As COVID-19 cases rise to threatening levels, Prime Minister Philip Davis acknowledged that the country is entering a new phase in the pandemic.
Health officials reported 818 new cases on Friday and 291 new cases on Saturday.
With COVID-19 cases spreading like wildfire, Bahamians expected much from Davis’ speech on Sunday but many were left disappointed as he announced nothing new. He reiterated his government’s plan to implement widespread testing using the Rapid Antigen Tests and issue medical-grade masks to the public, which was a promise made on the campaign trail.
He seemed to have surrendered to the virus, telling Bahamians that “all of us will be affected…We will see high counts.”
He asked, “How ready will your body be to fight off the virus?”
Davis said a vast majority of Bahamians will become infected by the virus as the Delta and Omicron strains roam.
While a large portion of the Bahamian population remains unvaccinated, Davis warned that they will be ‘hit hardest’ in the new phase of the infectious virus.
Experts have described Omicron as more transmissible than Delta but less severe.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organisation warned that “while the new strain appears to be less severe when compared to Delta, in people vaccinated, it should be not be categorized as ‘mild.’
“Just like previous variants, Omicron is hospitalizing people and it is killing people,” Ghebreyesus stressed.
Davis said Bahamians should double masks until his government can issue the medical-grade masks, and limit time spent indoors.
“We’re in the hardest days of it.
“We can weather the storm together,” Davis summed up.