NASSAU, The Bahamas – Minister of Health the Hon. Renward Wells explained that when the laboratory results are obtained by the Ministry of Health, they are sometimes received in batches and may reflect results produced in labs over more than one day but are being reported on the day they are received by the Ministry of Health.

“This means that the results reported on the Dashboard may not be a reflection of the results of swabs taken on an individual day, but it is certainly a clear reflection of the trends that develop over time in our communities,” Minister Wells stated at the COVID-19 Update press conference at the Ministry of Health, Friday, October 2, 2020.  

He said the data reported in the Ministry’s press conferences reflect the data analysis done by specimen collection date and is a clearer representation of daily results.

“We encourage all Bahamians to monitor the Ministry of Health Dashboard to keep abreast of the numbers so that you can make informed decisions on how to go about their routines.”

Minister Wells said it is evident that lately in New Providence the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to escalate. “Just within the last four days, we have seen the following results:

• On the 28^th September 2020, 65 cases were reported. Of those 65 cases, all of them originated from New Providence.
• On the 29^th September, 119 cases were reported.  103 or 87 per cent of the reported cases were from New Providence alone.
• On the 30^th September, 2020, 101 cases were reported.  96 per cent of the reported cases once again originated from New Providence; and
• On the 1^st October, 2020, 97 cases were reported and 77 or 79 per cent of the cases stemmed from New Providence.

This escalation in numbers comes at a time when –

• we are reopening our fragile economy; and
• several schools are seeking to open with face to face learning.

The Health Minister stated that with the relaxation of restrictions, some have decided to go back to business as usual, including their social lives.

He said some have decided to attend planned social events like showers, dinner, and birthday parties where they may contract or spread COVID-19.

“These same persons go home to their families where the virus is spread. These individuals also spread COVID-19 to their co-workers.

“Now we have a consistent trend of workplace exposures requiring a constant cycle of quarantining, deep cleaning, and sanitization.”

Minister Wells stressed that the workplace is now a “hot spot”.

He stated that the public must take strong personal responsibility to protect themselves.

“We must avoid going out of our homes for non-essential reasons. Avoid social gatherings and practice preventative measures at home, church, work, and everywhere else you go!

“Employers must also do their part to ensure that health and safety measures are in place at the workplace and that staff is trained to execute COVID-19 preventive protocols.”

The Health Minister said employers must also implement effective social distancing and work-from-home policies. We cannot continue business as usual.

He said, “We must figure out how to conduct business in ways that minimize exposure to both our customers and our employees. To avoid contracting COVID-19, we need to conduct ourselves as though everywhere is a ‘hot spot.’”