August 6, 2020
Dr Nikkiah Forbes
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'No risk at this time' after malaria cases in US
DESPITE, recent malaria cases reported in the United States The Bahamas is not at risk of being exposed, according to a local infectious disease expert.
Majority of new virus cases were transmitted locally
A LOCAL infectious disease expert said 65 percent of the new COVID-19 cases in the last epidemiological week were transmitted locally.
‘Roll back restrictions gradually’, expert advises
A LOCAL infectious disease expert says that while COVID-19 cases are low, public health measures should be rolled back gradually to ensure people’s safety.
Infectious disease expert: 'You should still wear your mask'
A LOCAL infectious disease expert said while The Bahamas has successfully flattened the curve on the most recent COVID wave, people should still wear their masks.
Health system vulnerability a factor in easing restrictions
A LOCAL infectious disease expert says the vulnerability of the country’s public health system along with low vaccination numbers remain key determining factors regarding how far COVID-19 measures can be scaled back.
Four in ten Bahamians now fully vaccinated
A LOCAL infectious disease expert said about 40 percent of the population are fully vaccinated but cautioned against rescinding COVID-19 safety protocols too soon.
Drop in COVID cases - but nation not ready for future epidemics
A LOCAL infectious disease expert has noted a continued downward trend in the most recent COVID cases, but also acknowledged the country ranks among the lowest in preparedness for future epidemics.
Bahamas 'not out of OMICRON wave just yet'
A LOCAL infectious disease expert has said that despite the recent fall in COVID-19 cases, the country is “not out of the OMICRON wave just yet”.
COVID cases continue to ramp up
IT is possible that an uptick in COVID-19 cases is associated with the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and travel, according to local infectious disease expert Dr Nikkiah Forbes.
Testing for HIV/AIDS declined 55% in 2020
TREATMENT for HIV/AIDS has remained stable during the COVID-19 pandemic but testing for the virus declined by 55 percent in 2020, according to Dr Nikkiah Forbes, director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme.
Advice for those travelling to Black Friday sales
HEALTH experts are advising persons considering travel to the US for Black Friday sales to ensure they practice COVID-19 preventative measures.
Dr Nikkiah Forbes named Fellow by the Infectious Diseases Society of America
INFECTIOUS Disease expert Dr Nikkiah Forbes has been named a Fellow by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the leading infectious diseases professional society in the United States.
‘Vaccinating children will reduce spread’
infectious disease expert Dr Nikkiah Forbes has said vaccinating young children against COVID-19 will significantly reduce the disease’s transmission in the school setting.
‘Case decline doesn’t signal we can relax’
DESPITE a notable decrease in COVID-19 infections and hospital admissions over the last several weeks, health officials still believe the country has not defeated the third wave of the virus.
MORE THAN 100K NOW VACCINATED . . . but confirmation of 20 more deaths shows COVID fight not over
THE Ministry of Health confirmed 20 additional COVID-19 deaths on the weekend, bringing the total to 557 to date.
'Potential for further COVID spread' if quarantined vote at the polls
THE country’s top infectious disease expert has warned that there could be further COVID-19 spread if people in quarantine are allowed to vote at the polls in next week’s general election.
25 more deaths as surge powers on
THE country’s top infectious diseases expert has warned The Bahamas needs “to get a handle” on a worsening COVID-19 situation, as officials confirmed 25 new COVID-19 deaths and 196 new cases over the past two days.
Vaccinated visitors now have to take five-day test
INFECTIOUS disease expert Dr Nikkiah Forbes says changes to travel requirements revealed Monday by the Office of the Prime Minister are consistent with data about how COVID-19 variants are affecting the ability of vaccinated people to transmit the virus.
Forbes: Vaccine coverage must be the priority
THE country’s top infectious disease expert says vaccine coverage in the country needs to be prioritised as less than 40,000 Bahamians have been fully vaccinated and COVID-19 cases surge again.
WE MUST KEEP OUR GUARD UP: Forbes warns despite reduced cases third COVID wave still here
DESPITE a “slight decline” in coronavirus cases recently, health officials believe it is still “a little too early” to say whether the nation is emerging from the third wave of the virus.
Vaccines are the solution to crisis
WITH COVID-19 cases and deaths on the increase, a local health official is imploring all Bahamians to protect themselves from the deadly virus by following health protocols and getting vaccinated.
NURSE SHORTAGE ADDING TO CRISIS: As Third Wave fills beds hospitals struggle to find staff to deal with patients
ONGOING staff shortages coupled with rising COVID-19 hospitalisations continue to strain healthcare workers on the frontline fight against COVID-19, the country’s top infectious disease expert said yesterday.
