Negative streak ends with new case, one death

BRIDGETOWN (CMC):

Barbados recorded its sixth death to COVID-19 on the same day that it confirmed its first new case in six days.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness reported Wednesday that the deceased is a 70-year-old CARICOM national living in Barbados. He was infected by a known case who travelled abroad.

The diabetic man was diagnosed with the virus and placed in isolation on April 1, but passed away Wednesday, three weeks later.

In addition, a 66-year-old Barbadian woman became the first person to test positive for COVID-19 after a six-day lull in cases on the island. She contracted the virus after being in contact with a known case on April 14 and the ministry said aggressive contact tracing has begun.

Sixty-four tests were conducted on Wednesday, 33 of which were conducted on Trinidadians who were stranded on the island after the government of the twin-island republic initially refused to let them return home.

The group, who were originally on a cruise in Dubai, all tested negative and were allowed to board flights to Trinidad. They are now in a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Minister of Health and Wellness Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic said earlier this week that testing for COVID-19 would be expanded and testing centres would be established across the island.

Increased testing is part of the strategy to ensure that there is no community transmission in Barbados.