Coronavirus

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas has proven that public health strategies can work to reduce transmission and strike a balance between reopening the economy, said Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Health Emergencies Department Director Dr Ciro Ugarte yesterday. However, Ugarte urged the country to follow public health measures, noting that the increase in cases since July is a cause of...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government intends to to extend the public state of emergency and emergency orders until October 31, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced. The existing orders will come to an end on September 30. In the House of Assembly Wednesday morning, which met with only 16 members, including Speaker of House Halson Moultrie, the prime minister tabled...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As he underscored the recent downward trend of coronavirus cases, particularly in New Providence, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis expressed disappointment with the continued proliferation of social gatherings and pleaded for Bahamians to avoid them to allow the case trend to continue. “We would note that the numbers are coming down,” the prime minister said in Parliament....

PLP labels PM's assertion "divisive and contradictory” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday suggested people previously infected with COVID-19 have an immunity to the virus for several months in a dig at the opposition leader's decision not to attend Parliament. Minnis called the decision unfortunate, and further noted Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis had recovered from COVID-19,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — For the third consecutive day, the Ministry of Health reported another death was being investigated to determine whether the cause was COVID-19-related. Health officials are now investigating 12 deaths. On Tuesday, another death was recorded and being investigated. On Monday, an 83-year-old man was confirmed to have died from COVID-19 on September 11. That day, a death...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government's intention to extend the public state of emergency and emergency orders for another month is "impermissible", said Wayne Munroe, Q.C. yesterday. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday tabled a resolution extending the orders until October 31. Parliament is expected to debate the extension at the next sitting of the House. But Munroe insisted that the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Dr Carissa F. Etienne yesterday urged countries to continue to take major control interventions as they move to restart their economies. Etienne pointed specifically to the challenge of countries reopening for travel and implementing measures that have seen "limited impact". "Although the entire world is racing to develop new tools to...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas is still awaiting the first order of the drug Remdesivir to arrive in-country, in order to begin clinical trials with positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. In a recent interview with Eyewitness News, National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme Director Dr Nikkiah Forbes explained that before the trial can proceed, a study profile/proposal has to be approved...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Speaker of the House of Assembly Halson Moultrie has recommended that Parliament consider alternative and hybrid means to continue parliamentary proceedings. This comes after a confirmed case of the coronavirus among a female staff member of the House. A September 9 draft resolution obtained by Eyewitness News, pointed out that the Houses of Assembly, constructed in the 19th...

NASSAU, BAHAMA — The Ministry of Health has confirmed the death of an 83-year-old man of New Providence due to COVID-19. The man died on September 11. The ministry confirmed another death was recorded yesterday and is being investigated. The virus has now claimed the lives of 69 people, and another 11 deaths are still under investigation. Additionally, a third...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Speaker of the House of Assembly Halson Moultrie said he expects all parliamentarians and staff who attended the House last week to quarantine and test for COVID-19 after a staff member of the Parliament tested positive for the virus. Moultrie said he received confirmation of the positive case this morning. However, the speaker advised that a small...

Minister with responsibility for elections says no citizen will be disenfranchised or put at risk NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government is seeking to change the way Bahamians register to vote in the next general election to ensure no grouping is disenfranchised because of health concerns amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to Minister of National Security Marvin Dames. “We are going...

However, facility houses 'persons under investigation' of COVID, not positive cases NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Health officials yesterday sought to clarify that while the National Response Facility at SuperClubs Breezes has transferred cases of COVID-19 from the facility, it is not being used to house infected patients. The revelation comes after conflicting reports over the use of the resort facility, as...

Health minister says vulnerable groups, healthcare workers will be inoculated first NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government has committed $2 million to inoculate at least 20 percent of The Bahamas’ population if and when an approved vaccine becomes available for COVID-19, Minister of Health Renward Wells announced yesterday. Wells said the Pan American Health Organization will secure any potential COVID vaccine...

Seventy-five people have died with or from COVID-19 NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The morgue at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) is over four times its capacity, according to Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) Managing Director Catherine Weech. During a virtual press conference Monday, Weech said PMH has a capacity for 55 bodies, but there were “four times that amount”. This means there were...

Forty-five deaths have been recorded in New Providence alone NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The morgue at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) has been pushed to capacity as a result of families delaying the collection of their deceased loved ones, according to Minister of Health Renward Wells. “… Some persons are using the morgue at PMH as a storage facility for their deceased...

BJC and BGCSE exams resume today NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Nurses will provide “medical leadership” during the Ministry of Education’s national examinations beginning today through October, according to Director of Education Marcellus Taylor. The director said while there is sufficient personnel to invigilate the national exams, the Ministry of Health has committed to providing nurses. A notice making the rounds on...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — An additional 60 cases of the coronavirus and two COVID-19-related deaths were confirmed on Friday, health officials reported this morning. Two women, ages 30 and 58, of New Providence died on Wednesday and Friday respectively, according to the Ministry of Health. The death toll from the virus now stands at 67. Ten deaths remain under investigation. The...