Adjusted guidelines for those testing positive or exposed to COVID-19

Friday, January 7, 2022

THE Health and Wellness Ministry has released adjusted guidelines for people who test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to positive cases.

Those who have tested positive for the virus—and are asymptomatic or have mild to moderate illness—can now leave isolation after seven days, provided they test negative at the end of the seven days. However, after isolation, the person must wear a N95/KN95 mask for up to three days.

People who are COVID-19 positive, but severely symptomatic or immunocompromised should isolate for 20 days, according to the new guidelines. However, people in this category can consult with their physician who may recommend a shorter isolation period, of no less than 10 days.

“The Ministry of Health and Wellness reminds the public that quarantine and isolation are public health measures intended to reduce the spread of diseases, such as COVID-19,” the ministry said in a statement issued on Friday. “The way that COVID-19 behaves, continues to change. To help protect the citizens and residents of The Bahamas, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue to adjust its public health measures as necessary.

“The following updated information applies to vaccinated and unvaccinated people who test positive for COVID-19: COVID-19 isolation: isolation is used to separate people with COVID-19 from others.

“If you have tested positive with a RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and are asymptomatic or have mild to moderate illness and are not immunocompromised you should: isolate for seven days. Day one of isolation begins the day after you (have taken) your test. On day five, six or seven of your isolation you can test again with a RT-PCR or RAT. If your test is negative you can be released from isolation; however, you must wear an N95/KN95 mask for up to three days after your release.

“Or isolate for 10 days if no test is performed on day five to seven or the test at day five to seven is positive and your symptoms have improved (if applicable), with at least 24 hours without medication and no fever present, then you can be released from isolation.

“If you have tested positive with a RT-PCR or RAT and are severely symptomatic or immunocompromised you should: isolate for 20 days and continue to monitor the severity of your symptoms or have a consultation with a physician. The physician may determine if you can be released from isolation earlier (no sooner than 10 days), or if longer isolation is required.”

New quarantine guidelines have also been released for people who are in close contact with COVID-19 cases. The ministry said if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and you are fully vaccinated and are not immunocompromised, you are not required to quarantine.

However, after you are informed of your exposure you should take a RT-PCR or RAT on day five.

“Limit your movement to only essential activities (medical care and work if the necessary protective measures are in place) until your day five test results return as negative. If you are returning to the healthcare setting, continue to practice physical distancing, proper use of personal protective equipment and sanitizing in public spaces for a period of ten days.

“If your test is positive, follow the above stated guidelines for isolation.”

Someone who is immunocompromised is required to quarantine for 10 days.

“On day 10 you can test with a RT-PCR or RAT. If your test is negative, you can be released from quarantine on day 11. If you are returning to the healthcare setting, continue to practice physical distancing, proper use of personal protective equipment and sanitizing in public spaces for a period of fourteen days. If your test is positive, follow the above stated guidelines for isolation.”

Individuals who are immunocompromised and test positive for COVID-19 or are in close contact of cases, should adhere to the existing policies for quarantine and isolation, the ministry said.

Comments

whogothere says...

Points for effort but we have an impossible to stop variant (yes vaccination fades to zero in a few weeks) that looks like the common cold...? Give it up...sigh..Let's take out the champagne and start dancing naked in the streets...the emperor has no cloths! All this pomp and circumstance for a virus that has no teeth...BRAVE THIS IS YOUR MOMENT TO SHINE...be bold man!! Get our kids school! Crumple up the contradictory public health orders and get on rebuilding the country. Please.

Posted 7 January 2022, 10:19 p.m. Suggest removal

carltonr61 says...

Israel is now facing the same uncomfortable reality but with caution and yes,truth.

Posted 8 January 2022, 8:25 a.m. Suggest removal

smackheid says...

"yes vaccination fades to zero in a few weeks"

This is false. Stop hurting people with this nonsense.

Posted 8 January 2022, 10:51 a.m. Suggest removal

“ Vaccine effectiveness against Omicron was 37% (95%CI, 19-50%) 7 days after receiving an mRNA vaccine for the third dose”

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101…

Posted 8 January 2022, 8:51 p.m. Suggest removal

Doctors the world over are fighting WHO guidelines that saw them caged in from saving millions of covid lives. Same here in The Bahamas. Politics before health has strangled world health provider's Hippocratic Oaths to do no harm.

https://m.theepochtimes.com/more-good-n…

Posted 8 January 2022, 8:38 a.m. Suggest removal

CoolCatBD says...

Animal reservoirs (mice)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH1u1GI…

I still don't trust Dolphins either!!!

Posted 8 January 2022, 8:46 a.m. Suggest removal

John says...

There have been outbreaks of Covid-19 at several cruise ports throughout The Bahamas. The significance of this is that it is not the Omnicron strain but the Delta variant which is still rampant in the US. This strain also causes more severe illnesses, hospitalizations and patients going to ICU. The protocols for visiting cruise ships, it’s passengers and persons who work at cruise ports must be adjusted. This vaccine thing is not cutting it alone.

