BAHAMAS: Minister of Environment and Housing Romauld Ferreira has tested positive for COVID-19. The Bahamian government through its Cabinet Office made the disclosure in a press statement on Monday.
According to the statement, Ferreira is not experiencing symptoms and is in quarantine. “As a precautionary measure all Cabinet Ministers and staff who came in direct contact with the Minister will be tested and self-quarantine,” the Cabinet Office reported, adding that “the prime minister did not have direct contact with Minister Ferreira.” Contact tracing is underway and sanitization of the Churchill Building, which houses the Cabinet Office.
Ferreira is not the first parliamentarian to be tested positive for the coronavirus disease in the Bahamas. Opposition Leader Philip Davis had tested positive for COVID-19 in August and has since recovered.
As of Monday, the Bahamas has recorded a total of 4,452 positive COVID-19 cases since the pandemic commenced in the country in March. The Ministry of Health reported that there have been 3,308 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Providence, 644 confirmed cases in Grand Bahama, 147 confirmed cases in Abaco, 54 confirmed cases in Bimini, 32 confirmed cases in Exuma, 24 confirmed cases in Eleuthera, 19 confirmed cases in Inagua, 15 confirmed cases in the Berry Islands, 12 confirmed cases in Long Island, 9 confirmed cases in Andros, 8 confirmed cases in Cat Island, 7 confirmed cases in Acklins, 5 confirmed cases in Crooked Island, 3 confirmed cases in Mayaguana, and 165 confirmed cases with locations pending.
A total of 131 persons have died although only 96 of the deceased are listed as COVID-19 related deaths. Seventeen of the 131 persons deceased are classified as “non-COVID-19 related deaths” while 18 are said to be “deaths under investigation”. A total of 2,375 persons have recovered from the disease while 1,946 cases remain active. In the hospital are 109 persons. Test samples taken have reached 21,592.
