Wells touts gains in COVID fight

Minister of Health Renward Wells yesterday touted the country’s continued success in the fight against COVID-19, noting that the current situation is “fantastic”, but stating that the government will know in roughly two weeks’ time whether more restrictive measures are necessary to curb the spread of the coronavirus in The Bahamas.

“Our numbers still look good,” Wells told reporters outside Cabinet.

“And you know the virus has a 14-day incubation period. So, whatever you do, you don’t see it for anywhere from seven to 14 days. So we will be looking maybe at the second week in January as to whether as a people, whether we have been naughty or nice.”

Wells added, “We are currently not looking at [restrictive measures], because as I said the numbers are under 10 [new cases a day]. We will be monitoring it and keeping an eye on it. We’re looking at our 

hospitalization rate, which is still down.

“So, overall, the health circumstance in the country with regards to COVID is fantastic. What it will be like in about two weeks? We’re obviously going to keep monitoring that.”

Yesterday, health officials reported an additional four cases, all on New Providence. Numbers are down significantly from when they peaked in September, however.

On September 9, Wells said The Bahamas had witnessed “a more vicious and tenacious spread of the virus” during the second wave.

This was further noticed by the confirmation of 2,745 new cases and 49 deaths in September, which was the month when the highest number of COVID-19 cases was confirmed.

As of yesterday, a total of 7,846 cases were confirmed, but there have been 6,177 recoveries.

Hospitalizations are down to 14. At its peak, which was October 22, there were 122 cases hospitalized.

The competent authority has left some measures in place in an effort to prevent community spread of the virus, particularly over the holiday period when families gather and other social events traditionally occur.

Wells said yesterday there are no plans to use lockdown measures unless there is an uncontrolled spread of COVID and high positivity rates.

“We only go to lockdowns when the positivity rate is so large that we need to shut the nation down in order to get our hands around the virus,” he said.

As numbers of confirmed COVID cases decreased in recent weeks, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced the relaxation of a number of measures ahead of the holidays.

Notably, the emergency order allows social gatherings with up to 10 people on New Providence between December 23 and January 3.

Wells yesterday urged Bahamians to be responsible.

“I don’t want to jinx our situation in the country,” he said.

“…I’m hoping that we don’t end up with a third wave. So far, the numbers have been very good in regards to COVID. Our numbers are below 10 with regards to the number of cases presenting on a daily basis. And we’re seeking to be able to keep the good work, the gains that we would have gained over the past four, five months.

“And so, I’m just asking the Bahamian people – I know it’s the festive season, I know it’s the holiday season, we know you want to connect with family – but let’s do so in a way that’s safe so that at the end of the day, all of us can continue to move through this period having the kind of festivities that we would want to have and not have the blowback from not having done what we needed to do as a people.”

The post Wells touts gains in COVID fight appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/wells-touts-gains-in-covid-fight/