Bahamas to move to level three on CDC travel advisory list

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to move The Bahamas from a level four to a level three on its travel health advisory notice, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pearl McMillan said on Friday.

“Just as I was on my way to join minister and colleagues here, I received a notification from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA),” McMillan said during a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister.

“We work closely with them regarding the CDC travel advisory and, as we all know, we would have been at a level four. The notification, actually it was a congratulatory notification to say that we have been now downgraded to a three based on the data we recently submitted.

“So, I think the minister wanted me to say that, so here we are. I would say we have to continue to do what we are doing as a country, so that we can continue to either move down that ladder but definitely not go back up to a four.”

She said the CDC amends its travel notice using a combination of indicators. 

Those indicators include new case count and new cases trajectory over 28 consecutive days – two incubation periods, a CDC spokesperson previously said.

“CDC’s case counts are based on surveillance data reported to the World Health Organization and CDC continues to review these primary criteria daily,” the spokesperson said.

“Once primary criteria for THN (travel health notice) de-escalation (case count and new case trajectory have decreased or are stable) are met, CDC evaluates secondary criteria.

“If a review of the secondary criteria shows the destination’s healthcare capacity and public health infrastructure are consistent with the primary criteria data, the THN is lowered to the appropriate level.”

The chief medical officer said The Bahamas regularly reports COVID-related information.

She said the downgrade was the result of a report submitted “a day or two ago”.

As of yesterday, the change was not reflected on the CDC’s website.

The Bahamas was moved to a level four – very high COVID-19 – on the CDC’s travel health notice in August as The Bahamas grappled with record-breaking COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations. 

That same month, the United States Department of State advised Americans against travel to The Bahamas due to the country’s COVID situation.

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