Maxey knows the Island and its needs, and has contributed significantly to its economy and renown. He is perfectly correct that in the long run Eleuthera would most benefit economically from Lighthouse Point as a National Park, rather than as a cruise ship port. However, it's difficult to overcome the shorter-termer view on which Corporations and politicians operate.
A difficult but wise decision. It's much easier to get tested in the US ($100 a pop) than here, and given the choice between traveling to Florida, where Covid-19 is rife, or to the Bahamas, where there is almost no Covid, many Americans will gladly jump this small extra hurdle. But if, heaven forbid, Covid is as common in the Bahamas as it is in the US, no-one will want to come.
When the waters are stormy and potentially fatal you start in the shallow end. Surely it makes sense to start cautiously, initially requiring negative tests for entry to the country. If after a couple of months everything is still fine, then relax requirements, first only for residents who can self quarantine, then, as numbers in the US fall drastically, open the spigot to masked tourists. There are currently 24 active cases in the Bahamas. Since around 0.4 % of Americans currently have active infections, it would only take just over a thousand tourists to double the number of infections.
This decision should be determined by the relative per-capita active infection rates in the US (currently 0.35%) versus the Bahamas (currently 0.01%) - this sets the numbers of bullets in the chamber as we play Russian roulette. At the moment, the chamber is full, and it will be many months, if ever, before there's even only 1 bullet in gun. The only way out of this difficulty is to offer "quarantine" vacations - all incoming passengers must be totally sequestered at their beach resort, which would be staffed by Bahamians who have recovered from Covid-19, or at the least by staff using full PPE.
10% of Bahamian cases have been lethal, so you are proposing that 40,000 Bahamians should die so the other 90% can become immune? Let's wait for a vaccine instead.
I respectfully beg to differ. Many of the symptoms of Covid 19 overlap with other conditions, so you need to know who is infected so that you can trace the contacts. Contact tracing is even more difficult than testing, and you can't trace the contacts of all who are sick with conditions other than Covid 19. Furthermore, quarantine at home should be more thorough than for those with related non-Covid 19 conditions, and ideally should involve isolation from even other household members.
paulhummerman says...
Maxey knows the Island and its needs, and has contributed significantly to its economy and renown. He is perfectly correct that in the long run Eleuthera would most benefit economically from Lighthouse Point as a National Park, rather than as a cruise ship port. However, it's difficult to overcome the shorter-termer view on which Corporations and politicians operate.
On Disney urged: Help Bahamas to escape ‘neocolonial tourism’
Posted 21 April 2021, 4:19 p.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
Barbados tests everyone on arrival and quarantines for just 24 hours, unless the result is positive. Definitely a smart approach.
On Govt allows commercial flights from U.S. – with 14 days quarantine
Posted 24 July 2020, 5:29 p.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
At least 2 new community cases on GB - the PM's caution seems justified.
On Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis speaking in the House of Assembly. Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune
Posted 9 July 2020, 12:46 p.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
Here is my source for $100 test cost: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/upsh…
On Tourists need negative COVID-19 test from July 1
Posted 17 June 2020, 9:28 p.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
A difficult but wise decision. It's much easier to get tested in the US ($100 a pop) than here, and given the choice between traveling to Florida, where Covid-19 is rife, or to the Bahamas, where there is almost no Covid, many Americans will gladly jump this small extra hurdle. But if, heaven forbid, Covid is as common in the Bahamas as it is in the US, no-one will want to come.
On Tourists need negative COVID-19 test from July 1
Posted 17 June 2020, 3:15 p.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
Allowing untested tourists in july 1 would be suicidal. Start slow and test as you go.
On INSIGHT: Opening the borders is a high risk game we could live to regret
Posted 15 June 2020, 10:09 p.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
When the waters are stormy and potentially fatal you start in the shallow end. Surely it makes sense to start cautiously, initially requiring negative tests for entry to the country. If after a couple of months everything is still fine, then relax requirements, first only for residents who can self quarantine, then, as numbers in the US fall drastically, open the spigot to masked tourists. There are currently 24 active cases in the Bahamas. Since around 0.4 % of Americans currently have active infections, it would only take just over a thousand tourists to double the number of infections.
On COVID-19 rise 'inevitable' with tourism's reopening
Posted 12 June 2020, 9:36 p.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
This decision should be determined by the relative per-capita active infection rates in the US (currently 0.35%) versus the Bahamas (currently 0.01%) - this sets the numbers of bullets in the chamber as we play Russian roulette. At the moment, the chamber is full, and it will be many months, if ever, before there's even only 1 bullet in gun.
The only way out of this difficulty is to offer "quarantine" vacations - all incoming passengers must be totally sequestered at their beach resort, which would be staffed by Bahamians who have recovered from Covid-19, or at the least by staff using full PPE.
On INSIGHT: We need to tread very, very carefully however appealing opening the borders may appear
Posted 26 May 2020, 7:37 a.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
10% of Bahamian cases have been lethal, so you are proposing that 40,000 Bahamians should die so the other 90% can become immune? Let's wait for a vaccine instead.
On Family Islands with no COVID-19 could see relaxation of restrictions
Posted 17 May 2020, 7:37 p.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
I respectfully beg to differ. Many of the symptoms of Covid 19 overlap with other conditions, so you need to know who is infected so that you can trace the contacts. Contact tracing is even more difficult than testing, and you can't trace the contacts of all who are sick with conditions other than Covid 19. Furthermore, quarantine at home should be more thorough than for those with related non-Covid 19 conditions, and ideally should involve isolation from even other household members.
On Extra COVID-19 testing in Bimini
Posted 2 May 2020, 3:12 p.m. Suggest removal