HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune staff
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Tribune Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
THERE could be changes to COVID-19 protocols for large gatherings along with an adjustment at our borders for travellers, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said yesterday.
The latter is in direct response to the more transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which is now spreading throughout the United States.
Regarding large gatherings, the minister expressed “great” concern that in many instances ministry-approved events do not adhere to the measures set out by officials.
He spoke after several large events were held over the weekend.
Among them was a Junkanoo rush out and an event at Botanical Gardens—a photograph of hundreds of people crammed together at that event circulated on social media this week.
Dr Darville said: “For us, large gatherings, there is always a potential for community spread at super spreader events.
“For us at the Ministry of Health we are trying our best. It’s a very difficult thing to juggle the economy while at the same time set protocols.
“But one of the things that we’ve been noticing is that when we do approve an event and we give the necessary protocols sometimes when we look at the event many of the protocols are not adhered to and that is of great concern.
“We will be discussing some of those concerns today in Cabinet and possibly that may lead to some adjustments on how we move forward with large gatherings.”
And despite fears of an impending fourth wave of the virus, Dr Darville said the government had no intention of closing the country’s borders, insisting there had to be balance to the economy and health and safety.
His comments came as the United States’ Centres for Disease Control and Prevention lowered The Bahamas’ COVID-19 Travel Risk Advisory Rating from level three to level two.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness announced the reclassification on Monday night.
The minister said he was unsure how long the country would maintain the rating given that the Omicron variant has accounted for the lion’s share of new cases in the US.
“We are concerned because the Omicron virus is roaming wild in many countries where our tourists come from. When we look at the state of Florida, we see the cases are going up there.
“We’re concerned and we are now in deep discussions to adjust some of our protocols to ensure that we’re able to deal with issues at our borders while at the same time prevent community spread in the country.”
Meanwhile, the new lowered rating sparked caution from Tourism, Investments and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper who said Bahamians should not be “lulled” to let their guards down.
“This is good news,” he said of the CDC’s decision.
“The reality of where we are at the moment is we are able to attract even stronger numbers as a result of this change. Corporate groups (and) large events want to know that they are coming to a jurisdiction that is relatively safe and this is an indication to the world that we’re open for business and we have good protocols.
“Now with the new variant coming we ought not to be lulled to sleep by this improvement in our grading by the CDC.
“We should stay vigilant. We should follow protocols. We should avoid large parties and large gatherings because now that we have level two that doesn’t mean that we are completely out of the woods and that can change. So, the reality of where we are now at this point in time is that it’s good for business. There is a lot of pent-up demand and our numbers are exceeding what they were, pre-pandemic levels.”
For his part, Dr Darville said the downgrade was the result of a lot of strategic planning.
“First of all, to go from level three to level two requires a lot of strategic planning and work. At the Ministry of Health along with the Ministry of Tourism we believe we did our part and we are pleased that we are now at level two.”
Comments
TalRussell 3 years ago
De Guardian's De Hit Back listener Alicia, phoned in to entertain show's large gatherings listeners' with her audition rendition of a Christmas Carol song, sangin', O Holy Night, which was unanimously declared de winner without any further ado, of show sponsor's 100 Gift Certificate. Sister Alicia's singin' of O Holy Night with her golden voice. knocked panties right off Nahaja Black and everything else like this and that might've, could've have fallen off/out onto studio's floor, ― Yes?
carltonr61 3 years ago
There is no data internationally to back this up. Sure did not come from WHO/PAHO. All they advised was to continue with personal hygiene. Cruise shops are jammed pack and omicron is a runny nose. Certain quarters still attempting to push vaccine numbers 4 and 5 boosters toward a covid of everything monetized world for infinitely. CDC gave us an almost green light for safety so something is not making sense any more as all traveller's and revelers know Omicron does not present with hospitalizations for vaccinated and unvaccinated. Just madness to read the latest science from around the world as new developments of Civid take place only to listen to 2020 reruns.
bahamianson 3 years ago
Leave everything open. Let the people get sick if they do not want to heed the advice.
carltonr61 3 years ago
https://www.rt.com/business/543766-davo…
You take the chip in your wrist world digital pass for Crefit Card experiment from birth global ID.
carltonr61 3 years ago
Both vaccinated and unvaxed could only survive by taking a Protease Inhibitor pre/early sneeze,fatigue, joint pain,runny nose, illness. Pz cost $400.00, Mark got off the radar early. Ivervectin or Hydroxychloroquine six dollars. The pandemic is over.
John 3 years ago
Is This THE LAST WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY for VACCINES? Why is the US Media misleading the public and blatantly telling people the complete opposite of what data is showing and science is proving with the Omicron variant? The scientists who have experienced the strain are saying the symptoms for the Omicron are the same for everyone regardless of their level of vaccination but US media is telling unvaccinated people to get vaccinated and vaccinated people to get booster shots’ to ensure you do not get seriously I’ll during the holidays or even end up dying from the disease’.’ Where is the science to support this? On the one hand they are admitting the Omicron is now the dominant strain in the US, moving from 3 percent of infections last week to 73 % currently. Where is the mass hospitalizations and deaths that are due to Omicron? Now they are claiming that there will be a lag between infections and hospitalizations and deaths. A lag of several weeks they say, But the science days people infected with Omicron recover in 2-3 days compared to 8 days plus when suffering from other strains. In fact CDC and other agencies are saying persons testing for Omicron only need to isolate for 5 days compared to 24 days if they test positive for Delta or other strains. Can you really trust these people? .
. Boris Johnson is doing the same thing in the UK, telling people to prepare for ‘a tidal wave of new infections from the Omicron variants that will result in mass hospitalizations and deaths? Why do they continue to put their people through this? The world even. People are tired of this pandemic and want to see it gone,
carltonr61 3 years ago
@john. On all international news forums the bloggers are asking the very thing. Vaccines are useless against omicron. Boosters according to WHO should be sent to Africa as shot in arm number one. There is no rise in hospitalizations. There are squirmy answers ranging from F4, CDC, WHO/PAHO, FDA, POTUS and Bigpharma. Politititions are list on messaging as this time seems like another episode of cry wolf then wait and see. They cannot get the contradictions to fit with reality. A host of new remedies also popped up. None vaccines. But they are for both vaccinated and unvaccinated. Uk holding off on lockdown for three weeks till after Christmas. Maybe us too but for what?
carltonr61 3 years ago
Pill just FDA approved for Covid. But you still must be vaccinated.
https://m.theepochtimes.com/fda-authori…
sheeprunner12 3 years ago
This is a big joke, from a party that fought tooth & nail to frustrate the Covid protocols of the FNM.
The shoe is on the other foot & ppl don't forget.
TigerB 3 years ago
Let's hope they don't have to do curfews or lock it down... in fact they can't cause they done say that is the thing of the pass...perhaps Darville will make contact with the PLP Covid Task force. He shouldn't rely on the Min of Health medical team for advice.
John 2 years, 12 months ago
The current government (Bahamas) has unfortunately lost control of the safety protocols that kept the numbers down. Check the malls and food stores. Not only overcrowded, but loaded with children. And the social gatherings. Hard to police but some people are going to three, four, five functions in the same night. Understandably they don’t want to spoil Christmas, but the consequences of going from full lockdown to carelessly, wide open. And remember some will have no symptoms with the Omicron. Guess the thinking is ‘get it over with and get it done.’ Must watch South Africa to see what happens after Omicron. Currently the numbers of new infections continue to decline.
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