Bahamas News
Hundreds of animals swabbed in the mission to find Covid-19 origin
April 2, 2021 – The World Health Organization on Tuesday presented the people of the planet with the report on the investigation into the origin of the SARS CoV-2 or Covid-19 virus and over the 120 pages, one thing is very clear – the joint team tested thousands of animals but still have no clue where precisely the virus came from.
The world’s sharpest minds were recruited and included senior professionals in epidemiology, data science, laboratory, food safety, animal health and veterinary epidemiology from 10 member countries including the UK, USA, Sudan, Japan, Germany, Viet Nam, the Russian Federation, Denmark and Australia plus 17 experts from China who between January 14 and February 10 visited 10 sites only to reveal there is still no clue about the start of this pandemic.
The Coronavirus has led to 128 million people being infected, 2.8 million deaths including 17 recorded in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Intriguing was that the virus, which is believed to have caused the earliest symptoms on December 8, 2019 in Wuhan may have been spread mainly by children. Charts in the report indicate, children under 15 were highest for symptoms in the latter part of December 2019 in the Chinese province.
Hospital visits and over the counter medicine purchases surged during the period informed the report.
Also interesting, that bats are not the conclusive source and that it could be some stolen Malayan pangolins or farmed minks or stray cats which caused the spillover infection, which is the transmission of the virus from animal to human.
The kinds of animals tested for the virus were many including 188 species at the Huanan Market in Hubei. Snakes, hedgehogs, pigs, turtles, rats, mouse, rabbits, a sheep, wild boar, weasels, chicken, dogs and crocodiles were all swabbed and tested; they were all negative for Covid-19.
It was the same result for the test results of 26,807 animal samples retroactively collected and tested from 24 provinces between 2019-2020 in China.
The study was labelled “fascinating” and “exciting” by its lead, Dr. Peter Embarek, who asked for patience amidst pressure from journalists at the press conference, held virtually. The global media core was incessant in its quest for conclusive findings on the origin of the virus, but the curious were repeatedly told it may take many more months, even years before the precise starting point is determined.
Head of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus commented that the theory suggesting coronavirus could have been cooked-up in a lab and escaped the premises is not off the table, though all sides have suggested that scenario is “unlikely”.
The point of the investigation into the pandemic is to find out what happened, why it happened and to prevent it happening again.
Bahamas News
Over 68,000 STAYED HOME in Bahamas Elections; We have BEST and WORST for Voter Participation
#TheBahamas, September 21, 2021 – Prime Minister the Hon. Philip Davis today introduced the first set of new Cabinet ministers with portfolios covering the Attorney General, Foreign Affairs, Education, Works and Public Utilities, Health and Wellness, Government Affairs, Agriculture, National Security and Legal Affairs.
The nine ministers were sworn-in on Monday 20 September 2021 by Governor-General the Most Hon. Sir Cornelius A. Smith during ceremonies held at the Baha Mar Convention Center.
“They are the initial members of a Cabinet which will reflect the breadth and depth of the competencies and characteristics of our team: experience combined with innovation; expertise combined with a willingness to see things anew; integrity and a strong sense of purpose,” said Prime Minister Davis.
“They are receiving these appointments because of their determination to get things done.”
Among the new Ministers sworn-in on Monday were:
- Senator the Hon. L. Ryan Pinder, Attorney General;
- Hon. Fred Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service;
- Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education, and Technical and Vocational Training;
- Hon. Alfred Sears, Minister of Works and Utilities;
- Dr. Hon. Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness;
- Senator the Hon. Michael Halkitis, Minister of Government Affairs and Leader of Government Business in the Senate;
- Hon. Clay Sweeting, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs;
- Hon. Wayne Munroe, Minister of National Security; and
- Hon. Jomo Campbell, Minister of State for Legal Affairs.
“I am confident that these first-appointed members of our Cabinet team are ready to deliver on the promise of a New Day for our Bahamas,” said the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Davis pledged to move with urgency to address the economic and health crises that are faced by The Bahamas.
Many thousands of Bahamians are out of work, people are losing too many loved ones to the COVID-19 virus and Bahamian schoolchildren are falling behind, said Prime Minister Davis.
“I want to be clear: we are not here to tinker at the edges of these problems,” said the Prime Minister.
“We are here to meet them head on.”
#TheBahamas, September 19, 2021 – During his ceremonial swearing-in today as the nation’s fifth Prime Minister, Hon. Philip Davis pledged to govern in the interests of all Bahamians and to consult widely with the Bahamian people.
The best way to make progress as a nation is to bring people together, said Prime Minister Davis, who was presented with his instruments of Office in ceremonies held at the Baha Mar Convention Centre, on Saturday 18 September 2021.
Prime Minister Davis was officially sworn in as Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas on Friday 17 September 2021 at the Office of the Governor General.
“We will uphold the constitution and the rule of law, and ensure that everyone is treated fairly, so that it’s not one rule for one set of people, and another for another set of people,” said the Prime Minister.
“There is much work to be done; but I know that by working together we can succeed and build the kind of prosperous, independent Bahamas that our founding fathers dreamed for us.”
Prime Minister Davis said that while there are big challenges ahead for The Bahamas, his team has the right vision and policies to take the country forward.
The Prime Minister said the new administration is coming into office at a time when the Bahamian people are hurting as never before.
The country faces many crises due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an economy in decline and deeply concerning challenges in education, said Prime Minister Davis.
If everyone works together towards a common purpose, in the common interest and for the common good, great things are possible for The Bahamas and its people, said the Prime Minister.
But no government can do great things on its own, Prime Minister Davis added.
“I am sure that my government can only succeed if we partner with the Bahamian people,” said the Prime Minister.
“We are going to listen, we are going to consult widely and we are going to bring people together.”
_
18 September 2021
Office of the Prime Minister
Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Contact: opmcommunications@bahamas.gov.bs
Website: opm.gov.bs
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