Bahamas: To control the coronavirus situation in the Bahamas, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has taken some vital decisions.
The Office of the Prime Minister wishes to advise that beginning Sunday, 24 January 2021, pharmacies, gas stations, and laundromats will now be permitted to operate between the hours of 6 am and 9 pm on the islands of New Providence and Abaco.
Outdoor dining at restaurants will also be permitted on Sundays between 6 am and 9 pm on New Providence and Abaco.
Effective immediately, for the islands of New Providence, Abaco, mainland Eleuthera, and mainland Exuma, funeral services may now have a maximum of 20 people at the graveside only, not including the officiant and mortuary workers.
Wedding ceremonies in a religious facility may now take place with a maximum of 20 people in accordance with the protocols established by the Bahamas Christian Council and approved by the Ministry of Health, effective immediately for the islands of New Providence, Abaco, mainland Eleuthera, and mainland Exuma.
Funeral repasts and wedding receptions remain prohibited on the islands of New Providence, Abaco, mainland Eleuthera, and mainland Exuma.
The amendments are outlined in the Emergency Powers (COVID-19 Pandemic) (Risk Management) (No. 4) (Amendment) (No. 4) Order, 2021, released Wednesday 20 January 2021.
On this, people of Bahamas shared their views with Associates times, Butler a resident of Nassau said,”. If weddings and funerals can only have 20 persons in attendance and only outdoor dining for restaurants being permitted, why is it that Bars are allowed to have hundreds of people at their establishment every night with no social distancing and no mask-wearing? Please make it make sense. This is just confusing because this doesn’t make sense.”
Natasha Prescola Millar urged PM Minnis via Associates times; she said,” Mr. PM Sir, the conditions at the medical facility needs to be addressed.
Most, in particular, P.M.H no porters, no one answering the telephone at P.M H. The old people and sick persons are being deprived for lack thereof. My God, change the system at least one person access per family member prepared with PPE’s etc..No one allowed with someone who can’t move and no one answering the phone or calling to update family members. The health care system is digressing.”
