BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training on Thursday announced February 21 as the new proposed date for the phased resumption of face-to-face classes.
School children in Barbados. (Photo credit: C.Pitt/BGIS)The process was initially expected to commence next Monday, January 24. However, the date was revised based on discussions with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, in light of a spike in COVID-19 cases.
According to a release from the Ministry of Education, given the exponential increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, particularly in persons under the age of 18, public health authorities advised that it was safer for students to return to the classroom after the number of infections has peaked, and there was a steady decline in the number of cases over a given period.
It further noted that while education officials recognized the importance of in-person interaction, the safety of students, teachers and other school staff remained paramount.
The Ministry of Education assured that it will continue to work with the Ministry of Health to ensure a safe return to the physical classroom.
Barbados has been recording more than 500 new cases of COVID-19 daily and officials say the spike is caused by the Omicron variant which was confirmed in the island late last month.
The latest statistics showed that on Wednesday, 559 people tested positive for the virus, from 2,165 tests. There are 6,115 active cases, including 5,992 in home isolation and 123 in isolation facilities.
The total number of deaths from COVID-19 is now at 273.
A total of 37,622 COVID-19 cases has been recorded since the start of the pandemic.
Under the National Vaccination Program, 64 percent of the eligible population – those 12 years and older – of 54 percent of the total population are fully vaccinated.
