Health

Minister Renward Wells has expressed satisfaction with the rapid decline in

COVID-19 cases in The Bahamas, which he said is due to the government’s  action and the diligent and hard work of the

healthcare sector, as well as the adherence of protocols by Bahamians.

“We note

that there has been a reduction in the average number of cases from

approximately 90 cases per day down to 45 cases per day over the past week,”

Wells said in a statement.

“Over the

past two days, we have recorded 21 and 24 cases per day respectively.  It is noted that this reduction is by no

means a result of a decrease in the number of tests performed,” he said, adding

that the National Testing Protocol has not changed.

He

continued: “Our experience has been that predominantly those who are

symptomatic present for testing. Contacts of positive cases are tested only if

they become symptomatic.”

Wells said

that at the height of the second wave of the virus, the Hubert Minnis

government took “direct and decisive action”, including curfews.

He said the

positivity rate over the past two weeks has declined from 32 to 12 per cent and

that a higher percentage suggests a higher transmission of the virus.

“Hence, a

lower percentage suggests that the rate of transmission has been reduced by one

third.  The WHO (World Health

Organisation) recommends that the positivity rate remains below five per cent. All

indicators being monitored by the Ministry of Health point to success in

mitigating the spread of COVID-19,” he said.

Wells said

that the Ministry of Health has engaged more than 111 contract tracers, up from

31 at the start of October.

In addition,

he said hospitalisations among persons testing positive for COVID-19 have

reduced dramatically and that as of Sunday, 85 persons with COVID-19 were

hospitalised across the archipelago – down from the high of 122 on October 22.

The Bahamas

has recorded 6,735 positive cases of the virus with 4,493 being active. It has

recorded 146 deaths.