Barbados Ends COVID-19 Dashboard Reporting Due to Low Transmission Rates and Declining Deaths
June 18, 2024
Ministry of Health and Wellness discontinues COVID-19 dashboard due to low transmission rates and declining deaths. Emphasis remains on respiratory hygiene practices for disease prevention. Surveillance of respiratory illnesses continues.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness says with immediate effect, the COVID-19 dashboard will no longer be issued.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr The Most Honourable Kenneth George, explained that the Ministry made the decision since COVID-19 transmission remains “very low”, and deaths associated with the virus had also declined, with none reported in the last three to four months.
The dashboard, which documented COVID-19 cases, test results and deaths, was initiated by the Ministry in 2020, to give members of the public an accurate report of the impact of the virus during the early stages of the pandemic. Later, it also gave information on vaccine uptake.
However, with the global decline of the virus, it was deemed unnecessary to continue to disseminate the statistics. The last dashboard was issued on May 24, 2024, reflecting statistics for the period, April 13 to May 10, 2024.
George further noted that the COVID-19 experience taught everyone that respiratory hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, remained the cornerstone of preventing the transmission of any respiratory disease.
The Chief Medical Officer pointed out that the Ministry of Health and Wellness would continue its surveillance of all respiratory illnesses in Barbados, including COVID-19. (PR/SAT)
