NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas recorded 38 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, more than seven times the number of cases the day prior and the first double-digit number of infections recorded in a single day since last week Thursday.
There were five cases on Tuesday, one case on Monday, zero cases on Sunday, nine cases on Saturday, five last Friday and 16 last Thursday.
Of the new cases Wednesday, there were 20 on Grand Bahama, 15 on New Providence, two on Exuma and one on Bimini and Cat Cay.
According to the Ministry of Health, seven people onboard a cargo vessel sailing in Bahamian waters near Grand Bahama tested positive for the virus.
“Consequently, all positive COVID-19 cases have been isolated on the vessel and none of its crew members were permitted to disembark,” the ministry said.
Total cases were pushed to 7,623.
Although new infections increased substantially on Wednesday, testing also more than doubled testing done the day prior and testing performed since last week.
A total of 545 tests were performed Wednesday, compared to the 140 tests completed on Tuesday.
A total of 215 tests were performed on Monday, 67 on Sunday, 186 on Saturday, 229 last Friday and 242 last Thursday.
Testing includes those performed in the private sector.
The tests do not reflect rapid antigen tests performed in-country, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen told Eyewitness News.
Director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme Dr Nikkiah Forbes told Eyewitness News Tuesday that while new cases of the coronavirus in The Bahamas were being maintained in the single digits, there could still be a surge of cases stemming from the Thanksgiving holiday and associated travel in the days that followed.
“We’re still in the waiting period,” she said.
“Thanksgiving was the 25th of November.
“And that was exactly two weeks ago now.
“But we know that around that holiday weekend people traveled…
“So, essentially, we’re still in the waiting period.
“It’s generally two to three weeks — one incubation period and then the days following the incubation period where people will start to maybe have symptoms of COVID-19 or develop COVID-19 in the long end of the incubation period and if there is local transmission that should [be] clearer in just about two incubation periods.”
According to the COVID-19 dashboard for Wednesday, hospitalizations increased from 10 to 14.
Of the total cases, 1,369 remain active.
A total of 6,043 cases or 79 percent have recovered.
Eleven more cases recovered on Wednesday.
Of the 545 tests performed yesterday, four were repeated tests and 13 were inconclusive.
This reflects a positivity rate of seven percent.
To date, 45,657 tests have been completed.
