Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Senior Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said while the spike in COVID-19 cases is concerning, the pandemic is currently only affecting unvaccinated people.
His comment came after the country recorded 100 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, the most in a single day since October.
Dr Minnis told reporters yesterday: “Yes, the numbers of COVID infections are increasing and, yes, it is concerning. It demonstrates that we are still in the pandemic.
“The one thing the Bahamian populace must understand: we’re in two pandemics. The vaccinated individuals are now out of the pandemic. The pandemic is finished for the vaccinated individuals. The unvaccinated individuals are still in the pandemic and, therefore, it’s essential for us to be aggressive, of which we’re doing.”
“(We must) pursue vaccines so we can vaccinate our populace as quickly and efficiently as possible so that they too can move into the vaccinated portion. . .We are utilising all resources. You know, in Bimini we have had some of our residents transported to the United States via the Baleria to receive vaccinations there and we are in discussions with other cruise lines, etc, to see whether it’s possible to move thousands of our people to Florida at the expense of the government to be vaccinated because we feel that life is much more important than money.”
The Bahamas recorded 401 COVID-19 cases from July 11 to July 17. This comes as 17 additional COVID deaths were recorded on July 14 and 15.
The number of coronavirus cases per week has steadily increased recently. Last week the number of cases represented a 41 percent increase from the period beginning July 4 and ending July 10.
There were 284 cases in the week ending July 4.
Meanwhile, the country is expecting additional vaccines by the end of the month. Until then, only second shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine are being administered. The government said on Sunday that 99,755 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered to date, including 39,366 second doses.
Asked if he would reintroduce tougher restrictions on New Providence, Dr Minnis said yesterday: “We would have discussions with the medical personnel, both tertiary as well as public health and personnel from the EOC. We would make decisions,” he said.
“However, our decisions would be responsible to ensure that there are no additional deaths and to ensure that our economy continues to roar as it is today.”
More like this story
- PM: Bahamas to receive 33,600 AstraZeneca doses before end of July
- 17 new deaths announced as COVID surge continues, 100 new cases on Saturday
- INSIGHT: Tunnel vision and myopia are too heavily guiding decision on vaccinations for travellers
- SPREAD THE WORD - IT WILL SAVE LIVES: Vaccinated are urged to explain to others why they took jab, curfew changes announced
- Minnis: Get vaccinated ASAP
Comments
bahamianson 3 years, 3 months ago
Lòoks like he is following France and Germany. No vaccine stay home
carltonr61 3 years, 3 months ago
Yes. QRcoding for police, business and social and church pass is next.
DonAnthony 3 years, 3 months ago
It is about time. If not vaccinated stay home. Simple as that.
carltonr61 3 years, 3 months ago
Do these guys read world Covid news. Half of new infections are among the vaccinated. If the unvaccinated and Covid negative what's with the assumption that they are a disease. We are having 20 new cases a day of 400,000 population. 0.00005 is not a currently bad situation.
whogothere 3 years, 3 months ago
Thank you exactly... it just get more stupid by the day...The IFR is 0.15 % so if even if every single person caught the virus at most 600 might perish..(basically the same amount that die each year from fried food and sugar) And yet COVID is a health emergency!? It's insanity...
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 3 months ago
Its not just the percentage of the population, though its a good marker. A better indicator is the number of cases in relation to what the health system can handle. We are in a bad place.
Im just shocked at how easily rationale people can look at other people who look just like them and unleash hate on them. This is the stuff of the zombie and apocalypse movies, slavery, also Hitler and Nero. You would think it couldnt happen again.
DWW 3 years, 3 months ago
Tell me more about your advanced PHD in viral medicine after 20 plus years of study. Where did you intern again? Or are you another Russian arm chair hacker? get a life mate.
