Nearly 200 new cases reported in 48 hours

As of Monday, August 17, 2020

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Deputy Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Health reported 198 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, pushing the nationwide total to 1,315.

There has also been one additional death, for a total of 18 virus-related fatalities.

On Saturday, health officials said there were 135 new cases and yesterday recorded a total of 63.

As it stands 717 cases have been reported in New Providence, 461 on Grand Bahama, 45 in Bimini, Abaco 44, Berry Islands 14, Cat Island eight, five in Exuma, two at Inagua, one in Eleuthera, one in Andros and 17 pending.

On Friday Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan admitted that even though the country is on its second national lockdown in response to rising COVID-19 numbers the disease continues to spread.

Additionally, Dr McMillan said eight deaths - four in Nassau and four on Grand Bahama - were being investigated by health officials. However, she said details were not readily available on the deaths.

The Ministry of Health painted a vivid picture of the state of the COVID-19 crisis during its weekly press conference Friday.

Health Minister Renward Wells said the situation is also affecting the country’s pool of healthcare workers, which is not infinite nor vast.

He said many of them were exposed to the virus and are in quarantine, meanwhile those remaining are at a very high risk for burn out and teams are working short of members.

Of lockdowns, Dr McMillan admitted that officials may not have been seeing the results they had hoped for.

“When we look at Grand Bahama, we are in our eighth day of lock down and there continues to be reported to cases,” Dr McMillan said. “There is a backlog, mentioned, in our lab capacity output currently along with delayed reporting of samples of persons who would have had samples taken prior to the lockdown will now be reflected in our numbers.

“And, also with our enhanced contact tracing we are picking up asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic and symptomatic persons who would have not necessary presented to health facility. These are all reasons why we may not be seeing the decline we thought we would be seeing during the lock down period.”

She said the coming days will reveal whether there is reduced transmission of COVID-19 in communities or just a function of lab testing outputs.

ThisIsOurs 4 years, 4 months ago

It would be interesting to see the number of tests by island. Are New Providence numbers going up because more tests are being conducted in NP? Is testing on the other islands static? its clear they're only testing people who present with symptoms or their contacts but it still allows potential for undetected asymptomatic spread. This information has alot of holes. In any event the critical numbers are hospitalizations and deaths...but I guess we wouldn't have either without rising cases...

ThisIsOurs 4 years, 4 months ago

", also with our enhanced contact tracing we are picking up asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic and symptomatic persons who would have not necessary presented to health facility. These are all reasons why we may not be seeing the decline we thought we would be seeing during the lock down period."

it can't be that we not seeing a decline because, surprise, people actually infected

SP 4 years, 4 months ago

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, this is all relatively redundant now that Australian scientist and doctors disclosed they tested and proved with near 100 success rate that a 12cent therapeutic drug named IVERMECTIN cures Covid-19 with-in 48 hours!

https://www.facebook.com/11060278719695…

Bill Gates, Fauchi, and all rest of the colluding co-conspirators here and globally must be buying all the pampers they can find right now.

proudloudandfnm 4 years, 4 months ago

Bill Gates?????

That's conspiracy theory is the dumbest of all conspiracies.... You really have to be an uber moron to buy into that garbage..

Bobsyeruncle 4 years, 4 months ago

Really? Your source is a Facebook post and a OAN segment? Don't make me laugh!

Those studies were done In vitro and not In vivo. Any scientist worth their salt wouldn't make a claim like that without doing significant amount of In-vivo (human) studies. Regular household bleach will kill most viruses In-vitro (read the label on that bottle of lysol you have), but you wouldn't recommend family & friends to drink it to kill a virus, or would you?

SP 4 years, 4 months ago

Lol, you two clowns can ignore the proven science until Gates and Fauchi have you lined up to receive vaccines that they even tell you they have absolutely no idea of its safety or efficacy because it was not tested on animals yet, and we'll see soon enough how credible you guineapigs "source" is!

Had Arawaks, Lucayans, and African countries chased off all white men that showed up saying "I come in peace, and want to help you" they would have been much better off today!

ISpeakFacts 4 years, 4 months ago

What are you smoking? Multiple vaccines have already been tested on HUMANS and have shown an amazing response, animals were tested on many many months ago

Bobsyeruncle 4 years, 4 months ago

I guess you have no idea of how the "science proving" works in the medical & pharmaceutical fields, do you ? Do you even know the difference between In Vitro and In Vivo testing ? I suggest you do some research and educate yourself, then come back here with a link or two showing the results of In vivo studies that prove Ivermectin works.

DWW 4 years, 4 months ago

um, 8th day? i thought we were like month 5? and GB especially has been 'Locked Down" for like 4 weeks? is this doctor on her own prescription? the credibility of the medical establishment is being eroded daily, they are running out of time. and the riots begin soon.

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