BY LA SHAWNA GRIFFITH
COVID 19!
2020 is a year that will be ingrained in the minds of people forever.
When we first learned of the coronavirus, we were told that it occurred in Wuhan China, in December 2019. Since that initial identification the virus has spread to over 218 countries and territories across the world and killing over 1.9 million persons to date.
When we look at COVID-19 we have to wonder what the Caribbean is doing differently compared to the Western States like Canada, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom whose cases continue to climb rapidly every day.
Why is it that these small developing states have such low cases with high recovery rates, compared to the larger countries that have some of the best-trained doctors and nurses in the world?
If we look at the data, St. Vincent and the Grenadines as of January 12th, 2021 had no reported deaths from COVID-19 as compared to the United Kingdom who had 83,203 deaths for the same period.
One could argue that St. Vincent and The Grenadines have been proactive in their fight against COVID-19 according to travelbans.org. They have ensured that all persons entering the island will be retested for COVID-19 upon arrival and again after four to five days. In addition, they also have to quarantine for five days in a Tourism Authority approved transition and/or quarantine hotel at the visitor’s expense.
On the flip side, in the United Kingdom, the country is currently on lockdown as their cases continue to skyrocket. According to www.gov.uk, they state that as of the January 15th, 2021 all persons who are intending to travel to the UK (including national returning home) must provide evidence of a negative PCR test three days before departure. Failure to comply will result in your airline refusing you boarding, or you may be fined on arrival.
Despite, these strict sanctions many English visitors have been finding loopholes in this law and have been travelling to the Caribbean causing a recent surge in the number of cases with some countries deciding to place a travel ban on UK tourists to protect their citizens.
Caribbean natives may argue that the reason the Caribbean has not had an upsurge of cases is that the citizens are compliant with Government officials, and usually follow the recommendations given by their leaders.
On the flip side, in the United States of America, where liberalism runs rampant, many citizens have decided not to listen to the advice of the government with some of them taking to the streets to protest against the wearing of a mask, and continuing to live their lives as though a pandemic was not in the midst. Needless to say, the numbers in the USA continue to climb with over 22.9 million persons currently infected by the virus with 381,000 deaths thus far.
Can we say the reason the Caribbean continues to have lower cases of COVID-19 is that the citizens are compliant with the Government?
Or is it strategic planning?
In Barbados, unlike St. Vincent and the Grenadines, there have been seven COVID-19 deaths, and for the year 2021, there has been an upsurge in cases with the country reaching 1,000 confirmed cases as of January 13th, 2021.
The reason why there has been a surge in cases is one, which many Barbadians have various views on. Some persons blame the Government of Barbados, some blame locals for getting too comfortable and not adhering to the protocols, while others blame tourists for breaching quarantine with little to no remorse.
Regardless of where the blame is cast, the citizens of the country have been generally compliant and only had issues with tourists and locals who breached the strict protocols.
Despite these breaches, the country has had fewer cases than Canada who have 681,000 cases and 17,371 cases as of January 12th, 2021. While Canada has been proactive in their fight against COVID-19 and assisting many Caribbean countries like Barbados with having PPE, the island is still grappling with the effects.
Therefore, the question I want readers to ponder is this, are low cases determined by citizens’ compliance or strategic planning?
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