Bimini Is New ‘Hotspot’ Bahamas
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Dr. Duane Sands gives alarming statistics on the COVID-19 spread in the country
Health Minister Duane Sands said the quaint island of Bimini has emerged as the COVID19 ‘hotspot’ of the Bahamas.
Speaking in the House of Assembly on Monday, Dr. Sands said, “What is extremely notable is that Bimini has emerged as a hot spot for the COVID-19 virus.”
To date, Bimini confirmed 9 coronavirus cases.
It is believed that one of the latest cases in Bimini is a close relative of the country’s first COVID-19 death.
On Saturday, Ministry of Health officials revealed 5 confirmed cases on the island.
A local daily revealed that 4 of the recent victims lived with an elderly couple who tested positive for the virus last week.
Dr. Sands presented statistics on the virus spread in the country.
“As of April 26th, we have had a total of 80 confirmed cases, with 11 lives lost.
“When I last spoke in this honorable house, we were at 29 cases. Twenty-one days later, the total number of 80 cases represent a 121% increase over the last report.
He continued, “Of the total cases, 22 have recovered and 47 remain active. As may be expected, most of the cases, 64 are in New Providence accounting for 80% of all cases.”
He added that Grand Bahama accounted for 7 cases while and Bimini and Cat Cay accounted for 9 cases.
Dr. Sands revealed that females account for 48% of all cases although 36% of deaths.
He said most cases, both sexes, fall in the age group 40-59 years and the case fatality ratio now stands at 13.8%.
Dr. Sands said data on the outbreak, supports the view that the spread of COVID-19 in the Bahamas is occurring mostly through community transmission with only one imported case early in the outbreak and 4 import-related cases.
“The remaining 75 cases have all been determined to have occurred through spread of the virus within the country.
Sands said of the 80 cases, there are 32 or 40% males and 48 or 60% males.
He said, currently, 8 of the 80 confirmed cases are hospitalized in serious or critical condition at Doctor’s Hospital West and are carefully being monitored.
