NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas recorded two cases of the novel coronavirus yesterday, the lowest number of infections in a single day since the onset of the second wave of the virus in The Bahamas.
According to the Ministry of Health, both cases originated from New Providence.
There have been 7,543 cases of COVID-19 in The Bahamas.
The vast majority of these cases were recorded during the second wave, which began in early-July after The Bahamas opened its borders to international commercial travel.
In the first wave, which spanned from mid-March to July, there were 104 cases and 11 confirmed deaths.
As of yesterday, there were 1,388 active cases.
Another 45 cases recovered, pushing recoveries to 5,934.
This represents a recovery rate of 78 percent.
There have been 163 confirmed deaths and 35 deaths of people with COVID who died from another cause.
A total of 23 deaths remain under investigation.
Of the 201 tests completed Tuesday, six were repeated tests and one had inconclusive results.
This represents a positivity rate of just over one percent, well below the World Health Organization’s recommendation of five percent.
In September, The Bahamas’ positivity rate stood at 25 percent.
Officials have said cases are expected to rise once again as a result of the full tourism reopening on November 1, notwithstanding the new travel regime.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis signed new emergency orders that moderately eased some restrictions.
New Providence and mainland Abaco now have a curfew of 10pm to 5am, Monday through Sunday.
Under the previous emergency orders, the curfew Monday through Friday was 9pm to 5am, while the curfew on Saturday and Sunday was imposed between 6pm and 5am.
Last week, Parliament passed a resolution to extend the public state of emergency in The Bahamas to January 31, 2021.
During debate on the resolution, Minnis said the extension was necessary to have the legal authority to use certain measures when needed to save lives, noting that there could be a third wave of the virus in The Bahamas.
“When cases spike, governments do not have the liberty of a long period of time to act.
“We do not have weeks, Mr Speaker, to act.
“Instead, governments must act quickly and decisively in order to avoid the spread of this deadly virus.”
The prime minister said when cases emerge, the government will respond with appropriate measures based on the advice of health officials.
According to the prime minister, when those measures succeed in lowering cases, restrictions will be reversed, allowing residents to “live a more normal life”.
