Bahamas government spent more than $500k on free testing
Minister of Health Dr Michael Darville said the government had spent more than $500,000 on its free COVID-19 testing initiative so far.
“The free testing program began in October in Inagua and has expanded to multiple locations nationwide, with more than 34,000 tests across the country, to date, for $525,000,” Darville said when reached for comment.
“Free testing has been an essential component of limiting the spread of the virus during the Delta and Omicron waves. Those who tested positive understood they needed to isolate until they were no longer infectious.
“At many of our free testing locations, we have also been giving out free medical-grade masks — another important tool in limiting the spread of the virus in our country.”
As of Monday, 840 tests have come back positive, according to Darville.
PCR tests cost as much as $140, and rapid antigen tests cost between $20 and $30 at private facilities.
Before it was elected to government in September 2021, the Progressive Liberal Party promised to introduce free COVID-19 testing in The Bahamas.
The rollout of a pilot program started on some Family Islands not long after the party took office.
But the government was slow to roll out the program on The Bahamas’ two most populated islands — New Providence and Grand Bahama.
By December, amid a surge in COVID-19 cases that would eventually lead to the fourth wave, public members began calling on the government to introduce free testing on other islands.
The program was expanded to New Providence and Grand Bahama the following month.
Prime Minister Philip Davis has said the government is “very pleased” with how the rollout of free testing has been going.
While free testing was initially offered on Family Islands, the program is only active in New Providence and Grand Bahama.
0 Comment