Bahamas: Government to implement nationwide weekend lockdown July 24 /update 9

Event

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis announced on Friday, July 24, that a weekend lockdown will be in effect nationwide amid a recent increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases. The lockdown will be in effect from 22:00 (local time) on Friday until 05:00 on Monday, July 27. During the lockdown, only grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations will be permitted to operate and people will only be allowed to leave their residence to purchase food. From Monday, a curfew from 19:00 to 05:00 will be in effect.  

As of Wednesday, July 22, international commercial flights and commercial vessels carrying passengers are not permitted to enter the Bahamas, with the exception of commercial flights from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, but only after presenting proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 10 days of their arrival. No ferry services will be operating between East End, Grand Bahama Island, and Abaco.

Bahamian authorities announced that the country's borders will be closed to US travelers from July 22 due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the US. Any Americans still on the islands will be allowed to leave after that date under special accommodations.

As of Friday, July 24, 274 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Bahamas, with 11 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.