Novel Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Plan- fbg-2

Protocol on Management and Control
On 30 January 2020, The Bahamas implemented border control and quarantine measures for
travelers to The Bahamas as a component of its COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and
Response Plan.
All travelers, who are not citizens or residents of The Bahamas, with a history of travel to
China within the previous 20 days are to be denied entry. Citizens and residents with a
history of travel to China within the previous 20 days are to be quarantined and
monitored for the development of symptoms for up to 14 days. These persons will be
monitored closely by public health department to determine whether possible exposure
while in China will result in illness. Should they become ill, they will me managed as per
clinical management WHO guidelines for cases of COVID-19.
Port Surveillance
The Port Surveillance system in the Ministry of Health requires that Medical Officers are on call for
Port Health and are required to be accessible 24 hours each day. There are clear guidelines and
procedures in the Ministry of Health which direct the response to port health concerns (see annex).
These guidelines and procedures will remain in effect in the event of the identification of a suspected
case of COVID-19 through Port Surveillance.
Persons with a travel history to China within the previous 20 days, who are not Bahamian residents
or citizens, will not be allowed entry to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Returning residents or
citizens who have a history of travel to the China within the previous 20 days will be allowed entry
to the country and be reviewed by the Port Health Team at the Port.
At the seaports, persons with a history of travel to China within the previous 20 days will not be
allowed to leave the cruise ship. Other persons on the ship may be granted free pratique after review
of the Maritime Health Declaration by the Port Health Officer.
The system is activated through contacting the on-call cells 376-3533 or 376-4705. A suspect case
of COVID-19 among returning residents and citizens will activate this system immediately.
Figure 3: Possible points of detection for a traveler with COVID-19 infection
Personnel at all points along the travel continuum should be alert and aware of the possible points
of introduction of COVID-19. They must also be prepared to properly follow IPC processes and
procedures (see annex).
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