The Prime Minister of the Bahamas announced a series of coronavirus-related restrictions on Sunday, including a ban on most international flights, as the number of cases in the Caribbean nation increases.
“Our current situation demands decisive action to avoid being invaded and defeated by this virus,” Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said in a national speech. “We cannot allow our hospitals to be invaded.”
Minnis said the number of cases had nearly tripled since the Bahamas began reopening its borders on July 1. The total number of cases increased to 153, he said, and most of the new cases appeared on one of the largest islands in the country, Grand Bahama.
Many of the new cases date back to residents returning to the Bahamas, he said.
Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union will be able to send commercial flights without passengers to the country of almost 400,000 to collect visitors and return them to their countries of origin, he said. The measure will take effect on Wednesday.
Private yachts and flights will still be allowed, although the Bahamas airline, Bahamasair, will not be able to fly to the United States, Minnis said.
Minnis announced the closure of beaches and parks and an overnight curfew in Grand Bahama. Returning residents who are unable to present negative test results for immigration officials will have to undergo mandatory two-week quarantines, he said.
