NASSAU, BAHAMAS — With coronavirus cases spread across all major islands in the country, residents on Long Island who had held the virus at bay during most of the pandemic are now concerned over the further spread.
Long Island administration Desiree Ferguson told Eyewitness News in a recent interview that residents are closely following health protocols since the island has been exposed.
“It’s more serious now,” she said.
“It hit home and they are not in the bubble no more; somebody came and infected them.
“They let down their guard but they are now tightening up.
“They are wearing their mask. They keep their social distance and they are not gathering like how they started to.”
Long Island recorded its first case on August 30.
However, officials reported last week that a 58-year-old Long Island woman died on August 28 from the virus.
As of September 7, there were eight confirmed cases of the virus on the island.
Ferguson said the first COVID fatality on the island has impacted residents significantly – especially people on the northern part of the island who knew the patient for all of their lives.
“It’s sad. So many deaths happening now, normal and with COVID. It’s sad here on Long Island.”
In just two months, the novel coronavirus has spread to nearly every major island of The Bahamas.
As of July 1, there were 104 cases of the virus dispersed across four islands — New Providence with 82, Grand Bahama with eight, Bimini with 13, and Cat Cay with one case.
Grand Bahama saw a rapid rise in cases around July 14, just two weeks after the resumption of international commercial carriers.
Since the country reopened its border to international travel, over 2,500 COVID-19 cases have been recorded across 14 major islands.
Ferguson said since the rise and cases and the exposure on the island, some residents have called for a lockdown.
“They are very frightened,” she said.
“They want a lockdown now. They want the island to be lockdown for two weeks.
“They are still practicing the protocols but now they are not gathering like how they started to.”
The island administrator noted that while some residents have heightened concerned, they have been advised that the way forward is to ensure they are following the advice of the health professionals.
“If you stay to yourself and do what you need to do, then the spread will not grow,” she added.
“But if you start mingling in groups of more than 10, we are going to have that problem.”
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