LESS than five percent of people fully vaccinated in The Bahamas have been infected with COVID-19 and fewer than one percent of recovered patients have been re-infected with the disease, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen has said.

Dr Brennen insisted yesterday vaccinations are the only way out of the pandemic, adding that while many may be hesitant to take the jab for various reasons, the benefits of taking the Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine still far outweigh the risks.

Dr Brennen disclosed the information as a guest on radio talk show “The Morning Blend” with host Dwight Strachan.

Dr Brennen said the vast majority of people contracting the disease and being hospitalised are those who have not been fully inoculated against COVID-19.

He said at last report, no fully vaccinated people have died from the disease or are currently in hospital.

Meanwhile, the number of fully vaccinated who tested positive for the virus represents fewer than five percent, he added. These occurrences are known as “breakthrough cases.”

“The last time we looked at it, it still represents less than five percent of what we’re seeing in country (and that is for) persons who’ve been vaccinated who are still getting infected,” Dr Brennen said.

“And most startling is when we start to look at some of the issues that come with hospitalisations, when you look at the deaths, it shows you over and over again – that it is unfortunately individuals who have not been vaccinated who are suffering most from this

THE latest Ministry of Health COVID-19 Dashboard has recorded 132 new infections in The Bahamas with 94 of them being in New Providence.

The Dashboard, dated July 29, 2021, shows an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases putting The Bahamas on par with regional nations in terms of spikes in new infections. The total number of recorded COVID-19 cases in The Bahamas is 14,677 with deaths at 286. #Over the past week the Pan American Health Organization reported over 1.26 million COVID-19 cases and nearly 29,000 deaths in the region. #Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, and Paraguay are among the countries reporting the world’s highest weekly death rates. And PAHO reports that cases have more than doubled in the U.S. over the last week, mainly among unvaccinated people. #In recent weeks, various posts made rounds on social media blaming vaccinated Bahamians for spreading the virus and causing the recent spikes of COVID-19. Local doctors and PAHO officials have dispelled those rumours stating that the hospitals are filling up with unvaccinated people who are also dying from the virus. #The Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is to date the most deadly and contagious addition to the pandemic. Many thought that the recent COVID spike in The Bahamas was due to this version of the disease. PAHO quickly rejected that thought stating that the only variant found in The Bahamas to date was the Alpha variant. #Thankfully there are no new deaths to report on the Ministry’s Dashboard, however, one is under investigation. #Out of the 132 new cases, 80 are males and 52 females. As said 94 of those cases are listed as being in New Providence with 16 in Grand Bahama; 16 in Eleuthera; 3 are recorded in Exuma; one in Abaca; one in Bimini and one listed in the Berry Islands. #One hundred and three people are currently hospitalized with COVID. Ninety-one of them are moderately ill while 12 of them are in Intensive Care Units. #Over the past year and four months, 1,723 people have recovered from COVID-19. To date the 119,041 COVID-19 PCR tests have been conducted.

The Dashboard, dated July 29, 2021, shows an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases putting The Bahamas on par with regional nations in terms of spikes in new infections. The total number of recorded COVID-19 cases in The Bahamas is 14,677 with deaths at 286.

Over the past week the Pan American Health Organization reported over 1.26 million COVID-19 cases and nearly 29,000 deaths in the region.

Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, and Paraguay are among the countries reporting the world’s highest weekly death rates. And PAHO reports that cases have more than doubled in the U.S. over the last week, mainly among unvaccinated people.

In recent weeks, various posts made rounds on social media blaming vaccinated Bahamians for spreading the virus and causing the recent spikes of COVID-19. Local doctors and PAHO officials have dispelled those rumours stating that the hospitals are filling up with unvaccinated people who are also dying from the virus.

The Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is to date the most deadly and contagious addition to the pandemic. Many thought that the recent COVID spike in The Bahamas was due to this version of the disease. PAHO quickly rejected that thought stating that the only variant found in The Bahamas to date was the Alpha variant.

Thankfully there are no new deaths to report on the Ministry’s Dashboard, however, one is under investigation.

Out of the 132 new cases, 80 are males and 52 females. As said 94 of those cases are listed as being in New Providence with 16 in Grand Bahama; 16 in Eleuthera; 3 are recorded in Exuma; one in Abaca; one in Bimini and one listed in the Berry Islands.

One hundred and three people are currently hospitalized with COVID. Ninety-one of them are moderately ill while 12 of them are in Intensive Care Units.

Over the past year and four months, 1,723 people have recovered from COVID-19. To date the 119,041 COVID-19 PCR tests have been conducted.

 

PASTOR Carlos Reid has questioned the rationale for cancelling summer camps and their associated activities after new restrictions that came into force Monday said the programmes are prohibited.

