There are currently at least 1600 confirmed active cases in Texas, and although this is a minuscule fraction of the entire population, it's doubling every three days. If more strict isolation isn't quickly adopted most of the population will be infected in a month and there will be 300,000 dead. There's very little evidence that sustained unemployment will kill even a single person (https://www.history.com/news/great-depr…)
In the next few weeks the number of infected people in the US will rocket, so you definitely don't want them coming here. But after that as the numbers of US infected goes down and the numbers of recovered increase, it may become safe to re-start flights. The lockdown also delays the inevitable surge in Bahamians infected, giving time for preparations (test kits, training personnel, protective equipment, quarantine centers etc. All experts agree that early lockdown is best, even though it appears drastic.
A difficult, unpopular, brave and totally necessary decision. This virus is a killer, and the Bahamas is fortunate to have a medical doctor as Prime Minister.
You are assuming that the testing was done randomly, but I suspect it was done only on "contacts" of the 4 infected. This is the right way to proceed: completely isolate the contacts, then test them - and if they are positive you completely isolate those. The more rigorously this is followed, the better the outcome and the faster the economic recovery. The Bahamas is extremely lucky to have a medical doctor as Prime Minister, and I hope he will adhere to the most stringent containment efforts - he has started well. However, unfortunately all flights from the US must either be stopped, or at the very least all passengers arriving from the US must be immediately placed in quarantine. The situation in the US is deteriorating rapidly - already an American is twice as likely to be infected as a Chinaman/woman. I believe that all air travel between the Islands must stop immediately: try to keep some of the Out Islands virus-free. The Bahamas must make contingency plans for the possibility of chaos in the US (I desperately hope that won't happen). This virus is a real killer and is turning the world upside down.
paulhummerman says...
Measures implemented and proposed in the Bahamas are extreme but unfortunately
necessary. Life at a temporary standstill is far better than death.
On EDITORIAL: Stop this virus spreading within our community
Posted 27 March 2020, 9:02 p.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
There are currently at least 1600 confirmed active cases in Texas, and although this is a minuscule fraction of the entire population, it's doubling every three days. If more strict isolation isn't quickly adopted most of the population will be infected in a month and there will be 300,000 dead. There's very little evidence that sustained unemployment will kill even a single person (https://www.history.com/news/great-depr…)
On 4 MORE CASES: New revelations highlight danger – so stay inside your home
Posted 27 March 2020, 2 p.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
In the next few weeks the number of infected people in the US will rocket, so you definitely don't want them coming here. But after that as the numbers of US infected goes down and the numbers of recovered increase, it may become safe to re-start flights. The lockdown also delays the inevitable surge in Bahamians infected, giving time for preparations (test kits, training personnel, protective equipment, quarantine centers etc. All experts agree that early lockdown is best, even though it appears drastic.
On PM announces 24-hour curfew – essential travel only
Posted 24 March 2020, 12:13 p.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
Pretty soon most Americans will be infected and you don't want them here.
On PM announces 24-hour curfew – essential travel only
Posted 24 March 2020, 12:07 p.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
A difficult, unpopular, brave and totally necessary decision. This virus is a killer, and the Bahamas is fortunate to have a medical doctor as Prime Minister.
On PM announces 24-hour curfew – essential travel only
Posted 23 March 2020, 8:13 p.m. Suggest removal
paulhummerman says...
You are assuming that the testing was done randomly, but I suspect it was done only on "contacts" of the 4 infected. This is the right way to proceed: completely isolate the contacts, then test them - and if they are positive you completely isolate those. The more rigorously this is followed, the better the outcome and the faster the economic recovery. The Bahamas is extremely lucky to have a medical doctor as Prime Minister, and I hope he will adhere to the most stringent containment efforts - he has started well. However, unfortunately all flights from the US must either be stopped, or at the very least all passengers arriving from the US must be immediately placed in quarantine. The situation in the US is deteriorating rapidly - already an American is twice as likely to be infected as a Chinaman/woman. I believe that all air travel between the Islands must stop immediately: try to keep some of the Out Islands virus-free. The Bahamas must make contingency plans for the possibility of chaos in the US (I desperately hope that won't happen). This virus is a real killer and is turning the world upside down.
On The four confirmed COVID-19 cases came from 117 tests
Posted 23 March 2020, 10:27 a.m. Suggest removal