Munroe says hospitals still strained due to low staff; warns people to remain vigilant

With new COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations the lowest they’ve been in months, Consultant General Surgeon Dr. Locksley Munroe yesterday warned the public to remain vigilant, as the healthcare system continues to be strained by low staff numbers.

“We are tending towards normalcy but, again, the pandemic is not over,” he said.

“The COVID problems here in our country are not over. So, there is a certain amount of care and safeguards that have to remain in place.

“So, even though we are coming back towards normalcy, that’s not quite where it is … what it used to be.”

Munroe added, “It’s still creating a problem that you don’t have adequate staffing to deal with what ought to be dealt with.

“Things have slowed up, so you would think that the number of staff [is OK].

“But once you begin to increase those numbers, you get back to the problem of manpower. We have material shortages, manpower shortages, and so forth and those have to be balanced. There is still a deficit as far as manpower is concerned.”

The Bahamas was under a state of emergency for 20 months, with strict measures put in place to help control the spread of COVID-19.

That state of emergency came to an end just over a week ago, with new rules put in place to replace the orders.

The new rules removed all curfews throughout The Bahamas.

At the time, Minister of Health Dr. Michael Darville said the public must still remain disciplined to prevent another surge in COVID cases.

Munroe noted yesterday that some countries are already seeing new surges, and warned that The Bahamas could soon be faced with a similar challenge.

“If you look at some of those countries in Europe … they are having a fourth wave,” Munroe said.

“… So, it’s a pandemic. It’s not a national epidemic.

“And I think from a national standpoint, we seem to reflect what is worldwide.

“So, yes, even though the numbers are going down at the moment … if you remain aware of the international circumstances, we are at risk for another set of problems.

“So, all the measures that are known to mitigate the problem should be definitely emphasized.”

Asked if he believes the public is being responsible, Munroe said no.

“Well, to be honest with you, some of the things I see, particularly when I’m traveling late at night, don’t synchronize with what would be considered good behavior,” he said.

“There are at least two sites that I pass on a regular basis that, basically, they are overcrowded with people; the parking lot is jammed. They are creating dangers with moving traffic and so forth.

“They are not really doing exactly what is recommended.

“Now, people need relief and all that. You can understand that. That’s a mental issue.

“But still, as I said, COVID is a real thing and it has the capacity to take your life, you know.

“So, one of the main things that have to be emphasized again by everybody, starting right from the five year olds straight up to the so-called competent authority, is that you need to continue practicing what it is that is known to stop this thing.

“If those numbers start to jump again, that’s going to create another burden on the system and then you are going to have to go back to those old methods where you have to shut down, stop elective clinics, and so on and so forth.” 

The post Munroe says hospitals still strained due to low staff; warns people to remain vigilant appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/munroe-says-hospitals-still-strained-due-to-low-staff-warns-people-to-remain-vigilant/