The Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation informs that eight of the 23 residents of Dorothy Menzies Child Care Center (DMCCC) were taken for medical care based on symptoms related to COVID-19. Two of the children were tested for the virus and one test returned with a positive result.
The Ministry of Health is currently conducting contact tracing and monitoring the children’s health. It was recommended for the other children who were displaying symptoms to be tested along with some staff who were in closer contact with the child. These staff members are now quarantining at home and new staff are being identified to temporarily cover their duties.
As per protocol, the children displaying symptoms were placed in the designated quarantine area within the facility prior to testing. The child that is confirmed positive and the child that tested negative were placed in separate rooms within the isolation area. The remaining children with respiratory symptoms remain in quarantine. The staff that works within the quarantine and isolation areas were provided with PPEs from the Ministry of Health and work separately from the staff that work with the general population.
In March 2020, the Ministry received guidance from PAHO, the Ministry of Health, and UNICEF in formulating a COVID-19 Response Plan which includes residential care facilities. A Ministry of Health representative along with the Inspector of Social Services and Senior Staff from the Department of Human Services conducted inspection of DMCCC in March 2020 where guidance was provided regarding the best place within the facility to establish quarantine and isolation areas. The selection of the quarantine and isolation areas were based on criteria articulated by PAHO and the Ministry of Health. The plan also included the recruitment of hospice care givers willing to work temporarily and for extended periods of time beyond the normal 12-hour shift.
Managing COVID-19 within a residential facility brings with it increased challenges and risks. The Ministry, therefore, continues to work with staff and the Ministry of Health for the protection and safety of all involved in accordance with international standards to ensure that our actions are human rights based and non-discriminatory.
