By Leandra Rolle
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
GOVERNMENT officials are considering resuming commercial travel in the country “on or before” July 1, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced yesterday as he revealed the government’s long-awaited plans to “gradually” resume domestic travel.
Dr Minnis also announced the implementation of a COVID-19 travel card that will facilitate domestic travel. People can begin registering for this card, which requires a doctor’s examination, on Wednesday. He made the revelations during a national address after announcing no new COVID-19 cases in the country for the fourth consecutive day.
Noting that the country is continuing to make progress against the COVID-19 threat, Dr Minnis said officials have already begun implementing components of phase 2 of his administration’s phased plan for re-opening.
However, he said numerous factors will influence when the country will move on to the fifth and final stage, which will allow the country to re-open its borders and resume international travel and tourism operations.
“We are looking at a possible date for commercial travel on or before July 1 of this year,” he said. “These dates may change depending on the circumstance. I want to repeat, however, that this date is not final.
“It will be adjusted if we see a deterioration of the COVID-19 infection trends or if we’ve determined that the protocols and procedures are not in place sufficiently to warrant this opening.
“Our opening will depend on your cooperation. Our life commencing (to) the new normal will depend on your co-operation. The success of our economy will depend on your cooperation.”
During his address, Dr Minnis also relaxed restrictions on more Family Islands, allowing commercial activity to resume on Cat Island, Long Island, Abaco and Andros.
These islands now join Ragged Island, Rum Cay, Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Cay, which were given the green light to resume commercial operations earlier this month.
Exuma, San Salvador and Eleuthera, which also have no confirmed cases, were absent from the list; however no explanation was given for this. However Dr Minnis did chastise Eleuthera residents for a recent motorcade there.
Weekend lockdown and weekday curfew measures remain in effect for the whole country.
As it relates to domestic travel, Dr Minnis also announced that the government is set to begin a “gradual opening of inter-island travel.”
He said residents of cleared Family Islands stuck in New Providence or Grand Bahama will be allowed to travel in the first phase.
Outlining how the new COVID-19 travel card will work, he said: “The Ministry of Health has developed a policy and protocol for the approval and monitoring of individuals traveling to islands that have resumed normal commercial activity.
“This policy and protocol will require individuals to register with the Ministry of Health by emailing covid19travel@bahamas.gov.bs or calling 511. Individuals must also submit to an evaluation by a Ministry of Health authorised physician in the public or private sector.
“The evaluation will include a risk assessment via a questionnaire to determine the individual’s level of risk for COVID-19 infection, plus or minus a physical exam to determine the presence of any symptoms consistent with COVID-19.”
He continued: “If deemed a low risk and the physical exam does not reveal any symptoms, it is expected that the person will be issued a COVID-19 Authorisation Travel Card that will allow travel to the Family Island.
“If the individual is deemed a higher risk or has symptoms that may be consistent with COVID-19, the individual will be referred for testing to definitively determine their COVID-19 status.”
He added: “The healthcare provider may still decide that a person who is low risk may need to be tested for COVID-19. Individuals traveling on behalf of their workplace will be subjected to similar requirements.”
Residents wishing to return home can register with the Ministry of Health on Wednesday, he added.
“Once cleared for travel, each traveler must present the COVID-19 Travel Authorisation Card to the relevant ticket agent… Residents of the cleared Family Islands may travel between those islands by plane or boat,” he continued.
Dr Minnis also further relaxed restrictions on exercise, while adding that construction companies and hardware stores will be allowed to operate under additional hours in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season.
“I wish to note that construction companies in New Providence and Grand Bahama may now operate on Saturdays from 7am to 1pm,” he said.
“To facilitate hurricane preparedness, home and hardware stores will now be allowed to operate in-store hours on Monday 8am to 8pm. This is in addition to the Wednesday and Friday in- store hours that home and hardware stores are currently allowed to operate.
“The operating hours also apply to manufacturers of hurricane proof windows and other hurricane related products. Curbside and delivery services may continue as previously outlined in Phase 1b.
“Pharmacies may now operate from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday for the general public and Saturday 9am to 5pm for essential workers only. Exercise may now take place on Saturday and Sunday from 5am to 8am in one’s immediate neighbourhood.”
More like this story
- ISLANDS TRAVEL GETS GO AHEAD: Block on travelling around the country to end next week
- PM’s address: No new COVID-19 cases for fourth consecutive day
- 1,000 inquire about travel to Family Islands
- PM paints roadmap back to normality but warns: Read my lips - don’t break quarantine
- EDITORIAL: Light at the end of the tunnel
Comments
bcitizen 4 years, 4 months ago
The printer for the cards done broke down.
Dawes 4 years, 4 months ago
I can't understand why he has not added Exuma, Eleuthera, San Salvador and Berries to the list. all of these are the same as the other islands which have been opened up. If it is true some of these are due to a motorcade then that is spiteful. If they haven't had any cases yet and you are making sure only healthy people can travel then why keep them closed. At the start we were told we would close until we flattened the curve. This has happened and still we are closed. Is the plan to see if you can make the country broke?
tell_it_like_it_is 4 years, 4 months ago
He is reading from the playbook - "How to Ruin a Country as Quick as Possible"!
stillwaters 4 years, 4 months ago
Eleuthera and Exuma have a lot of 'boat people ' that come ashore every day. Need to work out the logistics of that first.
TalRussell 4 years, 4 months ago
How not govern four of a colony's out islands, the Imperialists' authoritarianism redshirts way.
Thinking the Berry Islands, aren't big enough to plan a to come victories lap motorcade Royal Constabulary side riders.. Nod once for yeah, Twice for no?
DDK 4 years, 4 months ago
I have to wonder how long the medical safe card will last. Suppose you go through the hassle and expense of procuring a card and a reservation is unavailable, say for another week, what do you do then?? Why not preboarding testing or is this not possible? One would think DR MInnis would be up to speed on this?!?
Lknowles 4 years, 4 months ago
What about the people that are stuck on the family island and needs to get back to Nassau they need to get back home also
ohdrap4 4 years, 4 months ago
You are free to come from the cleared island anytime. But need to find a boat or plane to carry you.
hj 4 years, 4 months ago
Try calling or email any government agency and by the time they even answer the phone or respond to the email you don't care anymore. On top of that a doctor has to be found,and who knows what else in order just to get the card. The most amazing fact is that the card does not even confirm positively that you are Covid 19 free,just low risk individual. By the time the politicians and "experts" figure out what they are doing Covid19 may not be your bigger problem anymore
Chucky 4 years, 4 months ago
They can’t make us use a travel card. They must think think we got no rights to travel.
This fake pandemic is all about control, that’s it!
lovingbahamas 4 years, 4 months ago
I don't know what all the fuss is about? Royal Caribbean is selling cruises out of Port Canaveral to Nassau on June 11. That's only 23 days away. Our Trusty Minister of Tourism says no cruise ship will bypass Nassau and Royal Caribbean says it is stopping in Nassau. So, looks like Bahamas is opening up on June 12. Why haven't they made this announcement? Just think, 4000-6000 people descending on Nassau. How are they all going to get their medical cards?
licks2 4 years, 4 months ago
Hahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahaha. . .what a buncha ninnies. . .I don't think I will attempt to contribute on this question. . .the nonsense is too deep here!! I think I will go watch paint dry. . .it is more exciting and intellectually stimulating!! See yall later folks!
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