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Monkeypox is suspected to be in the country following the arrival of a British tourist to the country.

Minister of Health Michael Darville said samples have been retrieved from the man who is in isolation.

The man believed to be in his 40s, arrived in Nassau on British Airways.

If confirmed, it would be the first case for the Caribbean region.

How do you catch it?

Monkeypox is akin to chickenpox and spreads when the infected person is in close contact with others. The virus enters the body through the respiratory tract, broken skin, or through the eyes, nose, or mouth.

It can be contracted from contaminated bedding and clothing and infected animals such as monkeys, rodents, and squirrels.

The virus has been detected among gay men though anyone can contract it. Experts said it’s not known why a higher proportion of cases is among men from the homosexual commuity.

New guidance issued, advises against engaging in sex while infected or showing symptoms; or as a precaution, use condoms for eight weeks after infection.

As COVID-19 rage across the globe and health officials worry that Omicron could be in the country, the Ministry of Health announced that the reopening of private and public schools will be delayed another two weeks after the Christmas break.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Health and Wellness Minister Michael Darville said though schools were expected to reopen fully on January 11, officials deferred the face-to-face learning.

“In our view, it is not a good thing to reopen schools in the middle of a pandemic. We will wait and act with a degree of caution. When we open, we will open to stay open,” he said.

Big story

The reopening of schools sparked a public debate during the pandemic.  Schools in the country have been shut to face-to-face learning for nearly two years as the country battled the pandemic.

The Ministry of Health implemented a hybrid learning format to accommodate students’ learning. However, some students were being left behind and not logging onto the virtual platform.

Why it matters

The country is in the fourth wave of the pandemic, battling a spur of daily, new cases. Officials believe the Omicron virus is the country though not confirmed. They are awaiting lab results from Panama.

They have ruled New Providence as the epicenter of the virus and the crux of the sharp increase in cases is in the capital.

Christmas day, a record, breaking number of 330 cases were reported, which was a combination of cases over a few days.  85 cases were recorded on December 26; 159 cases on December 27; 65 cases on December 28;

What Minister of Education Glenny’s Hanna Martin says

Newly-appointed Minister of Education Glennys Hanna-Martin said her ministry accelerated works to quickly reopen schools, but the pandemic halted its plans.

She said the ministry will act on the advice of health officials.

“We will monitor it, come back to the table, assess where we are. That’s where we are at this moment.”

State of Play

All schools including preschools and daycares will continue virtual learning after the Christmas break.

Health Minister Michael Darville absconded blame for the arrival of Holiday Carnival into the country as health officials worry about the increase of COVID-19 cases on the verge of Omicron, the new strain.

Darville faced criticism for permitting the carnival rides, but he said he did not.

The health minister said owners of the Holiday Carnival made an application to his ministry to host the event from December to January. But his ministry only “acknowledged  the application and gave recommendations on how to improve the COVID19 protocols,” adding that the ministry is still awaiting a response from the owners.

The trailers and equipment for the amusement park are set up at Clifford Park, but Darville said his ministry is not responsible for “the importation… of non-medical items.”

At the last parliamentary house sitting, former Prime Minister and Killarney MP Hubert Minnis raised concerns about Carnival since children who represent the largest number of unvaccinated people in the country, will be attracted to the activities.

“Did he get approval from the medical professionals? Because I find it very difficult under these circumstances with such a virulent virus rampant throughout the world, that they would approve such an activity at this particular point in time.”

“Who authorized it to come in?…There has been some breach or violation of protocol with this carnival which is very dangerous under the circumstances of the Omicron virus,” Minnis said.

Darville responded that the proprietors needed to meet additional requirements before “the final decision to be made.”

Darville continued, “I’m unware if those requirements arrived to the committee.” He said as of 1pm on Thursday there was no approval given.