Category Archives: Bahamas

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Tribune Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

A TOTAL of 600 people in The Bahamas are being tracked through contact tracing for possible signs or symptoms of COVID-19, a new regional report has said.

While The Bahamas has only 10 reported cases of the virus to date (the latest case being confirmed later on Friday), a Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency situation report released on Friday said there are 761 cases confirmed in 29 countries in the Caribbean region.

The report was disseminated by the government and said 600 contacts being tracked.

A government spokesperson upon inquiry from The Tribune explained that the information came out of the Ministry of Healths Surveillance Unit. However, a top Ministry of Health official said it was unsure of the source of the information.

With its confirmed cases, The Bahamas has the fourth highest number of COVID-19 confirmations in the region.

Trinidad and Tobago has 65, Jamaica has 26, and Barbados has 24. The Cayman Islands also has eight confirmed cases.

The increase to nine in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country was confirmed on Thursday by Health Minister Dr Duane Sands. Before his announcement, the countrys coronavirus number stood at five.

The four additional cases are all in New Providence.

One of the new COVID-19 patients had a recent travel history, Dr Sands said. The four new cases are at home in isolation and do not need hospital care at this time, he added.

The most recently four confirmed cases are in New Providence, he said during a press conference at the Ministry of Health. Only one had recent travel history and that case had travelled to the Dominican Republic on the 13th of March.

All of the most recently confirmed four cases are in home isolation and they are being closely monitored by healthcare professionals, he said. They do not require hospitalisation at this time.

His comments came after officials revealed on Tuesday that a woman in Grand Bahama with no recent travel history had tested positive for the infectious disease, becoming the countrys first confirmed case of COVID-19 outside of New Providence. Up to press time, there was only one confirmed case in Grand Bahama.

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Report: 600 being tracked in The Bahamas for signs of COVID-19 - Bahamas Tribune

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Bahamas Striping Group of Companies (BSGC) has pitched in to assist government with its COVID-19 response readiness by supplying an assortment of protective gear to help prevent local spread of the virus.

We felt compelled to act. We are all being impacted by this global medical crises which has claimed the lives of more than 26,000 people and affected citizens in over 200 countries and territories around the world, according to WHO data, said BSGCs President Atario Mitchell.

It was importance for us to supply our frontline health care workers with sufficient protective gear. They need it, if they are to effectively manage coronavirus patients and not endanger their own lives while they work to detect, contain and treat this pandemic.

Mitchell said: Government cannot do this alone. It needs as much corporate support as possible to help shore up critical supplies given the global demand for personal protective equipment. We must safeguard medical professionals during this state of emergency.

BSGC will generously donate 10,000 surgical face masks, 8,000 medical gloves, 5,000 KN95 protective masks, 2,000 protective face shields and 200 protective suits to the public health care system. The goal is to protect the wearer from airborne particulates and from liquid contaminants.

The supplies were ordered Friday, March 27. The shipment is expected to arrive in the country during the second week of April.

As patriotic Bahamians, we recognize that we are all living under the threat of this global pandemic, said Dr Allen Albury, BSGCs managing director in a letter to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

Albury wrote: Covid-19 has no doubt unleashed an unprecedented challenge that governments and medical systems in first world nations are stretched beyond capacity and the death toll continues to rise. We could not sit idly by,

The companys donation is made on behalf of its Board of Directors, principals, management and staff.

Albury continued: In May, our company is set to celebrate its 10 year anniversary for which we had set aside a budget for our celebrations; however, given the widespread social and economic impact of this pandemic, we have directed resources from this budgetto assist the government in its fight against this deadly virus.

As of Sunday, 14 Bahamians have tested positive for COVID-19.

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Bahamas Striping donates protective gear to help combat COVID-19 - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS There have been some 760 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in up to 29 countries in the Caribbean region, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) latest situation report.

This comes as The Bahamas reports that it is tracking some 600 contacts.

Officials today confirmed the 10th case of the virus in the country a 59-year-old woman with a travel history to the United States and no links to the previous cases.

In its Thursday report on the outbreak in the Caribbean, CDEMA advised that 17 of its participating states record confirmed cases of the virus.

The risk of further importation of cases to the Caribbean Region remains very high, the organization said.

The aim for all countries now, is to stop transmission and prevent the spread of the virus.

