VIDEO: Increase in positive COVID cases among homeless in Barbados

About 20 individuals within the homeless community tested positive for COVID-19.

Head of the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness (BAEH), Kemar Saffrey, gave that update about the increase in positive cases on Tuesday during a press conference at their Spry Street, Bridgetown headquarters.

Saffrey said there was no need to panic, as they had been encouraging more homeless people to get tested for the viral illness.

“The homeless are going forward to be tested and that is a good thing. They are complying and because they are, we were able to see the trend and we are seeing that number increase.

“Today alone, we got about six to seven positive cases, and there are more who are getting tested, and so far we have just around 20 people who tested positive,” Saffrey said.

He explained that since the homeless people do not have contact information, the BAEH’s address is listed, so the results are sent to the BAEH’s email address.

“Once we receive their results, we notify them. We go to their locations and get them off the streets and into one of the quarantine or isolation facilities once the transportation picks them up. That is what we have been doing for the last couple of days,” Saffrey added.

He also said the Alliance was increasing efforts to provide masks and get more people vaccinated. (TG)