As the fight against Covid-19 continues to be waged in Barbados, the country today lost two more of its citizens.

A 93-year-old woman with comorbidities passed away last night (February 18), at Enmore after being admitted, first to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on the 17 February and from there to Enmore. This morning, a 60-year-old man with comorbidities passed away at Harrison Point where he had been a patient for a month, with the last 18 days spent on a ventilator.

These deaths come amid Government’s national programme which has vaccinated over 11,000 people in less than a week. The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, which is being used in Barbados, has been deemed by the World Health Organisation to be suitable for all populations and age groups.

The Minister of Health, Lt Col Hon Jeffrey Bostic extends condolences to the families now in mourning. The Minister noted that Government was doing everything possible “to contain, manage and significantly reduce incidents of Covid-19 infections in our country and to protect our frontline workers, persons with NCDs and seniors.”

“Once vaccinated,  Barbadians would be protected from the most serious forms of the illness which result in hospitalisation and death. The vaccination programme is therefore a very important weapon in the national arsenal against COVID. It is also expected that the present period of pause and the restriction of movement this coming weekend will help to stop the spread of Covid-19.”