High-risk conduct, activities could lead to resumptions of increased restrictions
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday condemned reports of residents engaging in “high-risk behavior” such as attending parties, which remain prohibited.
The prime minister noted the majority of residents for adhering to health measures imposed to mitigate against the spread of the coronavirus.
“While I am pleased that most Bahamians are listening to the public health advise, a number of us are still engaging in high-risk behavior such as getting together for parties,” Minnis said in an address from Grand Bahama.
Last week, Police Commissioner Paul Rolle said social gathering and parties continue to pop up in New Providence, prompting the police force to increase its response to clamp down on these events that carry an increased risk of spreading the virus.
Yesterday, Minnis continued: “I want to again discourage large social gatherings and parties. We are able to relax or we must implement more restrictive measures depending on what we do together to limit the spread of COVID-19, which you see from the new is still very much out of control in many countries in the world.
“There are a number of very ill people in our hospitals.
“This virus has lasting effects, some of which we still do not know about and which may do damage for a long time or lifetime.
“This is why I keep asking you to be safe and to take care of yourselves.
“In this phase of our reopening, we each have the ability to lessen or to increase our risk of infection and the risk of infecting others.”
Yesterday, the prime minister announced that residents on all islands, except New Providence, were permitted to have social gatherings with a maximum of 10 people outside of curfew.
Curfew remains in effect for islands in the second schedule of the emergency orders between 10pm and 5am.
These include New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Acklins, Andros, the Berry Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Mayaguana and Inagua.
Casinos, bars, cinemas, gyms, regattas, and festivals, which the prime minister labeled as “high-risk” activities, remain prohibited businesses.
Residents on all islands, including New Providence, may now participate in group exercise from 5am to noon.
While cases of the virus have begun to gradually slow on most islands, New Providence continues to experience a surge.
“It is important for you to keep doing what you are doing,” Minnis encouraged residents.
“COVID-19 will be part of our lives for some time.
“We have to learn to live with it.
“We must strike the responsible balance between keeping our economy open and practicing the public health measures, so the spread of the virus is kept as low as possible.
Health officials confirmed another 39 COVID-19 cases in The Bahamas.
All but one were recorded in New Providence.
There were 2,585 confirmed infections, of which 1,496 were active cases.
Another 1,008 cases have recovered.
