The Ministry of Health confirms today that there are seventy-three (73) additional confirmed cases of COVID-19. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to four thousand six hundred thirty- two (4,632). There have been three thousand four hundred sixty-eight (3,468) confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Providence, six hundred fifty (650) confirmed cases in Grand Bahama, one hundred fifty-seven (157) confirmed cases in Abaco, fifty-four (54) confirmed cases in Bimini, thirty-two (32) confirmed cases in Exuma, twenty-five (25) confirmed cases in Eleuthera, nineteen (19) confirmed cases in Inagua, fifteen (15) confirmed cases in the Berry Islands, twelve (12) confirmed cases in Long Island, nine (9) confirmed cases in Andros, nine (9) confirmed cases in Cat Island, seven (7) confirmed cases in Acklins, five (5) confirmed cases in Crooked Island, three (3) confirmed cases in Mayaguana, and one hundred sixty-seven (167) confirmed cases with locations pending.

The breakdown of the new cases by island is as follows:

Investigations are ongoing, and health officials continue to follow the condition of the other current COVID-19 positive cases.

The Ministry of Health also confirms the death of a seventy-six (76) year old female of New Providence who passed away on 1st October, 2020, and the death of a forty-four (44) year old male of Abaco, who passed away on 17th September, 2020. These unfortunate deaths increase the COVID-19 death toll to one hundred two (102).

To date, twenty-two thousand five hundred fifty-nine (22,559) tests have been completed. Hospitalized cases increased by one (1) and are now tallied at one hundred thirteen (113). Further, there were sixty-two (62) recovered cases so that the total recovered cases now tally at two thousand five hundred thirty-seven (2,537).

The public is reminded to practice the following measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• wear a face mask when you leave home;
• maintain a physical distance of six (6) feet from others;
• wash your hands often with soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds, and if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least seventy percent (70%) alcohol;
• cover your cough or sneeze in your inner elbow or with a tissue; and
• clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as phones, remote controls, counters, doorknobs, and keyboards.

Do your part to prevent the spread of COVID-19.