New coronavirus infections, hospitalizations decline on Grand Bahama

New coronavirus infections, hospitalizations decline on Grand Bahama
Aerial photo of Grand Bahama. (SOURCED PHOTO)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Cases of COVID-19 fell 20 percent on Grand Bahama after experiencing a more than tripling of new infections between mid-October and November.

During the period October 11 to 17, Grand Bahama recorded 23 cases.

In the following week, the island saw 59 new infections, a more than doubling.

There were 32 confirmed cases during the week October 18 to 24, and 49 new infections in the next week.

Cases of COVID-19 on Grand Bahama increased from 49 between November 1 and November 7 to 99 in the following week, a more than 100 percent increase.

New infections fell between November 15 and 21.

During the period, 79 cases were recorded, a decline of 20 percent over the week prior.

Grand Bahama had a total of 1,012 cases as of Thursday.

Health officials attributed the trend to workplace exposures.

In one instance, a reported 26 cases stemmed from employee interactions among an electrical team.

In a recent interview with Eyewitness News, Director of the National HIV & AIDS Programme Dr Nikkiah Forbes said while there were clusters of COVID-19 infections occurring predominantly in workplaces on Grand Bahama, community spread has not yet been determined on the island.

She said Grand Bahama is a good example of the need for Bahamians to remain on their guard, even when cases fall to the single digits.

“I think that could be a good example of a place that had flattened the curve [and] now cases are going up,” she told Eyewitness News.

“It’s dynamic and it can change.

“As the officials from Grand Bahama had reported to us, there were workplace exposures.

“What I [am] saying is that we must keep in mind when cases are reportedly low in the single [digits] that it can change and so that’s why we need to continue to follow public health guidelines.”

Hospitalizations have also dropped on the island.

There were five COVID-19 patients hospitalized on Grand Bahama as of Thursday.

All of those patients were moderately ill.

There were patients in the Intensive Care Unit at Rand Memorial Hospital.

As of last Saturday, there were eight hospitalized cases.

 

Restrictions

Grand Bahama has a 9pm to 5am curfew and limitations on weddings and funerals, which have been limited to 10 people.

The emergency orders allow churches to conduct services, schools to offer in-person learning and restaurants to allow patrons in premises with 50 percent of the maximum occupancy.

Social gatherings have been capped at 20 people at a private residence or facility, though health officials have encouraged the avoidance of such gatherings.

The island last underwent a lockdown between July 23 and August 19 amid a surge of cases.

By mid-August, cases slowed on the island, dropping from high double-digits per day to single digits.

About Royston Jones Jr.

Royston Jones Jr. is a senior digital reporter and occasional TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. Since joining Eyewitness News as a digital reporter in 2018, he has done both digital and broadcast reporting, notably providing the electoral analysis for Eyewitness News’ inaugural election night coverage, “Decision Now 2021”.

2 comments

Perhaps you should check your sources for photos. Despite what istock photo says, that is certainly NOT Freeport in your photo.

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