The Tribune

OFFICIALS at the Ministry of Health and Wellness are monitoring the “slight increase” in positive COVID-19 cases over the past few days and will be discussing ongoing concerns about the pandemic at an upcoming meeting this week.

This is according to Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville yesterday.

COVID-19 cases have been trending low in recent weeks, with low single digit cases recorded on some days.

 However, on April 23, 20 new cases were recorded and 17 were recorded on April 22. Nine new cases were recorded on April 21.

 Dr Darville was contacted yesterday about a timeline for when more COVID-19 restrictions will be relaxed.

 In response he said: “The team at the Ministry of Health and Wellness is watching the positive RT PCR tests closely. We are still concerned and will be discussing those concerns at the next EOC meeting this week.”

 Asked what he expected to come out of that meeting, he said it was difficult to say at this point.

 “It’s difficult to predict the outcome of a meeting three days in advance. But over the last few days we do see a slight increase in the RT PCR test and the data needs to be fully analysed.”

 Last week Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper predicted a further ease to virus restrictions in the days and weeks ahead.

 Mr Cooper told reporters that Bahamians could soon expect to see a consistent “reduction of the COVID protocols”, but did not disclose which measures are being considered for removal.

 This comes as countries around the world continue to loosen measures due to declining infection rates.

 However, former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said there is a need for government officials to be cautious when rolling back virus measures, adding there is a high likelihood cases could increase now that the Easter holiday weekend is over.

 “In The Bahamas, we enjoyed single digits case loads for quite a while and certainly over the last 14 days, we have seen our numbers inch out to the point where some days its five (cases), some days it’s 14 and some days it’s 16, but the average number of cases over the last ten days or so is seven or eight cases a day, all right,” Dr Sands said last week. “And so, if you ask - can we say the numbers are decreasing? No, we cannot and if this is the type of data-driven decision making that’s going to define what we do, let’s call it what it is. We are doing what is popular. Our position, my position remains – understand that whatever decision you make, be prepared to pay the consequences.”