NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Health officials yesterday acknowledged contract tracing efforts faced significant challenges after a fast food worker tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) last week. Response coordinator Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis yesterday said the number of contacts will continue to increase, with some cases having an “inordinate number”. There have been 40 confirmed cases of […]
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Health Minister Dr Duane Sands yesterday tempered expectations over the efficacy of rapid testing, noting that results are not always accurate, and could lead to a “false sense of security”. A total of 393 people had been tested as of Wednesday amid widespread calls for officials to ramp up efforts. To date, […]
NASSAU, BAHAMAS – While the United States Federal Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of hydroxychloroquine sulfate for the treatment of critical coronavirus patients, the drug is not an approved treatment in The Bahamas. Hydroxycholoroquine is also used to prevent or treat malaria infections, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme […]
Some funeral homes encouraging COVID-19 cremations NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands said yesterday that there are no specific requirements for the burial or cremation of coronavirus (COVID-19) victims. To date, there have been seven COVID-19 related deaths in The Bahamas. Officials confirmed today that a 51-year-old woman in Grand Bahama died […]
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has announced that grocery store hours will be extended to 10pm today and tomorrow, after scores of shoppers flooded supermarkets ahead of the five-day lockdown. “The supermarkets have now been extended until 10pm and that would allow every individual to be accommodated,” Minnis said during a press […]
NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Supermarkets will be opened on Thursday to allow essential workers to shop, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced today. Police force, defense force and health professionals will be allowed to shop from 6am to 12pm; and 12pm to 10pm will be designated for essential services. According to Minnis, those essential service include: […]
NASSAU, BAHAMAS – As confirmed cases of the coronavirus continued to climb over the weekend, Grand Bahama recorded it’s first COVID-19 related death. Clarence Bartlett, 80, tested positive for the virus on April 2 and died two days later. Eyewitness News understands Bartlett was admitted to hospital after having a stroke. He was a resident […]
At least 10 MPs in at-risk age group for severe cases UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson hospitalized NASSAU, BAHAMAS – There is currently no contingency plan for the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) among parliamentarians, said House Speaker Halson Moultrie, who has categorized the possibility as a “constitutional crisis”. At least 10 members of Parliament are […]
NASSAU, BAHAMAS – When Bahamian medical pioneer Dr. Judson Frazier Eneas, 72, was taken to hospital on Saturday night – four days after his coronavirus diagnosis – his wife of nearly 50 years could not go with him. Officials confirmed early Sunday that Eneas became the first physician and the fifth COVID-19 death in the […]
At least 32 Caribbean countries have COVID-19 infections NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Nearly 2,000 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the region as of Thursday, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. At least 32 countries in the Caribbean have reported at least one case of COVID-19. In its outbreak situation report, dated April […]
NASSAU, BAHAMAS – While The Bahamas is able to provide some assistance to flag-ship vessels sequestered at sea during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Transport minister Renward Wells said the country does not have the capacity to take in critically-ill passengers or crew. The swift spread of COVID-19 and the World Health Organization’s classification of a […]
Minnis signals shift from tourism industry WHO calls for debt relief from World Bank and IMF NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday signaled a shift in the country’s reliance on tourism, insisting that worldwide border closures has forced The Bahamas to change how it operates. During a press briefing, the prime minister […]
NASSAU, BAHAMAS – North Andros health facilities have been braced for possible coronavirus cases, said the island’s administrator Joseph Ferguson yesterday. “The clinic continues to open daily and are doing their regular duties,” Ferguson said in an interview with Eyewitness News. “They’ve identified places for persons who need to be quarantined. “We’ve located two areas […]
Some 200 Central Andros residents seek unemployment benefits amidst resorts closures Students don’t have access to wifi or devices NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is expected to meet with Family Island administrators over teleconference today to discuss protocols on the islands to manage the spread of the coronavirus. The meetings follow up […]
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Attorney General Carl Bethel has said that The Bahamas will soon start the local manufacturing of masks for Bahamians. Bethel made the revalation in the Senate on Monday, during debate on a resolution to extend the state of emergency and emergency powers to April 8. The resolution was passed unanimously. During his […]
Department of Road Traffic and general insurance companies and brokers are exempted from this order. NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has issued additional emergency measures that would suspend the obligation to pay any health, medical or life insurance policy, during the state of emergency and 60 days after. The special provisions order […]
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases globally has exceeded 1 million. Health officials in The Bahamas have been monitoring the global outbreak since mid-January. Below is a live timeline of virus’ track to the country’s shores, its impact and response efforts. April 2 – Three more cases confirmed, youngest patient is nine […]
Bahamas reportedly tracking some 600 contacts Countries urged to move to state of readiness and rapid response NASSAU, BAHAMAS – There have been some 760 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in up to 29 countries in the Caribbean region, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) latest situation report. This comes as The […]