Posted 8 January 2022, 9:56 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

De UK Colony's advent into a **Wellness Ministry**, has left me, **in de confussing communications fluttered!**
If de Virus spreads like local Jib gossip, what happened to **everyone, must wear a mask covering mouth and nose** to be lowered to requiring mask wearing but only for **up to** three days and by those, **exiting out mandatory isolation** and everything else **wellness confusing communications botched** like this and that ― Yes?

Posted 8 January 2022, 11:38 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

sigh.... exactly. The CDC has clearly thrown it hands up and said, well, everybody needs to make money. And we followed. The guidance doesn't make health sense. A doctor can now "look" at you and determine if you're still infectious or not. I thought the asymptomatic people were the most dangerous carriers

Posted 8 January 2022, 3:27 p.m. Suggest removal

Alan1 says...

The rules are so cumbersome and change regularly that visitors simply cannot be bothered coming to our country anymore. The Health Visa problems and the rules which change regularly have driven away many of the visitors we desperately need to keep our economy going. The officials making these rules live in a dreamworld of unreality. If they had to go through all the hassles themselves they would probably not be so determined to place all the burdens on potential visitors.

Posted 8 January 2022, 6:04 p.m. Suggest removal

@ComradeAlan1, rules weren't so cumbersome so as hinder de exchange said be in hundreds millions were earmarked as COVID dollars and everything else like this and that, ― Yes?

Posted 8 January 2022, 6:29 p.m. Suggest removal

https://www.rt.com/news/545514-sick-wor…

In California those tested positive without symptoms are ask to. You guess it.

Posted 9 January 2022, 1:07 p.m. Suggest removal

Bobsyeruncle says...

Hey brudda, any chance you can find other sources besides the two Russian & Chinese propaganda news sites you continually post links to ?

After all this time, (and the 2 million or so links you've posted from these two sources), do you really think anyone on here cares about them ? Also, not sure if you've noticed but this response of mine is probably the only one you've had to any of your posts in the last century. I wonder why?

Posted 9 January 2022, 4:44 p.m. Suggest removal

I am a member of ORCiD and internationally licensed to research, present and peer review to scientific publications.

Posted 9 January 2022, 6:49 p.m. Suggest removal

FreeportFreddy says...

That is way too funny!!! ORCiD is just a fancy word for 'Facebook Doctor'!

What ORCID means?
Open Researcher and Contributor IDentifier
ORCID's name was formed from the acronym "Open Researcher and Contributor IDentifier" -- but just call us "ORCID"! Our vision is a world where all who participate in research, scholarship, and innovation are uniquely identified and connected to their contributions and affiliations across time, disciplines, and borders.19 Aug 2020

Posted 10 January 2022, 11:07 a.m. Suggest removal

Lol "Internationally Licensed to Research" WTF does that mean ?
Since when does a scientific researcher need a license. Any Researcher worth a jot certainly wouldn't be reading, let alone peer reviewing, the Russian Times or Epoch Times.
Thanks for the today's best laugh

Posted 10 January 2022, 4:58 p.m. Suggest removal

Yes on stopping the constant posting of obviously biased links from foreign powers!!

Posted 10 January 2022, 11:03 a.m. Suggest removal

DDK says...

RT is a far better source of information with higher reporting standards than Communist Network News 🤣🤣🤣

Posted 10 January 2022, 12:56 p.m. Suggest removal

watcher says...

I just report his/her posts for removal, where there is no actual scientific basis for his/her claims.

Posted 11 January 2022, 4:28 a.m. Suggest removal

If you had the Omnicron and recovered DO NOT VACCINATE or RE-VACCINATE! Omicron sees vaccines as a virus and will re-attack!! Boost your immune system with fruits, veggies and sunlight. Vitamin supplements etc.

Posted 10 January 2022, 3:59 a.m. Suggest removal

Former Head of UK vaccine says it is time to stop mass vaccination.

https://m.theepochtimes.com/ex-head-of-…

Seems our dear Brave has some great ideological spirit toward our health, kids resocialized and with economic recovery in the wind. He may turn out to be one of the Bahamas' greatest leaders ever if with Cooper we could find sure footing and smiles.

Posted 10 January 2022, 11:01 p.m. Suggest removal

ohdrap4 says...

Emphasis in former. He was canceled as soon as he disagreed with them.
Same as they did to Robert Malone and the dutch guy.

I think Brave Davis is about to get the legacy thing right. Like Bolsonaro and Djovovik.

Folks the MSM is now even reporting lab crosscontamination as New variant deltacron. They got embarassed quick.

And the CDC now published a dubious paper saying covid causes diabetes.

It will take a very long time to right .

Posted 11 January 2022, 7:23 a.m. Suggest removal

Some European countries are questioning governments new Normal power to just fall in line with what is popular WHO narrative and impose restrictions every flu season. Apparently poor doctors on the ground are hearing alarming statements and data contrary to reality. Another Creeping 2020 control is being feared as USA Court system rules FDA must release Vaccine test data not in 76 years as requested but eight months. Time to get out of dodge for many high high people.

Posted 11 January 2022, 9:17 a.m. Suggest removal