On Thursday, 7th October, 2021, the Honourable Dr. Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness and the Honourable Zane Lightbourne, Minister of State of Education, led an assessment team to the southern islands to see first-hand the conditions of the healthcare and educational facilities on the islands of Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island and Acklins.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness advises that Minister Darville is acutely aware of the COVID-19 status on these islands and is actively engaged. Already, Minister Darville made provisions for additional unused oxygen tanks located in Mayaguana to be transported to Inagua for swift use.
On 8th October, 2021, during “Beyond the Headlines,” hosted by Shenique Miller, it was mentioned that many Bahamians and residents were concluding that Inagua needed a lockdown or curfew because of four (4) recent deaths on the island. The information shared by Dr. Michael Darville was based on a report from an official on the ground in Inagua. This may have caused some confusion among residents of Inagua
To clear up any misunderstandings, the Ministry of Health and Wellness releases the following information that reflects the current COVID-19 statistics for the island of Inagua as of 9th October, 2021:
The Ministry of Health and Wellness apologizes for any inconvenience caused.
With the assistance of the Surveillance Unit and the Department of Public Health, the public is advised that the Ministry of Health & Wellness is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic on all islands of The Bahamas with focused attention on Inagua at this time.
Persons in quarantine or isolation are strongly recommended to comply with the quarantine and isolation directions given by the healthcare providers on the island to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
All residents should continue to follow other social and public health measures which have aided the resolution of COVID-19 outbreaks on multiple islands throughout the pandemic.
Vaccinations are available on the island of Inagua at the Government Clinic. Therefore, persons are encouraged to get vaccinated to decrease the chances of further COVID-19 outbreaks on the island.
