Biminites ‘Behaviour’ Resulted in 2-Week Lock-down
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Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis said a surveillance team observed the behavior of the islanders; the lockdown was unavoidable
Task Force Coordinator and the Prime Minister’s Special Adviser Merceline Dahl-Regis said health officials tried to avoid the two week lock=down of Bimini, but the unchanged behavior of the islanders prompted government to initiate the new measure for the island.
Prime Minister Hubert Minnis announced the 2-week lockdown at a press conference yesterday. He said the lock-down was implemented after consultation with health officials and other officials on Bimini, to control the community spread of COVID-19.
Speaking at Friday’s press conference, Dr. Dahl Regis said, “We thought that we could avoid the lock-down in Bimini if we had containment or if we were able to prevent the spread.”
She stated that two weeks ago, a surveillance health team was sent to Bimini to investigate the COVID-19 situation and to observe the isolation and quarantine protocols on the island.
Dr. Dahl Regis said their observation of the islanders resulted in stringent measures.
“When they (surveillance team) came back, the team reported that the behavior of the Biminites would not likely result in mitigation from the spread of COVID-19 as we wish.”
She said her team conducted a town hall meeting via ZOOM and the islanders promised to change behaviours.
But when two more cases arose on the small island, a lock-down was inevitable.
“When we got two more cases, we know we had to do a lockdown,” she said.
Dr. Dahl Regis said Administrator Cleola Pinder and other relevant persons on Bimini, support the lockdown measure.
To date, the island has 13 confirmed cases.
The country’s first COVID-19 related death occurred on that island.
The lockdown will commence on Monday, May 18th at 9:30pm until Saturday, May 30th at midnight.
