The Bahamas are trying really hard to ensure the family islands do not get infected with COVID-19. These smaller islands do not have medical facilities for such a situation. COVID-19 as of yesterday, according to Bahamas News sites, is only on Grand Bahamas and Nassau.

There seems to be a bit of misinformation being posted on the internet about what boaters can and can not do in the Bahamas. Some boater are not aware of the Bahamas State of Emergency Proclamation and more recent April 3rd “Lock Down” orders (AKA Do not leave your boat). So below is detailed information from official Bahamas government web site(s) and US Embassy:

From the US Embassy:
“On April 3, the Prime Minister of The Bahamas announced a full lockdown order for all of The Bahamas effective 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 3 through 5:00 a.m. on Monday, April 6. Virtually all businesses and service providers are closed, including grocery stores. All U.S.-bound flights have been canceled. Hospitals, hotels with guests, law enforcement and essential utility personnel are excepted from this around the clock shutdown over this weekend. We urge all U.S. citizens still in The Bahamas and its territorial waters to shelter in place or stay in your home and yard, on your vessel, or in your hotel/lodging until the full lockdown is lifted using whatever resources you have at your disposal until the regular 24-hour curfew regulations resume on Monday, April 6, at 5:01 a.m. ”

State of emergency

https://www.bahamas.com/pressroom/bahamas-ministry-tourism-aviation-statement-covid-19-4

Home

The Emergency Order remains in effect until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31 [this has been extended], unless otherwise stated. Preventative restrictions are being enforced to prevent further spread of COVID-19, including:

– No visitor shall be permitted to enter and disembark for any reason including transiting through The Bahamas.
– All airports throughout the entire Bahamas, including private airports and fixed-base operations (FBOs), shall be closed to all flights.
– All sea ports shall be closed to regional and international seafaring and private boating.
– Air and sea restrictions do not apply to: cargo flights or cargo ships, commercial courier flights, emergency medical flights or emergency flights approved by the Civil Aviation Authority.
– All international visitors currently in The Bahamas should be prepared to stay for an indefinite period of time.
– No person shall offer for hire or seek to travel on any mail boat, sailing inter island, except for transport of freight; or inter island private commercial sea transport.
– All residents will be placed on a 24-hour curfew and are to remain at home to avoid contact outside of their family, except for those who have been deemed essential workers, or have special permission from the Commissioner of Police.
– Residents can leave their homes for essential travel to the doctor, grocery store, bank, pharmacy or to refuel; as well as for outside exercise, not exceeding an hour and a half per day between the hours of 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., provided that the exercise is conducted in one’s yard or one’s immediate neighborhood and no person shall drive to any place to exercise.
– Proper social distancing guidelines of at least six feet (6ft.) must be followed at all times while outside the home.
– All public beaches, markets and docks will be closed, and no vehicles are permitted on any public or private roads for any purpose other than stated above.

Full details of this order and the previous Emergency Order may be found at opmbahamas.com.”

For those posting from the Bahamas, the State of Emergency Proclamation also states:
“no person shall publish or cause to be published, posted or re-posted, over any media platform inclusive of social media, any purported news or report, or purported statement of fact, knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect that the statement is untrue or false or may incite public fear, panic or ethnic hatred.”

And as one of the other boaters correctly posted:

“The regulations state that any person who contravenes the provisions commits an offense and is liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 18 months or both.”

One good reason for the more recent lockdown might be to give the Health Department time to conduct case contact tracing on the last few COVID-19 cases and more testing while everyone is in lockdown (AKA not moving or spreading the virus).

We love the Bahamas and appreciate the steps they are taking to contain COVID-19. Many of the northern islands are still recovering from the last hurricane (e.g. house damage, public water in Grand Bahamas still has salt water incursion). Please help ensure that we do our part by not bring COVID-19 to the family island or into their country. Thx.