Weather to blame for conch cases
INFECTIOUS disease expert Dr Nikkiah Forbes said warm weather is to blame for the bacteria causing conch poisoning in the country, not the sanitary practices of vendors.
Mass parties show guard is slipping
A LOCAL infectious diseases expert is again urging Bahamians to not let their guards down and become relaxed with current health protocols, insisting that the country’s fight with the novel coronavirus is far from over.
‘Only a few’ contracting COVID-19 virus after receiving vaccinations
OUT of more than 15,000 people who received their first shot of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, only “a few” people ended up contracting COVID-19 after getting vaccinated, according to the country’s top infectious disease expert.
‘Bahamas is now in a third wave’
WITH total COVID-19 cases nearing the 10,000 mark, the country’s top infectious disease expert believes The Bahamas is now facing its third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Concern mounts on possible third wave
THE nation recorded 92 new COVID-19 infections over the holiday weekend — bringing the total number of cases to 9,263.
Forbes: We are on the brink of a third wave
THE country’s top infectious disease expert believes The Bahamas is on the brink of a third COVID-19 wave, as health officials remain on high alert over a sustained uptick in positive cases in recent weeks.
No evidence vaccine behind blood clots
WHILE a growing number of European countries have suspended use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine over concerns it may cause blood clots, Bahamian officials have defended the shot as “safe.”
One more death amid uptick in positive cases
THE recent uptick of coronavirus cases and hospitalisations is something health officials will have to continue to monitor to determine if the country is experiencing another COVID-19 outbreak, a local infectious disease expert said yesterday.
Official confident on vaccine
A local senior health official has expressed her confidence in the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine despite recent reports about the drug getting some push back in European countries.
Good news with no holiday surge in COVID cases
WITH low COVID-19 infections being recorded for the past few weeks, a local infectious disease expert says it appears the recent holiday celebrations did not lead to an uptick of cases as officials initially expected.
‘Highly likely’ new strain will reach The Bahamas
A local infectious disease expert believes it is “highly likely” the new variant of COVID-19 already detected in some 33 countries will reach Bahamian shores.
Keep following advice, expert says, as new strain appears in UK
WITH a new strain of COVID-19 spreading in parts of England, a Bahamian health official said the public should continue to follow recommended health measures to avoid infection as virus mutations can happen.
Forbes: don’t be too confident - it’s still out there
WITH COVID-19 infections now in single digits, the country’s top infectious diseases expert has again urged Bahamians not to be overly confident or come to the false conclusion that the deadly disease has left the country.
Call for Caribbean to adopt HIV self-testing
ON the occasion of World AIDS Day, Caribbean AIDS response stakeholders are calling for countries in the region to adopt HIV self-testing.
Health experts say put safety first this holiday season
LOCAL and regional health officials are calling on travellers to be responsible this holiday season to prevent a spike in COVID- 19 given that a vaccine will not be available for months.
Numbers down - but we must stay alert
AMID a decline of positive COVID-19 cases in the country, a local infectious disease expert said it appears The Bahamas has flattened the curve in the second COVID-19 wave, but warned residents must still not let their guards down as “things can still change”.
‘We must not let our guard down’: Expert warns fall-off in numbers doesn't signal COVID crisis is over
A LOCAL infectious disease expert is urging residents not to become relaxed about the apparent downward trend of COVID-19 cases, explaining other factors might be contributing to those lower numbers.
On-off lockdown - is it worth it? Senior health official suggests weekend closures may do little
WITH nearly 300 COVID-19 cases recorded over the last several days, a local infectious diseases expert has suggested partial lockdowns have not been an effective tool in stopping the spread of the deadly virus in The Bahamas.
Limited testing meant number underestimated
INFECTIOUS disease expert Dr Nikkiah Forbes says The Bahamas could have already had more than 100 cases of COVID-19 in late March when only a few infections had been officially confirmed.
COVID numbers checked to see if they're new cases or part of backlog
WITH more than 1,300 confirmed cases of COVID in the country, health professionals are busy deciphering if the latest numbers should be attributed to a backlog of tests or if they are new cases.
COVID-19 therapy trials 'very promising'
THE early reports of a therapy for COVID-19 patients in a clinical trial is “very promising” as a possible therapeutic option for the virus, according Director of the National HIV/AIDS & Infectious Diseases Programme at the Ministry of Health Dr Nikkiah Forbes.
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