The Ministry of Health & Wellness is dismissing a report on social media purportedly issued from the Ministry which seeks to alarm persons regarding the increasing number of cases of the Omicron COVID-19 XBB 1.5 variant reported in the US. The statement was not issued by the Ministry.

The Ministry of Health & Wellness continues to receive reports of and monitor positive cases of COVID-19 as well as submit samples for sequencing according to existing procedures. To date, the Ministry has not been informed that any samples submitted for sequencing have uncovered the variant in question. The Ministry of Health & Wellness will provide any additional relevant updates regarding variant presence in The Bahamas should it become necessary.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health & Wellness wishes to advise that precautionary measures have been implemented in the Intensive Care Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) following a noticed uptick in COVID-19 cases related to exposure at the hospital. The hospital’s COVID-19 protocols have been reinstated to only allow for two (2) visitors per patient for a total of fifteen (15) minutes per visit.

Persons are asked to pay attention to all health updates and to continue to employ the relevant health practices of washing hands and wearing a mask in public if you test positive for COVID positive, if you are immunocompromised, or if you have any signs and symptoms of a respiratory illness.