PM and Cabinet to quarantine after Bannister tests positive for COVID-19

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and all Cabinet ministers are to quarantine after Minister of Works Desmond Bannister tested positive for COVID-19.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Works, all Cabinet ministers, including Dr Minnis, who came into direct contact with Mr Bannister will self-quarantine.

Dr Minnis and other Cabinet ministers will work from home and will be “fully engaged with their ministries” during the quarantine period, the statement said.

Contact tracing is being carried out by the Ministry of Health’s Surveillance Unit, the statement adding, noting that all established health protocols are being followed.

Mr Bannister was not present in the House of Assembly Wednesday, however he did attend a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and gave an interview to several reporters without a mask before going inside the building.

Earlier this month, Environment Minister Romauld Ferriera tested positive for the disease.

In a statement released at the time, the Cabinet Office said Mr Ferreira was not experiencing symptoms and was in quarantine.

As a precautionary measure all Cabinet ministers who came in “direct contact” with Mr Ferreira were tested and self-quarantined.

“The prime minister did not have direct contact with Mr Ferreira,” read the statement.

It was later revealed those Cabinet ministers who came into contact with Mr Ferreira tested negative.

Comments

ohdrap4 says...

Soon well wishers will spontaneously gather by the home of the cabinet ministers and hold a junkanoon rushout.

I carry my cowbells everywhere with me these days.

Posted 21 October 2020, 9:54 p.m. Suggest removal

ISpeakFacts says...

The Lockdown King is now on lockdown!!!

Posted 21 October 2020, 10:09 p.m. Suggest removal

Amused says...

This would be his second or third time for that.

Posted 22 October 2020, 7:04 a.m. Suggest removal

Chucky says...

All too convenient

I call BS

Posted 21 October 2020, 11:18 p.m. Suggest removal

John says...

So what is the real reason Joe Biden has been off the campaign trial for almost a week and has been in a sort of self isolation? Kinda debunks Minnis’ assertion that Bahamians are causing the virus by engaging in risky behavior. But some are. Assuming the world is midways through the second wave . When they get to debating (and arguing) in the HOA, the masks come off. And despite his wife still showing lingering symptoms of the deadly virus, Donald Trump still fails to wear a mass consistently, while in public.

Posted 22 October 2020, 2:04 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

My fellow comrades, now, what is occupying your thinkin' minds that could've possibly arisen for a coverup of such a degree have rendered the crown too afraid coming out, whilst further noting that if the poor souls' recovery is dependent upon **all established health protocols** pullin' them out other side full recovery- well, they're all doomed to be royally screwed by their own **central authorities** creation.
**Shakehead** once for Yeah a good opportunity **constitutionally put in play the colony's true definition of the Queen's government in waiting,** Twice for Not?

Posted 22 October 2020, 2:26 a.m. Suggest removal

John says...

They say Bahamians are D average, but anyone who has been posting on the Tribune website as long as Tal Russell and cannot make a single post that is comprehensible, deserves to be banned. A true vexation to the spirit. Or ithem coded messages that he post? Eh sag it even a ssakcaj au natural.

Posted 22 October 2020, 6:58 a.m. Suggest removal

themessenger says...

Tal is that your convoluted way of registering your vote of no confidence in da competent authority??

Posted 22 October 2020, 9:09 a.m. Suggest removal

joeblow says...

It does not matter if Minnis is quarantined or not, he is still an incompetent menace to our lives and livelihoods!

Posted 22 October 2020, 8:18 a.m. Suggest removal

tribanon says...

It's going to take much much more than the longest possible quarantine of the Minnis-led cabinet in order for the Bahamas to stand a chance of ever seeing a better tomorrow.

And even if Bannister or any other cabinet minister begins to show serious symptoms from Covid-19, there's less need for great concern because, like yellow belly Davis, they would all have a speedy full recovery after receiving first rate medical treatment in the US.

Posted 22 October 2020, 9:23 a.m. Suggest removal

benniesun says...

The testing situation is like I posted - one day you are positive the next day negative; the day after positive again ad infinitum. The politicians are locking themselves down because, in this case, they are leading by example - meaning we are expected to be locked down at any time and for as long as they see fit. Look at what is happening in the other commonwealth countries of Australia and Canada and you will see where we are headed. There is a bigger agenda afoot and the lockdowns and the destruction of the Bahamas' economy are only aspects of it.

I do not foresee any coming back from this economic destruction. We should be economically positioning ourselves to make every cent count in preparing ourselves for prolonged famine and scarcity.

Posted 22 October 2020, 9:24 a.m. Suggest removal

Dawes says...

So if the entire Cabinet and all other MPs who came into contact with Bannister are on quarantine does this mean they are unable to have the meeting in Parliament to discuss extending the emergency orders? In which case does this means they will cease to exists at the end of the month?

Posted 22 October 2020, 10:19 a.m. Suggest removal

DDK says...

Hope so!!!

Posted 22 October 2020, 1:26 p.m. Suggest removal

John says...

The CDC is now saying mouthwash may help in preventing the contracting or spread of covid-19. Well if not it may help in sanitizing some people’s masks, especially those that are worn over and repeatedly for days or weeks on end. When the swine flu was around people felt what inhaling the bubbles from Lifebouy soap or carbolic soap would also help the stop of contracting the flu or even getting rid of it. And even in more recent these lifebouy soap was used to help fight the common flu when the patient would sit in stub of warm water and inhale the essence of the soap coming from the water, sometimes local bush medicine were also used and only as of recent, have Bahamians started taking flu shots. And in determined efforts to keep the swine flu out of Australia, authorities there erected quarantine stations at ports of entry. And when passengers arrived, they veered required to remove all their clothing and submit to vigorous scrub downs, then after that they were sent into chambers where they were required to inhale zinc vapors before they were released and allowed to enter the country. And not too long ago, a spokesman for the CDC advised adding a few drops of chlorine bleach to fish washing water, washing machines and general cleaning water. This has always been the tradition of Bahamians and if the daily number of cases is an indication, it is not effective in preventing the virus but may be effective in keeping the symptoms milder.

Posted 22 October 2020, 10:34 a.m. Suggest removal

jt says...

You think washing clothes with bleach will “keep the symptoms milder”? How boy. That’s not how any of this works.

The bleach breaks down organic matter, and hopefully any virus present, into pieces. Hopefully these pieces are too damaged to be contagious any more. Should any survive laundry, the symptoms depend entirely on two variables: the particular strain of the virus, and the heath of the person infected. You can’t “bleach the virus nicer”.

Posted 22 October 2020, 12:54 p.m. Suggest removal

JokeyJack says...

Maybe an alien race from another planet will come here and use their advanced technology to produce 8 billion jail cells in a matter of minutes - and place each individual human being into their own jail cell, and ensure the cells are located 6 feet apart. Lock the doors with a permanent welding, and then leave and go back to their planet.

Then everyone will be happy. Truly happy.

Posted 22 October 2020, 12:13 p.m. Suggest removal

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