NASSAU, Bahamas -- Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis, COVID-19 Task Force Coordinator, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister said the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in The Bahamas is 97.

“Of that number, 75 are in New Providence, eight in Grand Bahama, 13 in Bimini, and one in Cat Cay. There were no new cases reported today,” Dr. Dahl-Regis explained at the COVID-19 Update Press Conference, Ministry of Health, Thursday, May 21, 2020.

She added that the number of recovered cases is 44. Active cases are at 42. Deaths remain at 11. Hospitalised cases are at six. A total of 1,910 tests have been completed.

Dr. Dahl-Regis said in Grand Bahama, there have been 15 days since the last confirmed case of COVID-19 was recorded on that island.   In Bimini, it has been seven days since the last confirmed case.

She said in The Bahamas, the highest number of cases is occurring in the 40-59 age group, and not in the 80 and over population.

“This national profile is different than the global presentation, which shows the greatest number of COVID-19 cases are in the elderly.

“We must commend nursing home operators who are enforcing the COVID-19 containment and mitigation policies set out by the Ministry of Health, including:

• visitor restrictions;

• infection prevention and control measures;

• training of their workers in infection control;

• environmental sanitation;

• a moratorium on readmissions; and

• government measures to protect the elderly population, including weekend lockdowns.”

The Task Force Coordinator said the Ministry is making significant progress based on the number of new confirmed cases, there have been no COVID-19 related deaths for three weeks, the number of recovered cases, the decrease in COVID-19 hospital admissions and the decrease in the number of ICU admissions.

“During this epidemiological period – week 20 to21 – we have had one to two confirmed cases per day, compared to the 5 to 6 confirmed cases recorded previously, which has resulted in the bending of the curve.”