Health and tourism officials trying to seek reopening balance

Health officials are defending the government’s decision to reopen The Bahamas’ tourism industry despite a national COVID-19 positivity rate that is more than four times what is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

A country’s positivity rate should remain at five percent or lower for at least 14 days before it reopens, according to the WHO.

The Bahamas’ COVID positivity rate has not dropped below 15 percent since mid-August. It currently stands at 21 percent.

“When you speak about the recommendations, I think each sovereign country will have to weigh what the requirements are in their particular country,” Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pearl McMillan said.

“The Bahamas, as the minister alluded to a few moments ago, we are a tourism-dependent country and we have to balance the whole public health concerns with being about to open up the economy.

“Now, the recommendation of five percent, we take it for what it is and certainly, as alluded to, we will be seeking to enhance the capacities and look at ways that we can safely do what is required to ensure that the people of The Bahamas are in a position to maintain their livelihoods.

“We have to balance lives with livelihoods. This is not a very good position that public health finds itself in our country.”

Minister of Health Renward Wells noted a lot of countries, especially First World nations with manufacturing capabilities and financial viability, have positivity rates that would be “considered challenging” by the WHO.

He said countries are seeking to be able to “find the best fit”.

“…The Bahamas government has taken a decision that we’re seeking to open up our economy more so around November 1,” Wells said.

“Health and tourism are working to create what we would call sort of bubbles. I think you would have seen some of that in regards to the NBA championship and what is taking place within the football arena where you try to carve out a space where you’d try to keep that place as safe and sterile as possible for persons to be able to able to operate within that space.

“And so, we do believe that we can get solutions that both allow us to have some sort of economic viability while also seeking to address and flatten the curve of COVID going forward.”

The government has introduced new travel requirements ahead of the reopening of the tourism sector next month.

The new protocols will require visitors and returning citizens and residents to obtain an RT-PCR test no more than seven days prior to their travel to The Bahamas.

A rapid antigen test will be conducted upon arrival and then again four days (96 hours) after arrival in The Bahamas.

A second test will not be required for travelers who are departing on day five.

The post Health and tourism officials trying to seek reopening balance appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/health-and-tourism-officials-trying-to-seek-reopening-balance/