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 3 months ago
Yeah but 99% of people hospitalized with covid are unvaccinated. We the vaccinated don't end up in the hospital. So keep your idiotic, ignorant comments to yourself...
whogothere 3 years, 3 months ago
Dude you keep on repeating it but ignoring the evidence that the Majority of hospitalised and Dying of the new Delta strain are in fact vaccinated in the Uk and Israel. Seychelles who have vaxxed essentially their entire populations and the vaccine has not stop spread, deaths or hospitalisation... Particularly in those that are old, obese or have co-morbitidites which is incidentally the same section of society that are died/dying of covid with or without vaccination. Vaccination may give some protection (for a while) against the Alpha variant, it might even give some protection (for a while) against the delta variant but vaccination isn't the issue - irrespective of how well it works - it is the overreach of the politicians and the medical community that have undermined their credibility . The theatre of masks, social distancing, lockdowns and now vaccination is so divorced from science it unravels stability of nations and social contract the governments have with their populaces. Democracy is sacrificed for a political-medical oligarchy built on fear not data or science. I enjoy the tribune because it does allow commentary that can allow expression on 'news' and fortunately I get to write what I think not what you want me right - so enjoy ; )
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 3 months ago
ignoring the evidence that the Majority of hospitalised and Dying of the new Delta strain are in fact vaccinated in the Uk
Where do you get this BS from ? Are you really saying that the majority of people that are in hospital with Covid or have recently died from Covid have been double vaccinated ? Un-freakin-believable.!!
whogothere 3 years, 3 months ago
Page 17 table 5 - when it comes to delta variant in the uk - yes
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u…
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 3 months ago
Sorry, but you're misrepresenting the data, and you're understanding of the word 'majority' is extremely questionable.
You should look at the bigger data picture.
123,000 Delta cases of which 72,000 were UNVACCINATED, 26,000 had only single dose,15,000 had unknown vaccination status, and 11,000 had completed 2 doses (but unknown if they had completed the post 14 day time period for full effectiveness).
Of the 260 deaths, out of the 123,000 cases, 120 had received both vaccinations & 140 were either unvaccinated or hadn't completed the 2 dose regimen. In both cases, the majority (90%) of deaths were in people over the age of 50. Also, what is not included in the data, are the number of deaths in patients with serious pre-existing conditions, or those that were admitted initially for a different condition but then tested positive.
whogothere 3 years, 3 months ago
Bobby.. oh bobby... it's not that hard -it's right there in black and white..?
118 deaths of persons received 2 doses... 98 deaths of persons had not received any doses..
That ratio is being charitable as really AZ claims 70% efficacy after the first dose.. which only increases to 82% after the second. (Let's not forget they claimed "100% protection against severe disease hospitalisation and death" in their phase 3 trials)
https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centr…
So really we should add the 44 that were partially vaxxed (21 days after receiving 1 dose) that died to breakthrough deaths.. (though nice try on your efforts to add them to them unvaccinated bucket - that would be called manipulating the data )
So really we're talking about 162 vaccine 'protected' deaths versus 98 unvaxxed...
Actually bobby The table accounts for unrelated to COVID admittance cases by separating out those that whose sample date was the same as their admittance date. So don't need to worry about that (check the fine print on page 18 ;)
The whole point of vaccines is to protect the vulnerable and the assumption would be that those over 50 would be more likely to have pre-conditions whether they are vaxed or not and yet.. again those with full and partial protection that ended up in ER in greater numbers than those that were unvaccinated.
264 fully vaccinated 50+ year olds ended up in ER 232 partially vaccinated 50+ year olds (1 dose plus 21+ days) likewise so thats some 496 50+ years olds with some degree of vaccine protection ending up in ER
Versus
144 unvaccinated 50+ year olds ER attendees...
This really isn't rocket science.. I will agree with you that we should be looking at the big picture - what the numbers do convey on the bigger scale is that delta variant is a mild disease. Statistically speaking your chances of dying if under 50 of covid are essentially ZERO (table 4 page 13) and overall it's 0.2%. The chances of not ending up overnight in the ER because of the delta virus are 99.1% and being vaccinated or not does seem to drastically improve or damage those odds.
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 3 months ago
(though nice try on your efforts to add them to them unvaccinated bucket - that would be called manipulating the data )
WRONG !! Full vaccination is NOT achieved until appx 14 days after the second dose has been administered, so therefore you are still considered unvaccinated. You wouldn't call Chemotherapy as being complete after the first treatment would you?? It's you who would be considered as manipulating data. You need to understand how drug treatment works !!
joeblow 3 years, 3 months ago
... you are profoundly ignorant and uninformed, but carry on. That's what the ignorant and uninformed do!
