Clamshell you are no Maths genius. If the actual cost is $7m per month then the under-estimate is 50% since 50% of $7m is $3.5m.

Good article with good suggestions and conclusion.

The Tribune understands there was deep concern among some of the prime minister’s Cabinet colleagues about the level of consultation that preceded Monday night’s announcement.

That is the problem in a nutshell. The PM thinks this a one man show. Unfortunately by this approach he denies himself valuable perspective from Cabinet and other colleagues. Ego has overtaken common sense.

I think you are over thinking this.

Seems as though the PM has isolated himself from those in Cabinet who could give him proper perspective on pandemic planning. Monday's ill conceived total lock down with no warning says to me that he is trying to handle this on his own. This is a recipe for disaster.

We don't need a week long total lock down. It's not shopping and limited commercial activity that's causing the spread - it's more likely a combination of reckless / ignorant attitudes towards social distancing, people having to queue for hours on end for NIB payments and poor social conditions in over the hill communities. Keep the shops and businesses open Monday to Friday, deal with the NIB issue and have the police come down hard on individuals that are caught at house parties and other illegal gatherings. The numbers will then go down.

With another 26 new cases in New Providence the lock down there is likely going to continue for some time.

Happyfly, the fact that our hospitals are now bursting at the seams with COVID patients is not something that the media is inventing to cause panic - this is a reality! Yes, we can relax restrictions and start to try and live alongside the virus but how do we live with the fact that if we take seriously ill from COVID (or any other ailment) there will be no hospital beds available or fit doctors and nurses to attend to us? We are where we are because government made stupid decisions at critical stages of this pandemic AND many Bahamians have up to now failed to act responsibly. We need to be smarter than the virus to defeat it. Up to now, collectively, we haven't shown intelligence or discipline as a people. It is time to wise up and treat this foe seriously. Yes, many people with the virus will suffer only a few short term symptoms, if any, but this is what makes it so insidious. I am tired of bloggers comparing this with the regular flu - this pandemic has the potential to kill many Bahamians if it gets out of control. Is that what it is going to take before our communities start to take it seriously?

I don't believe that at all. The lock downs are ONLY about preventing the spread. No one in government wants us locked down for a day more than is necessary. However, the Competent Authority has to take responsibility for this lock down as it could so easily have been prevented had an intelligent strategy been followed.

Government's position on this is unsustainable. No one wants to see civil service jobs slashed in this current climate but temporary salary reductions are surely appropriate. The private sector is reducing salaries and laying workers off all over the place. Why should civil service workers be insulated from the pain of this pandemic?