Good Day Bermuda,
There were 560 test results received by the Ministry of Health yesterday (24 November 2020), and two were positive for COVID-19.
One of the new cases is classified as imported. This new case is a non-resident who arrived on DL 584 from Atlanta on 23 November 2020 who tested positive on their arrival test, having had a negative pre-test.
The additional case is classified as local transmission with known contact and is part of the workplace cluster.
Bermuda now has 241 total confirmed positive cases. Their status is as follows:
· there are 26 active cases, who are
· all under public health monitoring, and
· none are hospitalized or in critical care;
· a total of 206 have recovered, and
· the total deceased remains 9.
The average age of all of our confirmed positive cases is 53 years and the age range of all of our positive cases is from 0 to 101 years.
The average age of all deceased cases is 74 years and the age range is 57 to 91 years.
The source of all cases is as follows:
· 116 are Imported
· 102 are Local transmission, with known contact/source
· 21 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source, and
· 2 are under investigation
The seven-day average of our real time reproduction number is estimated at 1.08 and Bermuda’s current country status is “Clusters of Cases” as there are currently linked cases (clusters) with no direct link to imported cases or travel. Investigations are ongoing. As of today, there are 10 cases associated with the identified workplace cluster (7 from the workplace, including one under investigation, and 3 household contacts).
The Minister of Health the Hon. Kim Wilson JP MP said, "Given the increase in local cases, infection prevention and control is incredibly important. No matter where you work or which industry you work in, the risk of spreading infections in the workplace is ever-present. It’s important that everyone knows the risks, how to stay safe, and keep themselves and everyone around them healthy. This is why I am encouraging all employees and management to complete the Ministry of Health's infection control and prevention online training which covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19 and similar type diseases. It can be found at www.gov.bm/infection-prevention-and-control-training."
The Minister added: "None of us can be complacent at this time. Without the precautions we all know – mask wearing, physical distancing and hand-washing – one case can easily multiply and spread.
"What contact tracing has taught us about the current increase in positive cases is that we are not staying within a small, defined ‘bubble’ at all times. We need to work much harder to limit our interactions with family and friends. The Ministry advises that you reduce your bubble sizes now - choose only one or two other households to socialize with for the next few weeks. It is particularly easy to be casual in the workplace, and relax around colleagues as you would around your family, and this cannot happen. We must stay vigilant."