EVERY drug company admits that there can be covid infections with their vaccines. The short duration of study does NOT allow them to make any definitive statements about infection rates with variants, since they are not in existence at the time of testing. Most of the info is speculative, but if you had any science background you would know that! BTQ Pfizer and Moderna are NOT vaccines, but propagandized biotech!!!
whogothere 3 years, 3 months ago
Not to mention most of those in test groups were young and healthy...not the demographic needing protection and thus skewed the results..it’s like trialing a pregnancy pill on a test group of just men...100% effective in trials but it don’t match the real world..
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 3 months ago
you the "vaccinated are ending up dead in Europe. What we see there has a lag of about 2 months for us
whogothere 3 years, 3 months ago
This is just idiotic. Cruise ships to the rescue...this how deep in bed with industry this country is...Mind boggling stupidity...Cram 1000s on to cramped quarters to get them vaccinated from a highly contagious airborne virus (that doesn't really kill many people)...If I didn't know better I think you're trying to infect as many people as possible to get more antibodies floating around.. .Minnis man time to move on...
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
Amen. I couldn't agree with you more.
jammydodger 3 years, 3 months ago
Instead of just vaccinating he can use other methods to bring people into the herd and prevent hospitalization, such as using repurposed antivirals such as ivermectin and fluroquene which have proven efficacy and are being used in other countries effectively. Theresa Lawrie’s meta study on Ivermectin’s published on 17 June concludes “Moderate-certainty evidence finds that large reductions in COVID-19 deaths are possible using ivermectin. Using ivermectin early in the clinical course may reduce numbers progressing to severe disease. The apparent safety and low cost suggest that ivermectin is likely to have a significant impact on the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic globally.” It is also super cheap to administer.
CoolCatBD 3 years, 3 months ago
The WHO "World Health Organization" does not like the used of Ivermectin, for some reason. Does anyone know if DR in The Bahamas are using "Ivermectin".
JokeyJack 3 years, 3 months ago
You are obviously trying to get yourself in trouble, and perhaps even jailed. You ought to know by now that the use of medicine in this pandemic is strictly prohibited. Only vaccines are allowed. In this case, there is only ONE way to skin a cat.
DWW 3 years, 3 months ago
Minnis just said, you are free to go about your business and get infected and take Ivermectin. I wish you best of luck with it. I took the vaccine and I can rest at night without worry. good luck with your dog heartworm medication there. :P
CoolCatBD 3 years, 3 months ago
That's pretty much what the president of The Philippines said, the other day!
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 3 months ago
You typically cannot repurpose any drug without first obtaining clinical data. It's true that Doctor's can (and frequently do), prescribe certain drugs for off-label use. But, just remember the next time your GP writes you an off-label prescription you are essentially being a human guinea pig for a drug that has far less clinical data than any of the Covid vaccines.
To my knowledge Ivermectin has not yet been proven to have efficacy against Covid. There are currently a bunch of ongoing clinical trials studying the use of Ivermectin in patients with serious Covid, but none are expected to reach their conclusion until October. Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug made by Merck. Check their website to see what they say about it's use in Covid patients.
CoolCatBD 3 years, 3 months ago
The way forward, Unvaccinated People should have to wear scarlet "U" at all times. The "U" will stand for "Unvaccinated People", but in time it will become to stand for "Unclean person". These U's then can be relocated to different countries, to work in mines and factories.
I time some people will be incompatible to the vaccine, and the country will have breakthrough case. These Uncompatible People should have to wear scarlet "U" at all times. The "U" will stand for "Uncompatible People", but in time it will become to stand for "Unclean person". These U's then can be relocated to different countries, has replacement worker, to work in mines and factories.
What a Brave New World!!!
