First COVID-19 case confirmed

NASSAU (CMC):

A 61-year-old woman has been confirmed as the first person to have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in The Bahamas.

On Sunday, acting Minister of Health Jeffrey Lloyd announced that the woman is a resident of New Providence who does not have relevant travel history .

During a press conference, Lloyd explained that the patient presented with symptoms of a fever and cough.

“She is not known to have travelled outside of the country in the past 20 days. At this time, the patient’s exposure is unknown,” the minister said.

“The patient and family members have been informed of the diagnosis. She is receiving care in the designated isolation area of the Princess Margaret Hospital.”

Lloyd said the authorities were investigating the woman’s family and social contacts to determine whether they could have been the source of her infection.

The minister credited the confirmation to the Ministry of Health’s enhanced surveillance methods for COVID-19. These measures include physicians reporting patients who present with respiratory infections.

“We have made the decision to expand our testing and have heightened sensitivity for persons presenting with influenza like symptoms due to lessons learnt from countries that have diagnosed cases in keeping with this enhanced surveillance approach,” said Lloyd.