HEALTH Minister Renward Wells.
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH officials are still waiting to receive the test results of several positive COVID-19 samples that were sent abroad to determine which of the new coronavirus strains are present in the country.
Dozens of countries worldwide have since detected the mutations that were originally found in the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa and India.
At a Ministry of Health press conference last month, health officials said “the emergence of variant strains of COVID-19” was of significant concern.
National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee chairperson, Dr Merceline Dahl Regis said genetic testing between March 13 and April 17 showed an upward trend in the detection of deletion in samples, which means the variant strains are likely in the country.
She said a breakdown by islands shows New Providence, Grand Bahama, Bimini, Long Island, Exuma and Eleuthera could have variant strains present.
According to officials, ten samples were sent to a reference laboratory abroad to determine which strain was in the country.
Asked for an update on the matter yesterday, Health Minister Renward Wells told reporters: “We do not know as yet.”
He said of the ten samples sent, about four were still viable to be tested.
“As a matter of fact, we sent off ten samples from my understanding and out of the ten, I think only four once they arrived at the lab were viable for testing. We’re still awaiting the results of that so the ministry is still in the process of seeing how we can ensure how we get those results very quickly from CARPHA, the Caribbean Public Health Agency,” he said.
This comes as the country continues to see a sustained uptick in positive cases and hospitalizations, particularly in New Providence and Grand Bahama.
There has also been a rise in infections on several Family Islands, including Andros and the Berry Islands, which had 126 and 81 cases respectively as of Monday. Yesterday, Mr Wells said they are monitoring the situation in both communities very closely.
“We do see an increase in cases in Andros and we do see an increase in cases in the Berry Islands and the Ministry of Health has sent its requisite teams down to assess the circumstance and to see where we are in regards to vaccination in those areas, who have been exposed,” he told reporters.
“Contact tracing is aggressive and we’re following up. We’re seeking to get our hand around it and it is a very fluid circumstance and situation in those islands and the government, if need be will come back with other determinations, but right now we believe that getting vaccinated and adhering to the health protocols that are in place would help us to be able to get our hands around what is taking place in those beautiful islands of Andros and the Berry Islands.”
Asked if officials believe the current restrictions in place are working to help to defeat this third wave of new infections, the health minister replied that while restrictions could be strengthened, officials feel confident that they have the situation under control.
He said: “We could be more strengthened from the governmental side in regard to the things that nobody would want which is lockdowns and other curfews and lowering the curfew down to 8’oclock, or 6’oclock… but as it stands now, the Ministry of Health has its hands around how we are moving forward. We are dealing with the positive cases. We’re (doing) contact tracing and we’re vaccinating.”
According to the latest information from the Ministry of Health, 53 new cases were recorded on Monday bringing the nation’s COVID-19 toll to 11,278. Deaths remain at 221 while 48 people are in hospital with the virus.
Comments
DDK 3 years, 7 months ago
🤣😆🤣 So exactly how many vaccines da people dem going to need? 😆🤣😆
carltonr61 3 years, 7 months ago
424 days of curfew, restrictions, lockdowns armed Covid Police intrusions and what. What will more of the same accomplish. A cure does not need a booster shot. A cure should be a pure cold cure. The world markets will transition to a new landscape as only 10% of travellers will become vaccinated then after some months reboot vaccination. Vacation at home is on the uptick in Europe as they demand criss border vaccine passes. The mindset is already established globally to vacation in place for 90% of populations whose citizens travel to foreign lands. Along with Health Certificates for eternity, seems that is only a money grabbing gimmick. Tourists are not begging to visit Covid free nations they just want frrdom from Covid tyrannical governments like ours. Our Covid death percentage is 121/400,000=0.0003025
benniesun 3 years, 7 months ago
At the beginning of the lockdown we were told that the covid virus would mutate every couple of months. So assuming that the mutated virus also mutates at the same rate, and adding in the many imported variants (that have also mutated) my layman's guesstimate is that we have about 20 (twenty) different strains here in our beloved Bahamaland. So definitely more lockdowns and many different vaccine boosters are necessary. Let's unceasingly and aggressively flatten all the curves of these variants and save every grand mammy and grand pappy.
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 7 months ago
All viruses mutate every couple of months, but those mutations can make the virus either more or less deadly or contagious, or have no effect at all.
WETHEPEOPLE 3 years, 7 months ago
The more wells talk, the dumber and incompetent he sounds. You are the minister, and you are saying to your understanding? Shouldnt you as minister be on top of this issue, or know the specifics. At this point the average Bahamian takes everything he says with a cup of salt.
ohdrap4 3 years, 7 months ago
When did he ever sound intelligent?
He does not have much understanding, having repeated multiple times that the vaccine is a cure.
carltonr61 3 years, 7 months ago
https://www.rt.com/uk/524270-uk-covid-v…
AZ in third shot trial in UK. Proof that Wells is above his head next his loud mouth will also scream for Vaccinated Bahamians to take the next manitory third shot then fourth for sure sure cure this time and again and again.
TalRussell 3 years, 7 months ago
Should the crown's comrade health minister - step forward to confirm, or deny, whether local Doctors are prescribing Ivermectin - an anti-parasitic medicine to treat Covid-19, yes?
tribanon 3 years, 7 months ago
If power-crazed Minnis and his Communist Chinese friends had their way, the vast majority of us would be strapped down on at least three occasions each day and forcibly jabbed once or twice with the potentially very harmful cocktail of their choosing. And all too soon we would find those forced jabbings are no longer "free", but rather come with an enormous price tag.
John 3 years, 7 months ago
‘ The small archipelago nation of Seychelles, northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, has emerged as the world's most vaccinated country for COVID-19.
Around 71 per cent of people have had at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, and 62 per cent have been fully vaccinated. Of these, 57 per cent have received the Sinopharm vaccine, and 43 per cent AstraZeneca.
Despite this, there has been a recent surge in cases, with 37 per cent of new active cases and 20 per cent of hospital cases being fully vaccinated. The country has had to reimpose some restrictions. Even amongst other vaccinated persons.
How can this be happening?’ Many believe vaccinated persons become super spreaders
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