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 3 months ago
Great idea. Yesterday I thought the star of David could be repurposed but a U would be much more symbolic. And then neighbours could call the authorities if they saw anyone with a U in the streets or leaving a neighbour's house. The police could bring out dogs to track them down. The neighbours would of course have to be imprisoned for the crime of harbouring a U. This is a great plan so much potential with Minnis to perfect
JokeyJack 3 years, 3 months ago
What a brilliant idea. As we learned this week, the government of the UK is now responsible for killing people worldwide by allowing variants to spread. When will the Earth be rid of these unvaccinated scum? I heard the other day that so far over 600,000 persons have died right here in the Bahamas from Covid. That is remarkable since I thought the total population was less than that - but that just goes to show how deadly the virus is - it seems it can even kill people that were not even born yet. I'm sure the undertakers are super tired - probably going to unionize and strike any day now.
DWW 3 years, 3 months ago
I hope sure you are proud of yourself. Using the death of 8 million innocents, women and children were experimented on. meanwhile you are callous enough to use this to justify your little world and how you don't want to take a vaccination or wear a mask. Whoever you are, I hope I never share a room with you. you make my stomach turn in absolute utter disgust. go read a book or something useful. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holoc…
CoolCatBD 3 years, 3 months ago
The scarlet "U" is a reference to the book The Scarlet Letter. Being "unclean" is a biblical reference to leprosy. To work in mines and factories, uighurs (Christians) of China, for not following every rule. By the way I wearing my mask right now! My my stomach turn, by those who worship the new gods!
ohdrap4 3 years, 3 months ago
Also the U symbol is on jello package, meani g unclean so jews and muslim do not eat it.
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 3 months ago
id share a room with them. I dont think their scenario is far off
carltonr61 3 years, 3 months ago
Wall Street Journal.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/vaccinated…
carltonr61 3 years, 3 months ago
https://www.rt.com/uk/529713-britain-co…
The way forward too? We must ask.
DWW 3 years, 3 months ago
Russian fake times again? Dude you make yourself look sillier each day.
TalRussell 3 years, 3 months ago
Beyond his own ministry of health's empty stockpile of much-needed vaccines, this diabolical head red is being chauffeured out and about in a PopoulacesPurse luxury Benz, surrounded with armed security side riders and escort, pretending that but few goin' much notices his lead role played in the alarming increase of COVID positive testing amongst the PopoulacesGeneral.
Just proves that the more you test the PopoulacesGeneral, the greater the numbers testing COVID positive, yes?
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 3 months ago
the FNM hierarchy sits back and is subjecting us to potentially 5 more years of this and worse. But if its one thing history has taught us the powerful love having dumb and easily manipulated men in power. There's only one thing worse than a dumb easily manipulated man in power and its a dumb man who is no longer malliable and assumes absolute power. It coming, we've seen multiple glimpses of it
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
THESE ARE OUTRIGHT BALD FACED LIES BY MINNIS BASED ON THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE NOW AVAILABLE.
Scientific studies now show the efficacy rate of jabs with the experimental mRNA vaccines declines with the passage of time. This waning efficacy will require periodic booster jabs to maintain a sufficient cushion level of anti-bodies for current variants of the Wuhan Virus. These ongoing booster jabs may be needed by the vaccinated every 8 to 12 months.
Therefore as time passes, more and more vaccinated people will fall into the "unvaccinated bucket" unless they subject themselves to additional ongoing booster jabs of the experimental mRNA vaccines. The vaccinated will in essence become Vaccine Dependent.
And it's common knowledge from the scientific evidence available to date that vaccinated people can still be carriers and super spreaders of the Wuhan Virus and its variants, including the highly transmissable Delta variant, just like infected unvaccinated people. But infected unvaccinated people who recover are likely to have developed a stronger natural 'T' cell immunity of much greater duration, possibly unlimited.
DWW 3 years, 3 months ago
Hey if you aren't actually referencing the research articles and peer reviewed duplicated studies then you are just making it up and make yourself sound less intelligent than you did before. I guess you don't care how the world views you then.
