Ministry of Health briefing starting now.

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Dr Duane Sands says there has been a seventh death, of a 51-year-old woman who was tested posthumously. Expresses condolences to family of deceased. 40 confirmed cases in The Bahamas. 33 in New Providence. 6 in Grand Bahama. 1 in Bimini.

Dr Sands: Five patients have now been categorised as recovered. 394 tested in country.

Govt to show maps showing locations of cases and contacts.

Sands reiterates the lockdown starting this evening until Tuesday - except for defined workers and the Thursday shopping for police, defence force and healthcare professionals, and essential workers as defined by the regulations.

Dr Sands reiterates there is no vaccine and no treatment for COVID-19, but says it is clear that social distancing is one of the best weapons in tackling this virus.

Dr Sands adds that if you catch this virus, your final hours could be spent alone, away from the people you love, in isolation to stop the spread of the virus.

Dr Sands adds that if you catch this virus, your final hours could be spent alone, away from the people you love, in isolation to stop the spread of the virus.

Dr Sands says in plain English, stay away from people. For those of you who sneak out and like to break the rules, he warns there are super spreaders in our community. They move around and spread the virus to large numbers of people.

Dr Sands says if you go out, you can bring the virus back to your loved ones. You can kill those you love.

Dr Sands now running through the need for thorough and regular hand washing and use of PPE gear to protect senior citizens with reference to nursing and care homes.

Dr Sands: COVID-19 can kill any age group, rich or poor. No country has enough doctors and nurses and PPE gear to handle a full outbreak. "When hospital networks are strained, people die."

Dr Sands says doctors are forced to decide who gets the ventilator when healthcare systems are overwhelmed. The one who gets it has a chance to live. The others die.

He says those in danger particularly those who are immunocompromised. He adds that 2 in 3 Bahamians have non-communicable diseases such as hypertension or heart disease, and that makes them vulnerable to the virus. "Your body is unable to fight back and again it can mean death."

He says 47% of the nation have high blood pressure and 26% has diabetes.

Dr Sands urges people to secure one month's supply of medication or longer if possible.

Dr Sands says maintaining a healthy lifestyle can boost your ability to survive.

Dr Sands urges people to stay in contact through video chats and texts - especially with the elderly.

Dr Sands: Those with pre-existing mental conditions should continue with their medications. In the event of a deterioration, call your mental health expert. In event of an emergency, call 911.

Regarding masks, Dr Sands says it is recommended to wear cloth masks to reduce the amount of particles released when you speak or breathe.

Dr Sands says blood bank open 9am to 5pm after the lockdown and there is an urgent need for blood donations. "I need you to make donations," he says, adding we need blood and we need blood badly.

Dr Sands: This difficult period of lockdown is designed to save lives.

Dr Sands thanks Bahamians who are staying home and saving lives, saying "You too are heroes."

Asked about the high mortality rate, Dr Sands references other conditions. Says we can't say categorically but that will factor in. He also talks about other cases in the community and ramping up testing.

Dr Nikia Forbes says the mortality rate is a reflection of the ability to do widespread testing and we are working on expanding testing capacity. She says as we increase our capacity we will see that rate balance out.

Dr Sands warns people about being in crowds when going shopping, including for fish, and reiterates the need for social distancing and hand washing "because you do not know who is a carrier".

Dr Sands says it is remarkable that The Bahamas has developed the ability to carry out testing here rather than sending tests off to the CDC in the US.

Dr Dahl-Regis says if we continue to see crowds, then in 14 days we can predict we will see a spike in cases.

Of the latest case, Dr Dahl-Regis confirms the latest death was a victim from Grand Bahama who died on April 6.

Dr Sands: We have been incredibly grateful to the public for suggestions and advice. Refers to a number system used in Grand Bahama and congratulates proprieters who use that system. Says there is no monopoly on good ideas. Absolutely wants the public to make suggestions.

Asked about Chinese advice to Italy that people should be mass quarantined rather than self-isolate, Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan says those who are being self-isolated are asymptomatic. She says a facility is being used to quarantine people.

For those with symptoms, she says a facility has been secured for mandatory quarantine but self-isolation can occur for those who will do what is required.

In response to concerns over availability of PPE equipment and testing kits, Dr Dahl-Regis says Sandilands group has been provided what is needed and more can be provided.

On test kits, Dr Sands says there is no shortage of test kits. Says we have enough to exceed demand for foreseeable future. On antibody test kits, he says they are not validated in many jurisdictions, and they are best to use in general population.

Asked about contact tracing, including about the case of a worker at Wendy's, Dr Dahl-Regis says govt is developing maps for each contact. Tracing has taken govt all the way to Spanish Wells. With 40 cases, govt is in process of identifying the contacts, including for deceased.

Refers to the Wendy case and says it is an extensive process. Also says govt is trying to preserve confidentiality.

On those in government quarantine versus self-isolation, Dr Dahl-Regis says govt can only hope they are complying and nurses are in contact every day. No figures on the numbers in quarantine available today.

Dr Dahl-Regis says the number of cases show that we are looking at an exponential progression than a linear progression. There is a prediction of nearly 90 cases by Easter Sunday. The hope is it will not go that way but there is concern.

Question as to whether the prime minister has been tested, Dr Dahl-Regis says Dr Minnis has not been tested but is asymptomatic and observing all the necessary precautions.

Dr Forbes says with regard to global publicity on a drug treatment, she says the treatment is unknown, it's a new virus, the scientific community is doing the studies. Across the board, there is no known treatment.

There are many drugs with a theoretical benefit but can actually cause the patient harm when we have the full data. FDA did release restrictions on one drug off label for patients who are sickest, with a high likelihood of passing away, but we do not know if the drug will work.

There is toxicity with overdoses and people have died. There is a process to determine whether these drugs will work. Small studies were not scientifically sound so far. She references thalidomide as an example of using a drug without proper assessment of consequences.

Dr Sands says there is no reason someone who has died from COVID-19 cannot have a burial. There are no specific requirements with regard to cremation.

Press conference concludes there.