Diggiss: Nearly 90,000 Covid Tests Conducted In December

Hospital conducting an average of 3,000 covid-19 tests per day during the month of December. CEO Dr. Charles Diggiss said the rise in cases is posing a significant challenge. 

The end of December is when the Bahamas saw a major surge in Covid-19 cases. The Covid-19 situation in country intensified with more than 2500 cases recorded since December 27th.
For the month of December alone, Doctor’s Hospital performed just shy of 90,000 Covid-19 tests, according to CEO Dr. Charles Diggis who said the majority of which were rapid antigen tests. This week, Doctor’s Hospital released a notice advising the public of a now 48-hour wait for PCR test results.

Dr. Diggiss says long lines at any testing sites isn’t unusual during this time, as they are experiencing a backlog due to increased demand. Earlier this week, the doctor said 120 employees at the facility were out due to Covid-19. He emphasized that it’s a big challenge having 40 specimen collectors given the increased demand. He admitted that the increase of community spread is getting the best of the healthcare system and those in the specimen collection space.