Infectious disease expert: 'You should still wear your mask'

By PAVEL BAILEY

A LOCAL infectious disease expert said while The Bahamas has successfully flattened the curve on the most recent COVID wave, people should still wear their masks.

Dr Nikkiah Forbes, director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme at the Ministry of Health, discussed how the country had successfully lowered the rate of COVID-19 infections in the Omicron wave and said that the nation had finally “flattened” the curve.

“At this time the number of cases per day and the average number of cases per week are down, we have flattened the fourth COVID wave,” she said in a recent interview with The Tribune.

Dr Forbes also said that healthcare workers are “happy” with the current low number of COVID cases, noting that hospital cases are also low.

However, while she sees the current trend in cases as encouraging, she believes that COVID cases will “flare up” and settle down again periodically. Dr Forbes said COVID is “here to stay”.

Still, she stressed that the world is in a much better place two years into the COVID pandemic than at the beginning with vaccines to reduce the risk of disease have been administered and doctors have successfully identified ways to track how the virus spreads.

In addition to highlighting the fact that therapies have been made available to help people who contract COVID-19, Dr Forbes said that the time to classify the response to the pandemic as an emergency has ended, but the coronavirus reality remains.

“So, we know a lot more, we are in a much better place than when this new virus broke out for the first time two years ago and people had no immunity and people were dying,” she said. “So, two years in you can no longer refer to it as responding to an emergency; COVID is here to stay. We have to have guidelines and precautions whereby we can have normal life continue. And so, what can people do to protect themselves? You should still wear your mask.”

The government recently announced that people will not be required to wear a face mask while in a lobby, corridor or casino of a hotel or while in an outdoor setting where there is three feet spacing.

However, Dr Forbes spoke about how mask wearing is still the most effective method of COVID prevention.

“We still know that mask wearing works and it’s scientifically proven and there are a lot of studies to support that, that if it's universally adhered to, meaning that everyone is doing it indoors and in crowds particularly, it can cut down the risk of COVID transmission by 53 percent.”

Although Dr Forbes acknowledged that some countries have ended the requirement to wear masks indoors like in the UK and US, she also noted that these countries have a far higher vaccination coverage (around 70 percent) compared to the Bahamas. She noted that as of February 26, only 161,916 persons were fully vaccinated putting The Bahamas vaccination coverage at only around 41 percent.

Dr Forbes recommended that more people get vaccinated as it reduces the risk of serious hospitalisation. She said the country needs to aim for higher coverage to cut down the potential pressure on healthcare systems in future waves.

“Avoiding crowds and keeping your distance at least three feet between persons, if you are sick stay home, I have to keep saying these over and over again, those are the measures that we know can help to reduce COVID transmission,” she said. “Overall, we should continue to adhere to mask mandates in public transportation and in indoor spaces at this time.”

Daily case counts have been in the low single digits recently.

As of March 16, 786 people had died from COVID-19. Nine new deaths were reported in the Ministry of Health’s March 16 release while four deaths were reported in its March 15 release. The deaths occurred between January and February.

Comments

John says...

How many Bahamians are dying from heart failure/complications and how many of these individuals are vaccinated? They are no longer calling it a heart attack but ‘broken heart syndrome’. Because the symptoms of a normal heart attack are not present.

Posted 19 March 2022, 4:03 a.m. Suggest removal

GodSpeed says...

Just go away and take your stupid rules with you.

Posted 20 March 2022, 10:09 a.m. Suggest removal

JokeyJack says...

"... sees the current trend in cases as encouraging, she believes that COVID cases will “flare up” and settle down again periodically. Dr Forbes said COVID is “here to stay”."

It's the flu, you moron. It seems like it's a terrible disease but that's only because you won't allow doctors to prescribe medicine. Why not outlaw shoes, because horses wear shoes?

Posted 20 March 2022, 2:24 p.m. Suggest removal

Emilio26 says...

Based on your comments JokeyJack it seems to me like science wasn't your favorite subject in school.

Posted 20 March 2022, 4:25 p.m. Suggest removal

tribanon says...

And you wouldn't know science if it hit you broadside your head. LOL

Posted 20 March 2022, 6:55 p.m. Suggest removal

John says...

But it’s perfectly OK for tourists not to wear masks in hotels and public areas? Even downtown Bay Street? You are a hypocrite! After two years Bahamians should be relaxing their mask wearing. Especially on family islands where there have been ZERO Covid cases over a number of weeks. At least outside and when they are not in close proximity to anyone else.

Posted 21 March 2022, 10:54 a.m. Suggest removal

DDK says...

Get a life Lady, and let other people have one too! The gig is up!

Posted 21 March 2022, 10:57 a.m. Suggest removal

carltonr61 says...

@john. For real. Even though other communicable debilitating diseases like gambling are endemic and always harm, cause death and suffering to more Bahamians than covid leading to family stresses loss of work for hundreds it is a wonder they do not over shadow covid.

Posted 21 March 2022, 7:37 p.m. Suggest removal

carltonr61 says...

The Covid New World Order is trying to become permanent. Just as we said here in early 2020. But we were labeled conspiracy mongers. Covid may be gone but Fauci alarmed many by suggesting the power policy of the State should remain in place.

Posted 22 March 2022, 10:41 a.m. Suggest removal

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