Health Minister Renward Wells. Photo: Kemuel Stubbs/BIS
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Senior Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH Minister Renward Wells said COVID-19 is like "Satan, roaming to and fro, seeking whom he may devour."
He made the comment during a speech in the House of Assembly. He provided few details about the surge of coronavirus cases the country has seen since the borders were reopened on July 1.
He told reporters on Wednesday that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis will give a breakdown of the age, sex and travel history of recent COVID-19 cases but such specifics were not provided yesterday. Health officials provided limited details of new cases on Wednesday, however there is still a backlog of patient information yet to be released.
After the House of Assembly's sitting ended, he told The Tribune yesterday: "You have to realise what's going on. The volume of information that is coming in has to be correlated so there is lag.
"As you can see, the data is being updated on a daily basis in real time. I think the Bahamian people can expect to see that, we're going to seek to get the data out faster."
He could not say when the Ministry of Health will have its next press conference.
"We are now in a surge, which will get worse if we do not adhere to restrictive and public health measures, which must not be taken for granted," he said during his speech in Parliament. "This virus is much like Satan, roaming to and fro, seeking whom he may devour. We must do all that we can to save lives and avert countless infections with an aggressive and proactive offence. The devil is busy and the church is encouraged to say, 'Get thee behind me, Satan.'"
Meanwhile, former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands urged Mr Wells to prioritise increasing COVID-19 tests. He said testing is a challenge for patients within the hospital system.
"Unfortunately, just last night my partner was exposed to a patient with COVID-19 in the hospital and is now quarantined for 14 days," he said. "And so the ability of not just the country to test, but of our hospitals to test is paramount."
Dr Sands called on politicians to stop blaming people for the resurgence of COVID-19 cases.
"We have to acknowledge that it's not just the people of The Bahamas that's making mistakes," he said.
"It's not just the people who are not adhering to guidelines. We are all making mistakes. And I think as we move forward, let us look at this thing the way the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) looks at issues, in a non-accusatory fashion. When we look at things, let's see how we can do things better. We don't need to point fingers.
"So, not just the people who are not wearing masks; not just the people who are going to Florida, but perhaps our administration can do some things better. Perhaps are rules can be done a little bit better. Perhaps if we make certain decisions in different the outcome will be better. There is no 'me' in team. Together, everyone achieves more. We will not win this battle against COVID-19 unless we collectively work together to solve these problems."
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Comments
Dawes 4 years, 3 months ago
Well we can now tell you won't be a good Minister of Health. Maybe if we all stop wearing masks and pray as we walk it will all magically go away.
ISpeakFacts 4 years, 3 months ago
Photo should actually read: Pastor Renward Wells. Photo: Kemuel Stubbs/BIS
This country is a JOKE!!!
birdiestrachan 4 years, 3 months ago
Renward Wells should know. Satan attends FNM cabinet meetings.
After all Satan is the Father of lies and those FNM fellows can lie.
joeblow 4 years, 3 months ago
... and I guess Fred Mitchell, Perry Christie, 'Brave' Davis and those of their ilk should be canonized? All politicians lie birdie, ALL!
tetelestai 4 years, 3 months ago
Renward Wells and the entire FNM have been a disaster.
moncurcool 4 years, 3 months ago
I'd take Dr. Sands in a heartbeat now.
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 3 months ago
dat picture dough...rotfl
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 3 months ago
"You have to realise what's going on. The volume of information that is coming in has to be correlated so there is lag."
Are they serious??? In 2020 5000 records overwhelms the system? Didn't they pay for an entire system to handle tracing? I wish these guys would get up one by one and admit that they know nothing about technology especially Kwasi, and they've been snookered on every tech deal they've signed to date, so don't ask them no tech questions . Because the answers they give are "wanting"
WETHEPEOPLE 4 years, 3 months ago
Mother: who told you you could have a cookie Child: the devil made me do it.
When politicians start blaming the devil for their own mistakes, were all plucked!
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 3 months ago
This will no doubt help someone defeat this deceitful virus
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan
The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.
To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Amen
WETHEPEOPLE 4 years, 3 months ago
If thats the case, for the amount of churches we have in nassau and so called christians, the virus should have been prayed away from March. Keep ya bible verses for sunday school. We need ideas and sensible competent people to carry them out, not more religon.
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 3 months ago
you just een praying hard enough..let me go find some more verses for Renward to give to the nation...
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