Two more persons have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in The Bahamas to three.

Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced the additional COVID-19 cases in the House of Assembly yesterday.

“Late last evening health officials confirmed two additional cases of individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 on New Providence,” he said.

“These individuals were identified through contact tracing. The Ministry of Health’s surveillance unit has aggressively undertaken contact tracing activities for the initial case reported.

“These contact tracing investigations have revealed that household members of the COVID-19 positive patient traveled to jurisdictions with known community transmission – Canada, Trinidad and Dubai.”

According to Dr. Minnis, these household contacts have been quarantined and samples were taken for testing.

“Other contacts, including healthcare providers, are being investigated to determine their level of exposure and risk,” he added.

“A total of 30 contacts of the COVID-19 positive patient have been identified.”

On Sunday, The Bahamas confirmed its first case of COVID-19 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 and she is in stable condition.

In the House of Assembly, the prime minister also presented the Emergency Powers COVID-19 Regulations 2020 and announced that the governor general issued a proclamation of emergency that took effect on March 17.

“The proclamation will give the government necessary and emergency powers to aggressively combat the COVID-19 emergency,” Dr. Minnis said.

“I wish to state the new emergency measures we are enacting are to save lives and to protect our country.”