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) report on Wednesday advised that up to 29 countries in the Caribbean region have reported the importation of at least one confirmed case of COVID-19

Those countries include, The Bahamas, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, the Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Suriname, Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy, Curacao, and St Marteen.

To date, there are 761 cases in 29 countries/territories (including 20 CARPHA Member States), in the Caribbean Region, CDEMA said.

The Regional Coordinating Mechanism for Health Security (RCM-HS), is actively working with Heads of Government and regional partners on a collective approach to the COVID-19 response.

Countries are strongly urged to strengthen their health sector response and move to a state of readiness and rapid response.

Nearly a third of the worlds population are living under coronavirus-related restrictions to slow the spread of the virus. Several countries throughout the Caribbean including The Bahamas have closed their borders to travel.

As of yesterday, the United States now has the most known cases worldwide, surpassing China and Italy which were considered epicenters of the virus.

Coronavirus cases in the U.S surpassed 100,000 with new hotspots popping up over the countrys 50 states. There have been over 1500 deaths thus far and over 350 recoveries.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Friday morning that he tested positive for coronavirus but that he would continue to head up his countrys fight against the pandemic.

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More than 700 COVID-19 cases in the region - EyeWitness News

Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands.

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Senior Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands announced the countrys first confirmed case of COVID-19 outside of New Providence Tuesday, a woman in Grand Bahama with no significant recent travel history.

The country now has five confirmed cases of the virus, with the first case, a 61-year-old New Providence woman, discharged from hospital Tuesday, he said.

Health officials said the Grand Bahama resident presented herself to the healthcare system with a mild respiratory illness and was tested after she developed shortness of breath.

She is currently doing well and is not hospitalised, they said.

Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis, health consultant to the Office of the Prime Minister, said the woman has no link to the first case.

For his part, Minister of State for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson urged residents of Grand Bahama not to panic. Your Grand Bahama health services coronavirus task force has been working along with the national task force to prepare for this eventuality, he said at the press conference.

Dr Sands emphasised that the restrictions Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced on Monday, including a 24-hour curfew, applies to all islands.

Anecdotally, Dr Sands said, the greatest concern was in New Providence but we want to be very clear that the regulations and recommendations which hold for New Providences apply to the entire Commonwealth of the Bahamas. This virus does not discriminate and we do not wish to see any of our citizens negatively impacted. In response to these initiatives, what we would like to see as we assess is an impactful reduction in community transmission and a net limit on the total number of cases and a minimal or zero deaths.

Mr Thompson said through his observation, Grand Bahama residents have been complying with Dr Minnis order.

For the most part what Ive observed are persons in Grand Bahama abiding by the first order put into place," Mr Thompson said. "Its too soon to say about the second order but weve been advised again by the Royal Bahamas Police Force who have been out and assessing the situation that persons have been complying. The important point to emphasise is we want persons to stay home unless it is absolutely necessary and (to leave home) only in the circumstances that the order speaks to.

Dr Dahl-Regis said officials anticipate a surge in coronavirus cases.

We look at the experiences from many countries, plus were studying the virus and its pathway, she said. Were also looking at the onset of the first case, new cases, addition of new cases, recovery time and mortality, that is the flow of the stages that is informing our response and preparation but based on a review of that, we anticipate (a surge) and its better to be prepared for it.

Dr Sands said nearly 200 people have been tested for COVID-19 so far. The first 300 of 10,000 ordered test kits have arrived in the country, he said, and an additional 2,500 kits are expected in New Providence by mid-week.

Dr Dahl-Regis said once the additional test kits arrive, officials will be better able to say how they will be used.

We certainly want to test more people, she said.

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UPDATED: Fifth case of COVID-19 is in Grand Bahama - Bahamas Tribune

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Bahamas native Dr Alexander Cartwright was voted in as the as the sixth president of the University of Central Florida on Wednesday by the Board of Governors of Floridas State University System.

Dr Cartwright, who officially begins as president on April 13, said that UCF has the potential to develop into a leading metropolitan research university and an integral part of Central Floridas business, technical, hospitality, creative and intellectual economies. Along with the development of facilities, he also wants to provide a supportive culture for both students and faculty.

