Health Officials have asked Junkanoo groups whose members attended the October 1 funeral of Dr. William 'Slimy' Thompson or participated in the Junkanoo Rush-Out held after the funeral to get tested for COVID-19 and isolate after it was discovered that an infected person attended the funeral of the noted surgeon and Saxons member and spread the virus to other mourners.
The funeral was also attended by fellow Saxon, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis, who was Thompson’s childhood friend.
“It was stated that it appears that it was a Super Spreader and could have been totally avoided,” according to a message sent to Junkanoo group members.
Group members, who participated in the rush-out, were also asked to notify anyone they have come into contact with that they may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
The Saxons gave noted surgeon Dr. Thompson a grand send-off at his funeral earlier this month.
Police diverted traffic to permit the massive Junkanoo rush-out in the streets.
Though the prime minister didn’t take part in the rush-out, the huge funeral turnout violated social distancing rules put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The huge turn-out was expected, as Dr Thompson was well-liked and popular.
However, observers pointed out that many other people have been deprived of the burial that they deserved due to measures imposed by Dr. Minnis in his capacity as the competent authority.