Bonaire’s call center has been receiving more calls than usual.
As the number of positive cases continues to rise, the Public Health call center is overwhelmed and has decided on a new way to handle individuals in quarantine.
Below is a transcript of the latest announcement.
Due to the increase in the number of infections with the Omicron variant, the call center had a record number of 1,030 callers last Monday. Public Health hopes the new approach will make a difference. Keep in mind that the number of infections will remain high for the time being and that the crowds will continue for a while.
In the new approach, employees no longer call people in isolation or quarantine to see if they have any complaints and whether they can get out of isolation or quarantine. They will receive an email explaining when they can be released from isolation or quarantine.
The isolation generally lasts seven days. If they no longer have complaints, people can be released from isolation on the 7th day after their first day of illness. The first day on which they had complaints counts as day 0.
People who still have complaints on the 7th day after their first day of illness must remain in isolation for longer. They are only allowed out of isolation when they no longer have complaints for 24 hours in a row. People infected with no complaints may be released from isolation on the 7th day after the test. The test date is day 0.
People who have to be quarantined will be informed by the infected person and with whom they had contact. The contacts of an infected person will receive a link with information about the quarantine and when they can leave quarantine.
Usually, the call center receives 200 calls a day and 400 calls on busier days. The call center and Public Health, like other employers, struggle with employees who are in isolation or quarantine. Public Health once again calls on the public to avoid the morning rush hour and call later in the day. The times for the free walk-in for the two corona shots have also been extended.
The Public Health Department apologizes for the inconvenience of the past few days during the peak crowds. Public Health counts on infected persons to be aware of their responsibility not to go out of isolation if they still have complaints. If they leave isolation too soon while they still have symptoms, there is a good chance that they can infect others.
The department is also calling on citizens in quarantine to strictly adhere to its rules. Recently, it has happened that citizens who are in quarantine have gone to work. Last week, a bar in the Center area was closed because employees who had to be quarantined were at work anyway. Inspectors from the Supervision and Enforcement Department have closed the bar.
(Source: OLB)
