The Bahamas has confirmed its first case of the coronavirus (COVID-19), according to health officials, after a 61-year-old female resident tested positive for the disease.

Health officials said the woman has no history of traveling outside the country within the last 20 days. 

Acting Minster of Health Jeffrey Lloyd, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pearl McMillan and other health officials confirmed the first case of the virus yesterday during a press conference at the Ministry of Health. 

The patient is receiving care in a designated isolated area of the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), according to health officials.  

Also, the patient’s family and social contacts are currently being investigated to establish the source of her infection.

Lloyd said on Friday, the patient went to PMH after showing signs of a respiratory issue. She was then tested following morning and early Sunday morning her test was confirmed positive for COVID-19. 

With the first confirmed case of COVID-19, steps are being taken which includes expanded testing, Lloyd further explained. 

“We made the decision to expand our testing, have a 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,” Lloyd said.  

Over the past several weeks, health officials have been providing update on COVID-19 through various outlets, as first cases of the virus being confirmed in neighbouring Caribbean countries last week. 

Health officials would confirm and shared that they would have taken the necessary steps to prepare for the virus if was hit our shores.

According Dr. McMillan, there more plans being put in place as the virus is evolving. 

“We know that Doctors Hospital health system also has a plan for how they will deal with cases. Our plan is evolving and we are actually seeking to put in place a surge capacity plan in the the event we get a large number of cases that we need to manage,” she said.

Dr. McMillian also confirmed that there is about 100 test kits in country and about eight were used so far. 

Health officials are seeking to enhance the country’s testing capacity.

However, the acting minister of health is encouraging Bahamians not to panic and to get their information and updates from credible sources on COVID-19.

 “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the public to remain calm and follow and implement the advisories relating to personal hygiene and overall infection prevention control,” Lloyd said.

Health officials encourage persons who may have any respiratory systems of fever cough, or shortness of breath to call their doctor’s office or the Ministry of Health COV-19 hotline at 376-9350, 376-9387 or 376-9357.