All 117 staff members at the National Assistance Board (NAB) who were tested for COVID-19 proved negative for the viral illness and tests are expected to resume this morning. Their results were included in the 161 negative results returned by the Best dos-Santos Public Health Laboratory.

So far 156 employees of the NAB have been tested after a member of the administrative staff, stationed at the Country Road, St. Michael headquarters, tested positive for COVID-19 on April 14. Since then four others, also stationed at Country Road, have tested positive, leading to a decision by Government to test all NAB employees at headquarters as well as the other locations.

This brings the number of persons in isolation down to 34 and the persons who have now recovered to 39. The number of confirmed cases remains at 79 and six deaths have been recorded.

The Best dos-Santos Public Health Laboratory has now completed 1663 tests since testing began on February 11. Using the population of Barbados at 287-thousand, this means .0057 per cent of Barbadians have been tested. Health and Wellness Minister, Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic says there are 27,000 kits available.