Mrs Moore was a loyal wife, a loving mother, and a beacon of hope to many in the community through her church and her political affiliation. Her death on Sunday was an unexpected blow for many, including her family. #“It was a shocker,” her son, Malvin Moore said on Monday when contacted. “This is something we did not expect, but we are hanging in there. She (her death) knocked everyone off guard yesterday morning.” #Mrs Moore was in New Providence with her husband, former Ambassador and Cabinet Minister Maurice Moore, who is battling prostate cancer and undergoing treatments in Nassau. “They were planning to come back this week,” Mr Moore said. #“She was a very loving and loyal wife, and she nurtured him back to 100 percent – and it is just a shocker. She stood by my Father’s side. Mum was also somebody who you could talk to and go to for advice. #He said that Mrs Moore was not only a mother to him and his three brothers. “My mother had four boys, but there was an older brother before Mum, and three others and she took everyone in. #“Mum impacted our lives in every way. She instilled good manners in us from small. She taught us to have patience, to be humble and respectful, and to trust in God.” #Mrs Moore was an active member of the Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Pinder’s Point. “She was a part of everything around that church,” Mr Moore said. Through her church, she helped with feeding the hungry and helping the less fortunate in the community. #The Tribune was flooded with tributes to Mrs Moore.

The news has been disappointing for Geneen Evans and her 12-year-old daughter who was looking forward to summertime fun.

Ms Evans recently experienced a house fire and they both were looking forward to better scenery outside of the damage the fire caused.

“I’m a single parent of one and I wanted her to be in a safe, fun, learning environment for the rest of the summer and it was a blow to both of us,” Ms Evans said. “So, I’m not feeling very good about it, but what could you? I understand the protocol and procedures, but at the same time, you’ve got kids at home, and you want them to be safe,” she said.

She added: “I recently had a fire at the house about three weeks ago. So, it was contained to the kitchen. Thank God the fireman got there on time, and you know, was waiting for, to save life and property. That’s the reason why I really wanted her to be somewhere other than, you know, than home.”

Ms Evans’ daughter is an athlete, and the track season is closed. She wanted her to do something else because “kids tend to get lazy” when they are stationary.

Her daughter was in the King’s Son Summer Camp.

“I was like, ‘Hey, you, do you want to do basketball?’ She said, yes and I was like, great. So for the past three weeks, we’ve been getting up and going to camp and she was eager to go.”

Pastor Reid is CEO of the King’s Son Mentoring Programme.

The pastor noted that COVID-19 is serious, and ways have to be found to prevent the spread of it but at the same time he said the country could not “roll over (and) play dead because life still has to go on”.

 

BAHAMAS Christian Council president Bishop Delton Fernander said it was surprising that a one-hour limit on religious services was implemented in the latest Emergency Powers Orders which took effect yesterday.

He, along with Hope Centre Pastor Carlos Reid, said the government cannot dictate what churches do. #The latest order says that in New Providence a worship service may be conducted daily for the maximum duration of one hour provided it is limited to 33 percent of the occupancy of the facility where it is being conducted. #Further it must be conducted in accordance with the protocols established by the BCC and approved by the Ministry of Health. #“We had dealt with the aspect of the one hour before. It is surprising that it came up again and we are hoping to settle this matter with the Office of the Prime Minister and back to the Christian council guideline as it was before,” Bishop Fernander told The Tribune. #The restriction is a part of a series of new measures announced on Friday at a Ministry of Health press conference as the country is facing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. #Bishop Fernander explained he was informed a day before of the rule change by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis in a meeting #“This was an informative meeting where he would have received this report out of what I’ve said here’s what he had his mind to do, but the detail might have changed by the time he presents. So, we never reveal the contents of that conversation because by the time he presented it might change,” he said. #In response to the church capacity rule of 33 percent, Bishop Fernander said the church will try to come up with an allowance. #“Only the one hour part was not introduced by the church, but we came up with the entire protocol for the church,” he noted.

He, along with Hope Centre Pastor Carlos Reid, said the government cannot dictate what churches do.

The latest order says that in New Providence a worship service may be conducted daily for the maximum duration of one hour provided it is limited to 33 percent of the occupancy of the facility where it is being conducted.

Further it must be conducted in accordance with the protocols established by the BCC and approved by the Ministry of Health.

“We had dealt with the aspect of the one hour before. It is surprising that it came up again and we are hoping to settle this matter with the Office of the Prime Minister and back to the Christian council guideline as it was before,” Bishop Fernander told The Tribune.

The restriction is a part of a series of new measures announced on Friday at a Ministry of Health press conference as the country is facing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

Bishop Fernander explained he was informed a day before of the rule change by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis in a meeting

“This was an informative meeting where he would have received this report out of what I’ve said here’s what he had his mind to do, but the detail might have changed by the time he presents. So, we never reveal the contents of that conversation because by the time he presented it might change,” he said.

In response to the church capacity rule of 33 percent, Bishop Fernander said the church will try to come up with an allowance.

“Only the one hour part was not introduced by the church, but we came up with the entire protocol for the church,” he noted.