Hurricane shelters will have designated isolation areas for individuals who present with COVID-19 symptoms, according to Director of Social Services Lillian Quant-Forbes.
Her comments came as The Bahamas braces for a tropical storm this weekend, while experiencing scores of new COVID-19 cases.
Forecasters issued a tropical storm warning for the southeastern islands, saying a broad area of low pressure may become Tropical Storm Isaias.
Acting Director of Meteorology Trevor Basden said supporting mechanisms do not indicate a rapid intensification of the storm.
“To be honest with you, when it comes to track forecasting, the models are very good,” said Basden at a press conference at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) headquarters on Gladstone Road.
“When it comes to intensification, as you are alluding to, they are not very good. But, noting what happened with Dorian, the scientists tweaked the models and we’re trying to get it all right; obviously, this came to mind that, ‘What if?’
“But, for the most part, we’re looking at a 75 percent probability that this would not develop into even a hurricane.”
He described the storm as a “rainmaker”, noting that some islands will start to feel its effects as early as today.
Quant-Forbes encouraged residents to stay at home if it can sustain the projected systems.
She noted that necessary health protocols will be implemented for individuals who find it necessary to seek shelter.
When asked how social distancing would work in the shelters, Quant-Forbes replied, “What we have had to do is identify the schools, which have smaller classrooms, rather than having a large amount of persons in the various gymnasiums of the schools. So, with the classrooms, it means that we have to limit the amount of persons in each classroom.
“And so, the social distancing is still in effect for the three to six feet to be able to accommodate persons and for them to have the safe zone.
“I’d say here, too, that my staff at the Department of Social Services and our volunteers have been working and, as a matter of fact, we are still working with dealing with shelters from Hurricane Dorian (which struck last fall) and wrapping that up. In terms of answering the question for the social distancing, that protocol will still be in place with the three to six feet.”
She said there will be medical personnel at all shelters and temperature checks will be conducted, as individuals enter the shelters.
Since March 15, 484 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in The Bahamas.
Three hundred and eighty of those cases were confirmed in July alone.
Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has declared Grand Bahama a hotspot and ordered a two-week island lockdown, which is expected to end on August 7.
He has also implemented a series of restrictions, including a 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. national curfew and weekend lockdowns for the next two weeks.
Asked whether individuals would be allowed to leave their homes during a lockdown to seek shelter, Ministry of Disaster Preparedness Permanent Secretary Carl Smith said, “[If] there is a need to use shelters, then, obviously, the relevant authority will announce the adjustments. NEMA will make the announcements with respect to the need for people to move.
“We are realistic people. We work together. We don’t work as individual selves and we are reasonable, flexible and realistic. We are on the ground. We know what realities are, what is possible, what is unlikely.
“We have everyone’s interests at heart.”
The post Social distancing will be enforced at hurricane shelters, officials say appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/2020/07/30/social-distancing-will-be-enforced-at-hurricane-shelters-officials-say/
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