Eight new positive cases of viral illness

Eight people – two Barbadians and six visitors – tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Thursday.  Their tests were among the 915 tests conducted by the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory.

The new cases are a 75-year-old Barbadian woman, who arrived on British Airways; a 54-year-old male visitor, who came in on American Airlines on December 11; a 23-year-old Barbadian woman, who arrived on American Airlines on December 12; and a 60-year-old male visitor, who came into the island on British Airways on December 14.

Also adding to the tally of confirmed cases are a 32-year-old female visitor, who arrived on Virgin Atlantic on December 14; a 29-year-old female visitor, who travelled to the island via Virgin Atlantic on December 16; a 24-year-old male visitor, who arrived on British Airways on December 16; and a 28-year-old female visitor, who arrived on Air Canada on December 17.

All of the cases were asymptomatic.  Additionally, one person was released from isolation, bringing the number of people at the isolation facility to 27.

Barbados now has 315 confirmed cases, comprising 166 females and 149 males. To date, there have been 281 recoveries.

Seven people have died.

The public health laboratory has completed 58 750 tests since February. (BGIS)