorrow. (SAT)
