New COVID-19 restrictions announced

Minister of Health Renward Wells.

As of Monday, July 26, 2021

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE recent surge of COVID-19 cases in the country has sparked a reimplementation of harsher restrictions in New Providence and Grand Bahama along with North and Central Eleuthera, Health Minister Reward Wells announced Friday.

The restrictions include tighter curfew hours, social limitations and travel guidelines.

The tightened restrictions came as the country recorded 110 additional cases and one more virus-related death on Thursday.

Additionally, on Wednesday, officials said there were five deaths, which took place on July 18, 19, and 20. Three of the deaths were New Providence residents, one was from Bimini and the other was from Exuma.

These latest fatalities mean 280 people have now died from the virus.

Meanwhile, the country has 13,957 cases overall – 1,351 of which are still active.

Ninety-two people are in hospital sick with the virus as of July 22.

During a Ministry of Health press conference Friday, Mr Wells lamented the uptick in both virus-related cases, hospitalisations and deaths as "concerning", saying the influx of infections has placed a great strain on the nation’s healthcare system.

Noting that COVID-19 preventative measures are meant to protect and not harm us, Mr Wells announced the reimposition of a number of former restrictions, which he said came based on the recommendations of health officials.

Beginning Monday at 5am, Mr Wells said the curfew on New Providence, Grand Bahama, North and South Eleuthera – including Harbour Island – will go back to 10pm to 5am.

Individuals travelling from those islands are also required to undergo a RT-PCR test. However, the rule will not apply to fully vaccinated people.

On New Providence and Grand Bahama, church services will be limited to one hour and only allowed at 33 percent capacity.

Funeral or cremation services are not allowed but graveside services will be permitted with a maximum of 30 people. This excludes the officiant and funeral workers at those services. No funeral repasts are permitted, however.

Weddings are allowed indoors and outdoors, but not exceeding 30 people.

Mr Wells added: “As regards to restaurants, dining is restricted to outdoor and takeaways services, and it is encouraged that there be no loitering of groups outside restaurants or at fish fries. These restrictions, however, do not apply to hotel properties.”

“No spas will be opened. This includes massages, waxing, threading and facials. For all islands of The Bahamas, private gatherings will be restricted to five persons provided that the individuals are vaccinated.”

Mr Wells also announced limitations for campaigning activities, saying all team members must be fully vaccinated and are limited to groups of five.

“I know you have COVID fatigue,” Mr Wells told Bahamians. “You are tired of wearing a mask, not hugging a close family member or friend and staying home to prevent contracting the virus. However, we must remain disciplined. This global pandemic is not over as cases continue to rise globally and nationally.”

Mr Wells said proof that the pandemic is far from over can be seen in the rise of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalisations.

According to the health minister, hospital admissions in this third wave have been notably higher than what was seen in previous waves. He reiterated that most people in hospital have not been fully vaccinated against the virus.

He also renewed appeals for people to collect stored bodies at Princess Margaret Hospital’s morgue, saying the facility has reached beyond its capacity.

“The Rand Laboratory commonly referred to as ‘the morgue’ at PMH can house some 73 deceased persons,” Mr Wells said at Friday’s press conference. “However, today it holds 225 bodies. That is three times its capacity. Although two refrigerated containers are holding demised bodies outside the morgue, PMH no longer has space.”

“…The public is advised that if the deceased bodies are not claimed promptly, the Government reserves the right to take legal action to remove and intern the unclaimed bodies to provide space for those who have recently passed away,” he added.

Meanwhile, for her part, Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan called for a stricter adherence to public health measures and warned that giving recommendations for full COVID-19 lockdowns are not off the table.

“Certainly, we deliberate every week where we are and full lockdowns are always a consideration of recommendation if we believe that will be the way and the only way to get our hands around what we are in but there are also considerations around full lockdowns as it relates to where our country is,” Dr McMillan said. “But we monitor these things on a daily basis and we have ad hoc EOCs and should that be necessary we will make further recommendations if that means a lockdown, we will have to do it.”

However, it is not clear if the recent spike of cases will cause government officials to reconsider extending the emergency orders which are set to end August 13.

Asked if health officials recommend the government to extend it, Dr McMillan said: “Should the EOC be tasked with that consideration we will make an appropriate recommendation.”

