In an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 in The Bahamas, Minister of Health Renward Wells announced that a number of restrictions that were recently relaxed will be reinstated on New Providence, Grand Bahama and North and South Eleuthera, including Harbour Island.

Wells said a curfew will be implemented between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

RT PCR tests will be required for travel to any of the Family Islands from New Providence, Grand Bahama and North and South Eleuthera, including Harbour Island. Wells said this applies to people who are not fully vaccinated.

Religious services are to be limited to one hour and will be confined to 33 percent of the facility’s capacity.

Funeral or cremation services are no longer permitted indoors. Funerals are now confined to gravesides only.

Additionally, a maximum of 30 people are allowed at funeral and wedding services. However, indoor weddings are permitted.

Wells said repasts are prohibited.

Exercise groups are limited to 10 people and no sporting activities are allowed at this time.

However, he said professional athletes can continue to train.

PRINCESS Margaret Hospital has suspended all elective surgeries and only emergency cases are being allowed in response to an influx of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.

In a press statement yesterday, the Public Hospitals Authority said the measures were implemented to manage PMH’s already strained services as a result of the surge in virus cases. #Ministry of Health officials said there were 95 new cases Tuesday and 92 people are in the hospital receiving treatment with COVID-19 related illnesses. #The statement said: “Hospital administration at the Princess Margaret Hospital today announced the implementation of measures to manage the institution’s already strained services as a result of a surge in COVID-19 cases presenting at the Emergency Department. #“The new measures are designed to reduce the spread of the virus among patients and staff, and to account for an increase in the number of persons having to be admitted, the overwhelming majority of whom are unvaccinated. #“The public is advised that effective immediately the Emergency Department is only accepting emergency cases. In the event of a medical emergency please call National Emergency Medical Services dispatchers at 919 or contact the PMH Emergency Department at 326-7014. Persons in need of care for non-medical emergencies should visit their doctor’s office or community.” #The statement said “all elective surgeries have been suspended” as well as out-patient lab services. #Officials said in-person appointments at specialty clinics and other out-patient services have been suspended with the exception of: emergency maternity cases; oncology services by appointment only; dialysis services, by appointment only; obstetrics high risk clinic, by appointment; radiology & diagnostic services, by appointment or emergency cases only; orthopedic services – fracture and hand by appointment or emergency cases only; out-patient rehabilitation services, by appointment only; PMH Blood Bank, by appointment only or off-site blood drive. #Emergency out-patient laboratory services will resume at Agape Clinic on Monday, July 26, 2021. #There is also an urgent appeal for all blood types as there is a critical shortage at this time. To donate blood, email the PMH Blood Bank at pmhbloodbank@gmail.com to register for an appointment or call 502-7822 or 322-8077.

In a press statement yesterday, the Public Hospitals Authority said the measures were implemented to manage PMH’s already strained services as a result of the surge in virus cases.

Ministry of Health officials said there were 95 new cases Tuesday and 92 people are in the hospital receiving treatment with COVID-19 related illnesses.

The statement said: “Hospital administration at the Princess Margaret Hospital today announced the implementation of measures to manage the institution’s already strained services as a result of a surge in COVID-19 cases presenting at the Emergency Department.

“The new measures are designed to reduce the spread of the virus among patients and staff, and to account for an increase in the number of persons having to be admitted, the overwhelming majority of whom are unvaccinated.

“The public is advised that effective immediately the Emergency Department is only accepting emergency cases. In the event of a medical emergency please call National Emergency Medical Services dispatchers at 919 or contact the PMH Emergency Department at 326-7014. Persons in need of care for non-medical emergencies should visit their doctor’s office or community.”

The statement said “all elective surgeries have been suspended” as well as out-patient lab services.

Officials said in-person appointments at specialty clinics and other out-patient services have been suspended with the exception of: emergency maternity cases; oncology services by appointment only; dialysis services, by appointment only; obstetrics high risk clinic, by appointment; radiology & diagnostic services, by appointment or emergency cases only; orthopedic services – fracture and hand by appointment or emergency cases only; out-patient rehabilitation services, by appointment only; PMH Blood Bank, by appointment only or off-site blood drive.

Emergency out-patient laboratory services will resume at Agape Clinic on Monday, July 26, 2021.

There is also an urgent appeal for all blood types as there is a critical shortage at this time. To donate blood, email the PMH Blood Bank at pmhbloodbank@gmail.com to register for an appointment or call 502-7822 or 322-8077.

 

The recent spike in COVID-19 cases is likely linked to gatherings during the Independence Day weekend, according to Minister of Health Renward Wells.

“This has been a roller coaster ride in regards to positive testing for COVID,” Wells said yesterday.

“We entered the third wave then we had a dip for about two or three weeks and then we had a surge. Usually, there is a little uptick in cases about … 14 days out of any sort of major holiday.

“We’ve just come through the entire weekend of independence and so folks would’ve gotten together in groups, on beaches, in homes celebrating our independence.

“Obviously, we would have expected, given the fact that we’ve had positive cases in the country, that there would’ve been an uptick. We’re going to be looking over this week – assessing the data and then seeing where we are, whether we do have defined clusters or anything new that is developing.”

The Bahamas confirmed 950 new cases so far this month.

Of that figure, 465 cases were confirmed between July 12 and July 19.

Shortly after the first case was confirmed in March 2020, the governor general declared a state of emergency. The state of emergency, which is ongoing, empowers the prime minister, as the competent authority, to impose restrictions, including nightly curfews and weekend lockdowns, to curb the spread of the virus.

Over the last year, on the advice of health officials, the prime minister imposed tighter restrictions whenever there were spikes in cases.

However, Wells said yesterday that health officials have not recommended additional restrictions despite the recent spike.

With the number of AstraZeneca vaccine doses running low in the country, a leading member of the pharmaceutical community said the government needs to loosen its grip on sourcing vaccines and allow the private sector to step in to provide any of the four vaccines approved for entry into the country.

As it stands, travelers entering The Bahamas do not have to present a negative COVID-19 test if they are fully vaccinated with the AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.

It is unclear how many doses of the vaccine are left in the country, as the government awaits another 33,000 doses from a third tranche from the COVAX Facility at the end of the month.

The well-respected pharmacist said it makes no sense that the government would not access the buying power of local pharmaceutical distributors to makes vaccines available to those who don’t mind paying for the jab.

“The government needs to allow the private sector to explore how to get any of the four approved vaccines that they allow people to come into the country without testing with. Any of the four. People will say how will the private sector do something the government can’t, but the thing is a lot of the private pharmacies and distributors here are actually parts of buying groups with major networks within the UK and within the US. So there is no reason,” the pharmacist told Guardian Business on the condition of anonymity.

“Yes you may have a small distributor here in this country, but they are able to buy through the group where they are connected with major networks in the US that services millions of people, so their buying power is actually greater. Allow people to access that.”

The Bahamas has received 92,200 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, of which 20,000 were donated by the Indian government, 5,000 were borrowed from Antigua and Barbuda and the remaining doses were secured through the COVAX Facility.

“I also think what the government needs to do is put price control on them and shouldn’t let them gouge folks, they should be able to say this is what we paid for, have a reasonable mark up and people that can go and pay for it can go and get the vaccine. If the government wants to go and source it for people who are unable to pay but want the vaccine, then go ahead and do that,” the pharmacist said.

“Most Bahamians who have group insurance through their work, the companies are actually local insurers, so the government can work it out with the local insurers so that they underwrite the cost of those vaccines. And for me as an insurer, for me to underwrite a $50 shot rather than someone having COVID-19 and racking up bills is better.”