Im here to serve all students. Every student deserves to have opportunity [and I] want to serve faculty and staff and the entire community to make sure all of us are as successful as possible, Cartwright told the Board of Governors. I believe we must empower people to do exceptional things. And I dont think of it just as empowering the leaders. For an institution to become exceptional, you must also empower the faculty, staff and students and allow them to make the institution better.

What I see at UCF is an intellectual and economic enterprise able to embrace and move the future forward for both individuals and society together we will make UCF the best version of UCF.

Cartwright, who has served as chancellor of the University of Missouri since 2017, was tapped by the UCF Board of Trustees last week, ending a six-month search process. The state board unanimously confirmed the appointment during a meeting that was held by teleconference because of coronavirus precautions.

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Bahamas native named UCF president - EyeWitness News

Repatriations suspended, those charged could be released with deferred sentencingMinister says immigration officers involved community engagement

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Minister of Immigration Elsworth Johnson yesterday warned permit holders in The Bahamas who breach the COVID-19 emergency orders, inclusive of the 24-hour curfew and social distancing measures, that there will be consequences, including a block on the renewal of their permits or status.

Fundamental to everything that we were doing is to really say to persons in every community, including Bahamians is that you cant congregate the way they were congregating, said Johnson, who was responding to questions from Eyewitness News regarding the arrest of a large group of church squatters in Abaco over the weekend.

In so far as we are still expected to enforce the immigration laws of The Bahamas to bring those things to peoples attention we are saying to persons who may have status by way of work permit, permanent residency or whatever have you: If you are found in breach of this order, we are going to take all of your information and at the end of the day separate and apart from facing a charge before the courts we will vigorously push for the revocation of your status.

This is a worldwide serious matter and if a non-national is affected, a Bahamian is affected. We are all in this boat, for everybody in The Bahamas, together. We want everybody to act reasonably and properly in this time and follow the orders

On Saturday morning, immigration officers arrested 109 people squatting at a church in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, that had previously been used to shelter displaced Hurricane Dorian survivors.

Officials said there were grave concerns about emergency COVID-19 measures being adhered to, namely social distancing and proper hygiene and sanitation practices, as well as adherence to the 24-hour curfew.

Johnson said the department understands that some have nowhere to go and officers will exercise common sense and due diligence in enforcing the emergency orders.

He said the department will uphold the rights and dignity of every resident; however, he reiterated The Bahamas maintains the right to self-determine.

What we are doing right now is trying to preserve the life of every person in The Bahamas, the minister said.

As we go along, we still have to guard the borders. We still have to ensure that nobody comes into the country who should not be here. We still have to be aware that while we are right-thinking persons, there are persons who are not right-thinking.

Johnson was also asked how the department has been processing illegal migrants.

He said given the limitation of the courts and emergency orders that mandate social distancing in an effort to prevent local spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), illegal migrants who are arrested could be released on bail to avoid sending additional people to government holding facilities, including the Department of Correctional Services.

He said the practice is nothing new, though it may not be an accustomed measure to some.

We know that the courts are now operating in accordance with the order and so, they have cut back, Johnson said.

And so, we fully appreciate that even if we take persons to the courts now, we ask for suspended sentences to take effect after there is a decline because you cant send persons out of the country.

What we also did was have the order read in Creole to the communities to help to educate them because we know one of our roles is to assist with educating.

He added: Obviously, we have to practice social distancing at the detention center, so it makes no sense to take you into custody, but we have every possible piece of information on you. We would release you and let you know that we will proceed by way of summons and if they ever try to make an application, we have all their fingerprints and everything.

They know when things ease up and this is not strange, as you see it happening in the U.S. If you cannot prosecute someone within a reasonable time, they release you into the community and tell you to come back. These are the times if which we find ourselves.

He said the same can apply to Bahamians who are charged for breaching the emergency orders.

The minister said the department understands that some have nowhere to go and officers will exercise common sense and due diligence in enforcing the emergency orders.

Johnson insisted the mandate of the department remains the same, but officers have been sensitized to the circumstances the nation and residents face, and have been actively performing community engagement to educate more vulnerable communities, including those in shantytowns across the country.

Originally posted here:

Johnson warns Immigration permits at stake for breach of COVID-19 orders - EyeWitness News

The Bahamas Ministry of Health confirms a new case of COVID-19 in Grand Bahama. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to eleven (11).

