Closing Our – By
Theresa Goodwin
Closing Our Gates Would
Antigua and Barbuda may be faced with the
possibility of more imported cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID19),
following an admission by Prime Minister Gaston Browne that it would be
“consequential economically”, to restrict travel from the United States and the
United Kingdom.
The twin island recorded the first confirmed
case of the dreaded virus on Friday, and during a radio interview on Saturday, Browne
stated: “If you close those two windows then, clearly, it would have a
significant amount of dislocation.
“If we stop flights from outside the UK and
the US, I would believe that practically all the hotels would have to close. It
would mean sending home all the hotel workers; government’s revenue would
reduce significantly; we would not be able to manage our payroll and other
obligations.”
There is also the concern that restricting
travel would significantly affect food security in the country.
While noting that “unfortunately”, there would
be more imported cases, Browne suggested that the practical thing to do, at
this point, was to manage the risk.
The intention going forward, he said, is to
manage the risk by strengthening capabilities at all ports of entry for these
particular visitors, as well as returning nationals, and purchasing specialized
equipment to ensure that local authorities could test for the virus, thereby
eliminating the need to send samples to Trinidad and Tobago.
The Prime Minister also spoke of the
possibility of sourcing a drug from Cuba, which is expected to boost the immune
system of nationals, particularly the elderly and people with pre-existing
health conditions.
This will be subject to research and
additional advice from experts. According to Browne, the objective is to ensure
there is no fatality in the country.
He said people over 80 years and over and
those with existing health complications, such as high blood pressure, heart
disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes, should strongly re-consider
travelling or attending public gatherings.
Ordinary citizens are also being advised to
follow similar recommendations.
“All Antiguans and Barbudans should stay put. None
of us should be travelling at this point unless it is critical. Within the
public sector, we have a ban on travel at this time and it will be extended to
include all travel,” Browne said.
He emphasised that it will take personal
responsibility, on the part of all nationals, to contain the spread of the
virus by practicing proper hygiene and reducing exposure to people who are ill.
On March 14, 2020, the World Health
Organization reported that there were 40 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Caribbean,
and two deaths.
The countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba,
Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guadeloupe,
Guyana, Jamaica, Martinique, St Barthelemy, St Lucia, St Martin, St Vincent and
the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The Bahamas became the latest country to
confirm its first case on Sunday. Bahamian Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl
McMillian reported that the patient was a Bahamian woman who had not travelled
outside the country within the last 20 days.