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
You're free to believe whatever you want to believe based on your own personal homework. Stop being lazy. Acquiring knowledge and digesting it requires doing a fair amount of homework, and its frankly a life long process for those who want to become knowledgeable about many things. Besides, you're much more inclined to believe what you've learned by doing your own personal homework to substantiate the veracity of my comments. LOL
whogothere 3 years, 3 months ago
So DWW so you have evidence that vaccines last more than 6 months to a year? I d love to see it. Meanwhile guess we're only one variant from complete efficacy failure...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3372543… https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3393948… https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa…
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 3 months ago
Maybe you copied the wrong links, but there is nothing in any of those publications looking at the effectiveness of the vaccine, 6 months after being administered. Those publications are discussing results from Clinical Trials studying the Safety & Efficacy of the Oxford-AZ vaccine against the South African variant (B.1.351), and have absolutely nothing to do with how effective the vaccine will be 6 months after being administered. Sorry to burst your bubble !
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
View and weep if you have the time and are truly interested.
https://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/th…
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 3 months ago
If you really had the time to watch through all of that, then you really do have too much time on your hands. I want your job !!
whogothere 3 years, 3 months ago
Nah didn't need to wait six months on this - This shows the complete collapse of the AZ VAC against the South African variant. As an example of being one variant away from complete failure.... Sorry to burst yours...It was so bad they sold their stock AZ after the studies came in..
https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reu…
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 3 months ago
Again, has nothing to do with your original post. All these links are related to the AZ vaccine and have nothing to do with requiring a booster in 6 months. POP!!!
whogothere 3 years, 3 months ago
You seemed confused simply one... I asked DWW if he had any material that shows efficacy of vaxs are sustained over 6 months.. my post said we are one variant away from efficacy failure.Thats exactly what the studies show, but hey read it how you want read - it that does not change the fact AZ does squat against the SA variant oh bobby boy..if that lands on our shores the entire vax program will be piss in the wind..
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 3 months ago
my post said we are one variant away from efficacy failure.
As far as I'm aware we are now up to the Lambda variant.. The South Africa variant, to which your links refer, is the Beta variant. So we have had at least half a dozen variants since then.
Thats exactly what the studies show,
No, the studies in your links do not show that we are one mutation away from efficacy failure. I suggest you read them again.
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 3 months ago
And pls stop with the sarcastic name calling, I think you are more intelligent than that. Peace.
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 3 months ago
And just to be clear, I have also yet to come across a conclusive publication that indicates that a booster injection will NOT be required. My guess is that information won't be published until late this year or early next year.
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
You're not telling the truth. The mRNA vaccines continued to be portrayed by Pfizer and Moderna as 'two jabs and done' with no ongoing periodic booster requirements even after they both knew the efficacy rate would wane with the passage of time. Only recently did scientific studies made publicly available by the Israeli government force these two big pharma companies to disclose what they already knew. And there's loads of evidence available online to support that fact which you could have easily looked up for yourself if you were truly interested.
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 3 months ago
Sorry man, I'm not going to get into a pissing contest with you, but vaccines, drug development and patient treatment in general are not an exact science. Our bodies are all wired slightly differently so it's not an exact science (think of Sickle Cell in Blacks, Absence of aldehyde dehydrogenase in Asians etc). Also tetanus vaccination doesn't last forever, Rabies shots for your pets only last a couple of years. Welcome to the world of moving target diseases and evolution
DDK 3 years, 3 months ago
Is he at all sane or just on someone's payroll?
TalRussell 3 years, 3 months ago
Yes to the first part your asks, and no second part, but em's, should engage under general election contract, the fully vaccinated science delusional Talkie Show Host Comrade Live-on-air's, Saying False Science Theories Juan. as his PR Chief, yes?
ohdrap4 3 years, 3 months ago
I will go on the minnis boatlift.
Do I have to return?
TalRussell 3 years, 3 months ago
Your Humble Comrade, foresaw as a sign proof certain of ushering out power time for the 35 House-elected reds governing authority has reached, is once the emigration the Conchy Joe's boatlift, set sails Florida?
You cannot just be makin' this crazy Conchy Joe's stuff up, yes?
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 3 months ago
say Conchy Joe boatlift. Well Juan McCartney said he was building a boat for his family just in case. I was gonna try and catch a ride, but this other boat sound like a better ride
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