Sands: A fourth wave could still hit country

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Health Minister Dr Duane Sands believes the coast is not clear in the fight against COVID-19 and that a fourth wave is possible despite current falling case numbers.

“We are seeing a reduction in the number of cases confirmed daily. We’re seeing a reduction in the number of persons hospitalised. We have not had any characterisation of deaths in many days and so we now have some 67 odd cases left to be characterised,” he told The Tribune yesterday.

“So, once those cases are adjudicated, I suspect that we will see another spike in terms of number of deaths from COVID, but, you know, let’s be grateful we don’t have 150 people hospitalised from COVID that our emergency rooms are not over-runned, but do not translate that into suggesting COVID is gone.”

He added that the recommendations ought to be to maintain a high level of adherence to all of the public health measures that work which means wearing masks, being socially distant, using hand sanitiser or hand washing, avoiding crowds, avoiding indoor activity wherever possible and making sure eligible persons get vaccinated.

According to a Ministry of Health release dated November 1, there were only 14 newly confirmed cases on Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 22,429. Six hundred and forty-three people have died from COVID-19, however 67 other deaths are under investigation.

Seventy-one people are in hospital with the virus.

“We are always optimistic when there are fewer patients in hospital, fewer deaths, less sick patients, but I don’t want anybody to believe that COVID is gone,” Dr Sands also said. “We need only look at what’s happening in Europe and Great Britain in particular where they have seen a surge to historic levels in terms of number of cases and that’s in an environment in which vaccinations have proceeded quite well. We have not reached the same level of vaccination.

“So we’ve seen three major spikes around the world – first, second, and third wave. Let’s hope and pray that we don’t see a fourth, but unless there has been some dramatic change in the biology of this virus I think we are probably going to see another wave.”

Comments

immigrant says...

Done with this clown’s gloom and doom. He let people in when Bahamians were completely locked down and banned from traveling. He epitomizes “good for
thee but not for me.” He lost his status of privilege then. Shut up doc.

Posted 3 November 2021, 7:54 p.m. Suggest removal

John says...

This ‘fourth wave’ or spike only seems to be hitting certain countries thus far. These seem to be countries that were having difficulties bringing the third wave under control and/or went on and gave third doses of the vaccines. The number of breakthrough cases seems to be greater amongst people who took the third dose. And hopefully this ‘fourth wave’ will be nothing more than a ripple and will soon disappear. Keep your masks on, wash hands, sanitize and social distance. The country is 95% open and the cases are at their lowest in months. Together we can!

Posted 3 November 2021, 9:14 p.m. Suggest removal

tribanon says...

ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz..........

Posted 3 November 2021, 9:53 p.m. Suggest removal

whogothere says...

Come on John masks didn't stop the spread, social distancing didn't, sanitising didn't either..only reason cases are low now is seasonality..the countries with previous high natural infection and therefore naturally acquired immunity (as opposed to the vaxxed kind) seem to holding their own..(case and point India)...

.you sound like a rooster a crowing at dawn who thinks his cock-a-doodle-doo brings up the sun...sigh...

Posted 4 November 2021, 2:35 p.m. Suggest removal

JokeyJack says...

Dr Sands, kindly please prescribe for yourself 1mg Ativan 4x daily. It will help you to calm down and help prevent high blood pressure and the resulting kidney disease.

Posted 4 November 2021, 9:44 a.m. Suggest removal

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