COVID-19 is Hitting the Islands Hard

The islands of the Bahamas are seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases as the country battles the second wave of the infectious disease.

On Thursday 12th, there were 39 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 7,163. Total COVID-19 hospitalizations are currently on a downward trend and now at 23.

Cases and hospitalization have lessened in New Providence, but they are rising in GrandBahama, Bimini, Eleuthera, Abaco, Exuma, and Andros.

Grand Bahama

• Grand Bahama recorded 38 new confirmed cases in one day.
• It was noted that 26 of these cases originated from employee interactions in the workplace. These employees work in the industrial sector as an electrical team.
• 12 contracted the virus at a gaming house.
• The island has 874 total cases.

Bimini

• A large church convention is the cause of 15 new cases on that island.
• One individual had severe symptoms and was airlifted to New Providence.
• Other individuals are awaiting the results from the swab test.
• Bimini and Cat cay have a total of 63 cases.

Eleuthera

• There is one new death on the island. Total death for Eleuthera is now 4.
• The COVID-19 affected population of Eleuthera is relatively young. 23% of those infected with COVID-19 cases were between
  the ages of 30 and 39.
• Most COVID-19 cases are occurring in the Central and South areas of the island.
• A total of 130 cases are on Eleuthera.
• Cases are connected to socialization at bars, beaches, church, and attendance at funerals.
• The island is under a 24-hour weekend curfew, a weekday curfew from 6 pm to 5 am, and other restrictive measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19 on mainland Eleuthera.

Abaco

• There are 180 cases on the island; one percent of the population has contracted the virus.
• There are reports of 1 case per day for the last 30 days.

Exuma

• On the 9th of November, the cases in Exuma increased by 12 in one day.
• In less than one week, cases climbed from 43 to 80 cases.
• The island is under a 24-hour weekend curfew, a weekday curfew from 6 pm to 5 am, and other restrictive measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19 on mainland Exuma.
• As of the 12th November, the total number of confirmed cases on the island of Exuma is 80.

Andros

• Cases are in the areas of Nicholls Town to Kemp’s Bay.
• A total of 18 cases are on the island.

In all, there are 1,666 active cases, and 90 persons have been recently classified as recovered from COVID-19. This brings the total number of recoveries to 5,282, for a recovery rate of 73.7%.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths now stands at 155. NonCOVID related deaths are at 30. Thirty deaths remain under investigation.

A total of 39,379 tests have been carried out for COVID-19. 342 tests were performed yesterday, with 39 positives and 285 negatives. 18 tests were repeated to determine recoveries.