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Bahamas Begins 2-Week Lockdown After Another COVID Surge

VOA News

   The Bahamas begins atwo-weeknational lockdownTuesday due to a spike in
   coronavirus cases.

   Prime Minister Dr HubertMinnis announcedthe restriction in a national
   address Monday night, saying the decision was based on the advice of
   health experts.

   Minnissaid, officials will evaluate the impact of the lockdown after
   two weeks andthe decisionto relax or extend the lockdown will be made
   in part by the cooperation of the people living on the islands.

   Minnis said, citizens who break their quarantine after testing positive
   for the coronavirus will be fined.

   Travel for essentials such as food, water, medicines is restrictedto
   Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm for the general public
   and essential workers have an additional dayon Saturdayfrom 7am to 1
   pm.

   Minnissaid, theonus is on theBahamians andresidents towork together and
   control the spread of COVID-19.

   The prime minister added that health care services andaccommodations
   arebeing overwhelmed because of the rapid increase in coronavirus cases
   mostly among people 20 to 40 years old.

   The Bahamasconfirmed thevast majority of the679 COVID-19cases
   occurredin the past month.So far, there are 14 coronavirus deaths.

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