By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Senior Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE medical sector is experiencing impact from coronavirus fears as people bombard clinics with cold-like symptoms and stock up on medication from pharmacies even though the country has not recorded a case of COVID-19.
“I’ve never seen this in my 20 years of practise,” said Gina Archer-Carey, the chairperson of the Bahamas Pharmacy Council, about people buying up medication.
“Everyone in the lobby is demanding masks when they have no flu-like symptoms,” said Dr Macumba Miller, the immediate past-president of the Bahamas Doctors Union, in a separate interview.
Dr Miller, who works at the South Beach Clinic, said: “They are coming in concerned about their cough or cold-like symptoms and asking, ‘Should I be worried about the coronavirus?’”
For their part, he said, doctors are calm in the face of the coronavirus threat and stress that about 80 percent of the people who contract the disease will have mild symptoms while only about five percent will need intensive care.
The greatest risk, he acknowledged, is that if wide swaths of the population are infected at the same time, the number of people requiring medical help could overwhelm the public healthcare system.
“We couldn’t even handle 200 people on respirators,” he said. “Considering bed space, we couldn’t handle that.”
If an outbreak does happen, Dr Miller said it would be important for people with mild symptoms not to burden medical institutions.
“There could be a dry cough, joint pain, a fever, for two weeks you may feel tired and then you recover,” he said. “But the concern is that the hype over this will cause people who are not very sick to flood clinics and the hospital.”
A limited amount of protective equipment and gear for doctors exists in the country, he said, adding that when the doctors union tried to buy 400 N94 masks, they couldn’t find any worldwide.
“We could understand the ministry’s difficulty,” he said.
Dr Marcus Cooper, the president of the Medical Association of the Bahamas, said he is so far satisfied with the Ministry of Health’s preparations and response to the coronavirus threat.
“There is more hype about the actual COVID-19 than there is fact,” Dr Cooper said. “I think because of the media they’ve created a hysteria in the country and people are a lot more worried about coronavirus than they really need. For what we would expect, a majority of people who contract the virus will have a mild infection and will not require hospitalisation. I don’t think we will have a mass crisis on our hands and I believe we will be able to deal with it.”
Meanwhile, Mrs Archer-Carey said the buying habits of Bahamians have changed, with many people who suffer from common diseases like diabetes and hypertension stocking up on medication out of concern about supplies in the country.
“One man bought medications using all the money he could from his insurance and then bought another one out of pocket,” she said. “Government clinics have been facing big orders and are replenishing their stocks.”
Mrs Archer-Carey said there is no risk of pharmacies running out of medication. She said emergency supplies are replenished precisely for moments like this. The country, she added, is also benefiting from the large amount of medication donated after Hurricane Dorian.
Pharmacies, she said, have also been provided with a questionnaire and advice on what to do if someone shows up with coronavirus symptoms.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 1 month ago
The only reason the Bahamas has not recorded a single case of COVID-19 is because the grossly incompetent Minnis-led FNM government has still not arranged for many Bahamians to be properly tested for the deadly virus. Never has the Bahamas had a government so incapable and unwilling to do anything right by the Bahamian people!
Minnis, D'Aguilar and others like them are always much too busy worshipping the foreign cruise ship companies and other foreign investors to be concerned about protecting the lives of Bahamians. It's why nothing has been done to improve our grossly inadequate and very dysfunctional public healthcare system. Minnis and his favoured cronies have demonstrated time and time again since May 2017 that they could not care any less about the lives of the most vulnerable in our society.
Bobsyeruncle 4 years, 1 month ago
"The only reason the Bahamas has not recorded a single case of COVID-19 is because the grossly incompetent Minnis-led FNM government has still not arranged for many Bahamians to be properly tested for the deadly virus"
So who should be tested then? You can't test everyone. And, just because you test negative doesn't mean that you can't become infected the following week. You'll end up testing the whole population every week for the rest of the year, or more. Probably the best approach would be to test only those that are showing symptoms of the virus.
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 1 month ago
Do we have the tests? Are we actually sure there are no cases? Flights coming daily, ships still visiting, no real change to anything. Are we sure there are no cases? Or is our government following trump's lead and simply lying?
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 1 month ago
it does seem like they lean towards hiding any information that they think might have a negative impact on tourist travel. If you recall Dr Sands made a statement that the govt would have to make a decision on their position on the state of Dorian missing while the death count wasn't budging from 50/60. 2-3 days after that statement Minnis moved the marijuana report from Duane Sands to the PM'S office.
I don't believe they're lying about corona cases, but if you haven't tested then there are literally zero cases
TimesUp 4 years, 1 month ago
It would seem the best way to avoid positive cases is relatively simple.
Just don't test anyone lol!
I bet other countries wish they had thought of that!
John 4 years, 1 month ago
*Between 160 million and 214 million people in the U.S. could be infected over the course of the epidemic, according to one projection. That could last months or even over a year, with infections concentrated in shorter periods, staggered across time in different communities, experts said. As many as 200,000 to 1.7 million people could die. New York Times
John 4 years, 1 month ago
Get your daily dose of direct sunlight. Turn your car a/c off for a while when driving and power the windows only part ways to create a sauna-like atmosphere. Eat and drink lots of citrus and local fruits that have natural toxins. And increase proper hygiene including regular handwashing. Avoid public restrooms and use bleach or disinfectants in toliets at home especially after you have guests. The behavior of locals reflects panic and lack of information.
killemwitdakno 4 years, 1 month ago
Piece of vitamin C at first cough if not daily.
TalRussell 4 years, 1 month ago
The operative word is the only reason the Colony has not recorded a case of corontovirus, might have something do with the PopoulacesOrdinay, not having access to be tested? That is unless crown minister for health comrade Dr. Duane, does knows of some mystery unknown to the world's most respected scientists for some other way to detect the can be deadly virus? Ironically, both the Colony's prime minister and health minister came to governing with reputations as well respected medical practitioners? This is too serious a health matter be making up. Just, shouldn't.
killemwitdakno 4 years, 1 month ago
They'll know by health records of # of persons with the pre-existing conditions who'll be most at risk.
killemwitdakno 4 years, 1 month ago
Call the hotline, get a case number to call back with if you get worse. Isolate for symptoms to not activate asymptomatic persons. Buy a telemed subscription. If you have shortness of breath, go to the ER.
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