Nassau, BAHAMAS-The cell block at the Magistrates’ Court Complex was placed on lockdown Thursday after a Jamaican man showed symptoms of the deadly coronavirus.
There are more than one million cases of the virus worldwide and over 47,000 deaths. Locally, there are 24 known cases and one death.
The 38-year-old Jamaican national showed symptoms of the coronavirus while in custody. Police arrested the man for drug possession with intent to supply on March 31.
However, police officers reportedly didn’t inform officers at the cell block of his condition.
Officers in the cell block learned the man had been seen at hospital when they checked his detention record, sources said.
As a precautionary measure, a magistrate arraigned the man by video-link. He pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors dismissed the charge against him after his co-accused took the rap. However, court staff called an ambulance for the man who had trouble breathing.
Though wearing a mask, the inmate sometimes removed it. He came into close contact with other detainees and police officers who work in the cell block.
As a consequence, all of the officers in the cell block and detainees had to remain in the building this afternoon until officials from the Ministry of Health evaluated them.
STEPS TO STOP THE CORONAVIRUS
Officials have closed borders and public spaces in an attempt to contain the disease.
A 24-hour curfew confines residents to their homes unless they work in essential services or for exempted businesses. Residents can only leave their homes to go to the grocery store, bank, pharmacy or a medical emergency.
In spite of the national curfew, traffic jams continue.
Prime Minister Hubert Minnis commented on the lack of compliance with the curfew during an address this week.
He said, “Some people have very hard heads. Well, this virus is harder and badder than even the hardest of heads in this country…There are still too many people on the road.”
Minnis announced plans to introduce a shopping schedule to reduce crowding at shops. Under the proposal, people would receive assigned shopping days based on the first letter of their surnames.
To date, police have prosecuted 132 people for violating the curfew.