ThisIsOurs 3 years, 4 months ago

Seriously? where are the restrictions for the 26000 tourist mingling with hotel staff taxi drivers and airport workers

SP 3 years, 4 months ago

Lol....Bahamian lives have no value against the tourist dollar!!

bahamianson 3 years, 4 months ago

Not sure what you mean.....they are doing what they do to prevent bahamians from.dying.

ThisIsOurs 3 years, 4 months ago

the tourists are the source of the lives lost. If you do nothing to curb their behaviour you've done nothing.

At present All they've done is implemdmt a modified "hide inside and wait it out" "plan".... Wait it out until the next cruise ships brings the next variant to kill off more people. After which they'll lock us inside for another few weeks, the virus will run its course and they'll claim victory for the 6th time. and Dr Minnis will make his the pandemic is over statement for the 5th time. Cant they see this???? how blind can they be??

Address the behaviour of tourists

Hoda 3 years, 4 months ago

I get your position on tourists obeying protocols, but you could equally be accused of being blind if you are suggesting that Bahamians are not traveling, if you are suggesting that Bahamians aren’t in the malls in florida not wearing masks if they don’t have to, for example, which I see on the social media quite frequently; if you are suggesting we aren’t out and about with no masks on too were it may not be enforced, etc; the reality everyone has a part to play

ThisIsOurs 3 years, 4 months ago

I am saying those things been happening and cases were going down. So what changed?

Its like me saying I need to lose weight so Im going to start drinking diet coke. Ignoring the fact that I eat a heaping plate of grits and sausage for breakfast, rice macaroni annd potato salad for lunch and rice macaroni and potato salad for dinner.

That is what Im saying. It is compleyely ludicrous for the HEALTH minister to completely ignore a single guidance for the behaviour of tourists.

How can you speak of correcting an extremely significant problem and completely ignore the thing that is the main contributor to the problem?

Bahamians have been traveling since last year July. Cases were going down. You know when we had significant spikes? Everytime there was a significant increase in tourist arrivals. Its right in front if our eyes. In March there was an increase of 40,000 over previous months. In the first week in July in just one week we had a 13000 increase. And every case happened before holidays.

Hoda 3 years, 4 months ago

I maybe wrong, I presumed we - bahamian and tourist - were under the same protocols: test to get in and wear your mask in public spaces. I mean I don’t know what goes on in hotels but I inquire the same as in any other privately owned establishment or business - the owner and operates comes up the protocols they find appropriate. at the end of today, shouldn’t the practice be everyone take their precautions? So if tourist X has covid and comes in contact with local Y at fish fry and everyone have on a chin mask and post up at the bar, its the tourist fault or the gotta that the local may get covid. The local has no personal responsibility for himself because the govt let the tourist in aye.

ThisIsOurs 3 years, 4 months ago

Yes youre wrong. Havent you seen the videos with tourists not wearing masks? Havent you heard about 2 flights being cancelled because tourists refused to wear masks? Havent you heard that Florida refused to allow cruise ships to enforce COVID protocols for any ship leaving from their state? Their attitude is much different. They come here and "rightfully" (because we bend over backwards) believe they are above the law. Just watch them cross the street. They dont act like that in the US. God bless them for coming but they have to be told that theyre not following the rules and be warned to follow the rules

Hoda 3 years, 4 months ago

Okay, Bahamians don’t have these attitudes? No Bahamian is not wearing a mask or taking it off if, only the tourist? I agree the tourist doing it, but for you to say not the Bahamians, no where, never happened… you must be haven’t been outside since bud

ThisIsOurs 3 years, 4 months ago

I suspect the greatest danger is from the person who actually has the virus. Since Bahamians were doing all of that for months and cases were going down, my eyes would be on the tourists

ThisIsOurs 3 years, 4 months ago

also vaccinated tourists can come in untested, dont have to wear masks and were given the all clear by minnis to congregate en masse. These are the 2 worst health ministers we've ever had

Hoda 3 years, 4 months ago

Incorrect.

ThisIsOurs 3 years, 4 months ago

No correct.

that's been the case since June/July(Minnis clearly stated "if youre unvaccinated party on!". You mean they changed it on Friday? The damage is done. We are not any other nation but are own. What other nations do may be of interest to us but this virus has clearly shown that no one nation is "correct", dont you think its about time they start finding people with brains to assist and stop parroting every phrase from abroad? The outcome cant be worse)

And these are the 2 worst health ministers

New COVID-19 restrictions announced

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