This latest case is a thirty-five (35) year old female with no history of travel, and no known links to previous cases. The newly confirmed case remains stable and is in isolation at home.

Health officials continue to follow the condition of the other ten (10) COVID-19 positive cases. None of the previous cases announced are in hospital, and all are in stable condition.

In view of the increasing numbers of COVID-19 positive cases, the Ministry of Health has decided to change the format of the COVID-19 Bahamas Dashboard to reflect the following statistics: Confirmed, Suspected and Recorded Cases will now be amended to Confirmed Cases; Current Persons in Quarantine Facility will now be amended to Total Persons in Quarantine. This new statistic will reflect the number persons in the Quarantine Facility and those persons who have been requested by a Ministry of Health-related health care provider to remain in self-quarantine; The Number of Persons Released from Quarantine will be omitted; The number of Recovered Cases and Deaths will be added to the new Dashboard.

Members of the public are reminded to follow the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Order announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis to reduce the spread of the virus, including physical distancing.

As part of the efforts to stay safe: stay at home; call your healthcare provider or the Surveillance Hotline if you are feeling ill and having fever and/or respiratory symptoms; frequently wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water; cover your mouth and nose with your inner elbow or with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then discard it; and refrain from touching your face.

The Ministry of Health will continue to provide regular updates to the public. For more information contact the Ministry of Healths COVID-19 Hotline at 376-9350 (8am-8pm) and 376-9387 (8pm 8am); 502-7382 or toll free 1-242-300-2619.

Information and updates on COVID-19 can also be found at the Ministrys website at https://www.covid19.gov.bs and The Bahamas Ministry of Health Facebook Page. Members of the public may also e-mail covid19@bahamas.gov.bs.

Source:Bahamas Ministry of Health28th March, 2020

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One More Confirmed Case of COVID-19 and Amendments to the Bahamas Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Dashboard - The Eleutheran

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Nearly $15 million in financial assistance has already been formally requested though the $20 million Small Business Continuity Loan Program, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K Peter Turnquest.

The program is being offered through the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC), and was launched last week.

It is designed to provideloans to small businesses, ranging from $5,000 to $300,000. Approved loans will have a payment grace period of four months.

As of Friday last week, 616 micro, small and medium sized businesses (MSMEs) registered for assistance with the SBDC, according to Turnquest.

Among that group, 382 businesses have completed the full application process.

These businesses represent 1,082 full-time employees and 243 part-time employees In total, they have formally requested approximately $14.88 million in financial assistance, said Turnquest.

He added: The $20 million allocated by the Government for MSMEs will ensure that all businesses who qualify have the support they need to protect their livelihoods and the families represented by their workforce. The SBDC has also been one of the lead advocates for the deferral of existing loan payments by commercial banks for entrepreneurs who may already have loans with lending institutions. I am pleased to advise that the Bahamas Development Bank, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), CIBC First Caribbean and Scotiabank have publicly pledged to defer loan payments for their business clientsalthough the terms differ by bank.

Turnquest noted that partnering financial institutions will facilitate the actual loan processing to include the vetting of the required information, the approvals, the issuing of funds, and the collection of payments after the four-month moratorium. These loans he said are earmarked for operating costs such as paying salaries, rent, insurance, utilities and inventory/supplies.

Existing small businesses companies operating with a valid business license for one year or more can apply to the program. To be part of the initiative, companies must agree to retain 51 per cent of their staff and agree to have credit information shared with the Credit Bureau and other banking and financial institutions in the future, said Turnquest.

He added: So far, the Bahamas Development Bank, the Bahamas Entrepreneurial Venture Fund, Cash N Go Ltd, Leno Corporate Services Ltd, Omni Financial Group Ltd, Simplified Lending Ltd, and Fidelity Bank Bahamas have agreed to participate in the program. Hundreds of applications have already started coming in through the SBDC.

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Nearly $15 million of $20 million small business loan programme requested to-date - EyeWitness News

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released several announcements following the governments decision to close the borders of The Bahamas, to all incoming passengers, effective March 27th, 2020, in reference to nationals of The Bahamas seeking to return to the country and to foreign nationals in The Bahamas seeking to return to their countries. See announcements below:COVID-19 Bahamas Border Closure:

Nationals of The Bahamas Seeking to Return Home

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs refers to the press release of the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), regarding the Governments decision to close the borders of The Bahamas, to all incoming passengers, effective 27 March. Planes can come empty to pick up passengers and leave.

