#Nassau, The Bahamas – Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis today in a live update on COVID-19 announced three more confirmed cases of the virus and plans to extend the state of emergency until 8 April.
This
brings to 14 the total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed to date. Two have
been confirmed in Grand Bahama and the remaining cases are on New Providence.
Two of
the COVID-positive individuals have been admitted to Doctor’s Hospital, Blake
Road. All other cases are doing well, said Prime Minister Minnis.
“We have
seen a doubling of confirmed cases over the last four days. We anticipate more
cases in a short period of time over the coming 20 days,” said the Prime
Minister.
“This
means we must increase our efforts to restrict the spread of this virus and to
save lives.”
Prime
Minister Minnis said that the Ministry of Health’s Surveillance Unit has
started the process of mapping COVID-19 cases to help identify clusters of
cases and to inform the Ministry’s strategy to mitigate the spread of the virus
in communities.
This
will help to identify cases early and decrease the need for hospital-based
services, said the Prime Minister.
“It is
critical that each and every one of us take personal responsibility and do
everything in our power to reduce the spread of this virus,” said Prime
Minister Minnis.
“The
Government will continue to closely monitor the increases in cases on a daily
basis and respond accordingly.”
The
Prime Minister explained that the Government’s response to COVID-19 is guided
by the analysis and advice provided by the health professionals coordinating
the response to the coronavirus.
When the
House of Assembly meets tomorrow, MPs are expected to deal with a Resolution that
will ask for approval for the continuance of a state of emergency inclusive of
the emergency powers and authority in the two orders, extending the Emergency
Proclamation for an additional eight days to 8 April.
“We must avoid speculation
and rely on health officials to continue to advise where the country is in the
fight against COVID-19,” said Prime Minister Minnis.
“As Prime Minister and
as a medical doctor I will act based on the facts and the best medical and
scientific information possible.”
To help
stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives, additional measures will be
introduced, said Prime Minister Minnis.
Individuals
aged 75 and older are asked not to leave their homes. Those between the ages of
65 and 74 should work from home.
Each household should
have one designated shopper, said the Prime Minister.
Grocery stores with
the capability will be encouraged to activate online shopping platforms to
reduce the number of people having to come into their stores for food and
supplies and the length of time customers have to spend in the store.
The Government will
introduce a food shopping schedule. Shopping days and times will be
designated based on the first letter of person’s last name. More
details will be released this week, said Prime Minister Minnis.
“This measure is
intended to reduce the number of people on the road and to reduce the number of
people at grocery stores at any one time,” said the Prime Minister who stressed
that the country’s food supplies are well stocked and that there is no need for
panic buying.
Pharmacies will be
allowed to operate from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Landscaping and property maintenance
businesses and janitorial service businesses will be allowed to operate on
Saturday and Sunday only.
Pool maintenance
businesses will be allowed to operate on Friday and Saturday only.
All street or roadside
vendors will be prohibited from operating. This does not include newspaper
vendors who should remain at one location.
All
public parks will be closed effective 9am Tuesday, 31 March.
“For
us to overcome as a country we must work as one united citizen army in this
fight,” said Prime Minister Minnis. “We are now a citizen army, fighting this
threat together.”