Dream didn’t cause COVID nightmare – Bankay

WESTERN BUREAU:

Critics of the wildly popular Dream Weekend party series have received flak from one of its chief impresarios, who has charged that coronavirus data do not validate claims that the event was central to the summer infection spike.

Only eight would-be patrons reportedly tested positive for Dream, which was hosted from August 5-9. None of them were granted access, said the organisers.

Kamal Bankay, chairman of Dream Entertainment, has disputed blame cast at the Negril parties by healthcare officials and public commentators, saying the event was staged with the imprimatur of state authorities.

Referencing certification from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Hanover Municipal Corporation, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, and the Western Regional Health Authority, Bankay defended the reputation of the jamboree as safe and incident-free.

“No one was allowed to enter any venue without a COVID-negative verification armband,” said Bankay, citing Dream Weekend data showing an infection rate of .002 per cent.

COVID-19 tests from three facilities - Omega Medical Services, MD Link, and Athena Medical - returned positivity results of one per cent, the statement said.

Seven hundred and twenty-one persons reportedly received COVID-negative verification armbands.

“In addition, another 200 negative COVID tests were submitted from various approved laboratories islandwide and verification armbands were also issued,” the organisers said.

“In addition, another 200 negative COVID tests were submitted from several approved laboratories islandwide, and verification armbands were also issued,” the statement said.

“Medical professionals at the verification area also verified 2,263 vaccinated and/or JAMCOVID-approved individuals. These 2,263 were primarily visitors,” the statement continued.

The entire Dream Entertainment management staff were vaccinated and were tested post-event, the organisers said.

“We are all negative. Keep in mind that no one interacts with more people at Dream Weekend than our management and staff,” the statement read.

However, COVID-19 has an incubation period of up to 14 days, with symptoms emerging in five to seven days, the United States Centers of Disease Control and Prevention has said.

In the wake of the July 1 reopening of the entertainment sector, public-health officials warned of the risk that parties would drive a new outbreak.

Videos emerging from the Dream Weekend parties showed largely maskless patrons flouting social-distancing strictures under the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA).

But Steve Morris, Westmoreland’s chief public health inspector, appeared to have a more rose-tinted assessment of the party series, describing the conditions as “fairly satisfactory”.

“The organisers adhered to their proposed standards to ensure the COVID-19 protocols were met at all locations for the events,” Morris said.

The constabulary, under the signature of Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifford Chambers, gave Dream a blanket blessing. The Hanover Municipal Corporation also gave the thumbs up.

“The police use this medium to commend the management of Dream Weekend Entertainment for their efforts, which saw the event end safely and without incident,” said Chambers, the Area One commander.

Chambers’ approval contrasted with the tough-talking rhetoric from the JCF that it would enforce coronavirus protocols, with hundreds of patrons at lower-profile but illegal parties rounded up in jackbooted raids and charged for other DRMA breaches.

The third wave of the pandemic began in July, Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie has said, but the virus has roared with new velocity in August, with record reports of hospitalisations, infections, and deaths.

On August 5, the first day of Dream, 77 cases were recorded in Hanover, St James, and Trelawny. By August 22, cases more than quadrupled to 318.

Coincidental data like those have fired up criticism by anti-Dream Weekend lobbyists, but no empirical evidence has linked the event to the spike.

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com