It is realized that this is likely to result in the dislocation of Bahamian nationals and residents who are abroad and seeking to return home.

We urge you to make direct contact with the nearest Bahamian Embassy, High Commission or Honorary Consulate. The addresses can be found on mofa.gov.bs. If there is no office near you, please contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at mofaconsular@bahamas.gov.bs or dgmfa@bahamas.gov.bs or mofabahamas@bahamas.gov.bs.

Bahamian Nationals Abroad in Distress or Seeking to Return to The Bahamas

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to advise the general public that if you have family members abroad who are Bahamian nationals in distress or seeking to return to The Bahamas, you should make direct contact with the nearest Bahamas Embassy, High Commission, Consulate General or Honorary Consulate.

A complete list of these offices can be found on the Ministrys website mofa.gov.bs.

The Ministry wishes to advise further that, if there are no Bahamian Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates General or Honorary Consulates in the region where family members are currently located, then, contact should be made with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at mofaconsular@bahamas.gov.bs or dgmfa@bahamas.gov.bs or mofabahamas@bahamas.gov.bs or 1-242 827-3106.

Foreign Nationals in The Bahamas Seeking to Return to Their Countries

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to advise the general public that foreign nationals residing in The Bahamas, who are in distress or seeking to return to their country should make direct contact with their respective Embassy/High Commission or Honorary Consulate located in The Bahamas.

Foreign nationals who are not represented in The Bahamas should make contact with the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for information on how to contact their Embassy/High Commission or Honorary Consulate.

The Consular Division can be reached at mofaconsular@bahamas.gov.bs or dgmfa@bahamas.gov.bs.Source:Ministry of Foreign AffairsNassau, The Bahamas27 March 2020

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MFA advice to Bahamian Nationals abroad and Foreign Nationals in country after Bahamas border closure - The Eleutheran

Sovereign: Queen Elizabeth II (1952)

Governor-General: Dame Marguerite Pindling (2014)

Prime Minister: Perry Christie (2012)

Land area: 3,888 sq mi (10,070 sq km); total area: 5,382 sq mi 13,940 sq km)

Population (2014 est.): 321,834 (growth rate: 0.87%); birth rate: 15.65/1000; infant mortality rate: 12.5/1000; life expectancy: 71.93

Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Nassau, 254,000

Monetary unit: Bahamian dollar

Languages: English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Ethnicity/race: black 90.6%, white 4.7%, black and white 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)

Religions: Protestant 69.9% (includes Baptist 34.9%, Anglican 13.7%, Pentecostal 8.9% Seventh Day Adventist 4.4%, Methodist 3.6%, Church of God 1.9%, Brethren 1.6%), Roman Catholic 12%, other Christian 13% (includes Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), other 0.6%, none 1.9%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.)

National Holiday: Independence Day, July 10

Literacy rate: 95.6% (2011 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2013 est.): $8.373 billion; per capita $32,000. Real growth rate: 1.9%. Inflation: 1% (2011 est.). Unemployment: 16.2%. Arable land: 0.65%. Agriculture: citrus, vegetables; poultry. Labor force: 196,900 (2011); agriculture 3%, industry 11%, tourism 49%, other services 37% (2011 est.). Industries: tourism, banking, cement, oil transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe. Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber, arable land. Exports: $960 million (2013 est.): mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit and vegetables. Imports: $3.245 billion (2013 est.): machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals. Major trading partners: U.S., South Korea, Dominican Republic, India, Singapore, Ecuador, Colombia, China, Canada, Switzerland (2012).

Member of Commonwealth of Nations

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 137,00 (2012); mobile cellular: 254,000 (2012). Broadcast media: 2 TV stations operated by government-owned, commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB); multi-channel cable TV subscription service is available; about 15 radio stations operating with BCB operating a multi-channel radio broadcasting network alongside privately owned radio stations (2007). Internet hosts: 20,661 (2012). Internet users: 115,800 (2012).

Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 2,717 km; (2011). Ports and harbors: Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point. Airports: 61 (2013).

International disputes: disagrees with the US on the alignment of the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary.

Major sources and definitions

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Bahamas | Facts, History & News