Good Afternoon, remarks delivered at a press conference today by the Minister of Health the Hon. Kim Wilson JP MP regarding COVID-19.

I would like to begin today by recognizing World AIDS Day, which is marked annually on December 1st.

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for us all to show support for people living with HIV/AIDS, to remember those who have died from an AIDS-related illnesses and to thank those organizations who have provided crucial support services for those living with HIV/AIDS and their families. 

It is also a chance to reflect on how far we have come and to focus on raising awareness and understanding of the disease and the importance of knowing one’s status.

HIV has not gone away, and the Department of Health continues to provide public education so that younger generations have an increased awareness of the risks, and are sensitive to the needs of those living with or effected by HIV. As of 30 November 2020, it is estimated that there are 301 persons known to be living with HIV infection in Bermuda

I would like to acknowledge our Communicable Disease Control team, public health nurses and nurse epidemiologist, who provide care and health counselling to persons living with HIV/AIDS. I personally value what you do tremendously, and it brings me great pride to be part of your dedicated and accomplished team.

Let’s continue to work towards an HIV free Bermuda.

Now, I will share the latest COVID-19 results…

There were 1060 test results received by the Ministry of Health yesterday (30 November 2020), and two were positive for COVID-19. 

One of the new cases is classified as imported with details as follows:

• 1 resident who arrived on a private jet from the U.S. on 21 November 2020 and tested positive on their day 8 test, having had a negative pre-test and arrival test

The other new case is classified as local transmission with known contact with details as follows:

• 1 resident who was under quarantine as a close contact (workplace) of a known case

Bermuda now has 262 total confirmed positive cases. Their status is as follows:

• • there are 39 active cases, of which
  • 38 are under public health monitoring, and
  • One is hospitalized. None are in critical care;
  • a total of 214 have recovered, and
  • the total deceased remains 9.

The average age of all of our confirmed positive cases is 51 years and the age range of all of our positive cases is from 0 to 101 years.

To protect privacy and confidentiality, the age of the hospitalized case will not be provided.

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:

• • 122 are Imported
  • 112 are Local transmission, with known contact/source
  • 21 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source, and
  • 7 are under investigation

The seven-day average of our real time reproduction number is greater than 1 (1.27) and Bermuda’s current country status is “Clusters of Cases”.

It is important to note that as investigations proceed, transmission categories may change. Also – to clarify something I was asked about at yesterday’s press conference – a case will stay under investigation for a maximum of 28 days and, if a known source is not found during that time, it will then move to “local transmission with an unknown contact”.

And now, a few updates:

We have amended our health regulations so that it is now an offence to not wear a mask in accordance with the guidelines. A person who fails to wear a mask when one is required commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to—

(a)   a fine of $500, in respect of a first offence;

(b)   a fine of $1,000, for a second or subsequent offence.

Also I can advise that as of today, December 1, the COVID-19 call centre will be extending its hours and will be open from 8am until 10pm (rather than 9am until 9pm as it was previously). This is to accommodate any travellers encountering Travel Authorization issues before their late night or early morning flights.

I would like to issue a reminder to travellers or potential travellers that as of this Friday, December 4th, a pre-arrival test must be taken within five days before arriving in Bermuda; not seven, as was previously the case. This will reduce the time period in which a traveler could have a potential exposure before boarding their flight to Bermuda.

As we enter the festive holiday period, the Ministry of Health is reminding all travellers – including returning students – that they are subject to mobile quarantine restrictions on their movements and activities, until they receive a negative Day 14 COVID-19 test result.

Therefore all travellers should:

• Wear a mask at all times when in the company of others.
• Avoid mixing in cramped, poorly-ventillated indoor spaces with non-travellers.
• And not attend large family gatherings.

In particular, returning students should be careful of mixing with local students and family members while on island, prior to their negative Day 14 COVID-19 test result.

Similarly, those travelling for business should take the necessary precautions when returning and interacting with family and friends.

Also, while on the topic of businesses - I would ask that businesses hoping to hold celebratory Christmas lunches please keep your teams separate and your festive gatherings small and limited to work/team bubbles only. This is not the time to be holding big client lunches with those outside of your office. This will help to ensure that we do not get further spread and that your company can stay open.

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.

In terms of general advice which the Ministry of Health is issuing to residents at this time please note the following tips:

• Ensure your workplace is following COVID-19 protocols.
• Reduce your bubble sizes - choose only one or two other households to socialise with for the next few weeks.
• When you meet others, meet outdoors and wear masks and observe physical distancing.
• If the weather is good, ask your church to host outdoor services or to broadcast services online so you can still participate.
• Wear your mask properly! Wearing a mask with your nose is exposed is like not wearing a mask at all!
• Consider postponing events until it's safer.
• Avoid indoor spaces, crowded places and close contacts.

Please, everyone, just hang in there; we are so close to getting the vaccine. Please, please don’t let things get out of control at this point in the game. Yes, the holidays will look different this year, but we have to constantly consider what is at risk if we do not buckle down for the next little while.

If people ignore public health measures, we will see more and more cases and head down the path to community transmission. 

I would like to remind members of the public to use Bermuda's self-reporting website Healthiq.bm. HealthIQ helps us, as a community, to track symptoms based on COVID criteria. It also provides users with individualized information and follow-up by professionals based on various risk factors (such as being medically vulnerable), and track trends and gaps so that we can better identify places where partners like donors and the Third Sector can focus resources.  HealthIQ provides the island with more insight into where potential cases of COVID-19 may be and gives us a proactive way to address them, giving us tens of thousands of eyes so that we can all stay safe. We are asking that each household go to healthiq.bm and enter your information and update it often; it only takes a moment and is completely private. Give yourself and your community a better understanding of how we're all doing.

Before I close, I would like to state that I am aware of a petition currently circulating which asks for an extension to the quarantine time for passengers arriving in Bermuda to eight days.

First of all, I want to say that I am extremely sympathetic to the plight of the parents of children who have had to keep them home from school and quarantine them in response to the latest cases.

However, I can confirm that Government is not looking to quarantine travellers until Day 8. This would be hugely detrimental to our already struggling tourism sector. Who would come to Bermuda if they had to quarantine for 8 days? 

We must balance the need to protect public health with the need to keep our economy going.

However, I can say that we will be tightening up certain aspects of traveller protocols; the details of which I will share during my Ministerial Statement on Friday. 

In closing, I would like to appeal to members of the public to please not circulate private details about positive cases. I know sometimes this is motivated by a desire to help or a desire to be best informed but please let the contact tracers at the Ministry of Health do their jobs. If you need to quarantine, they will let you know. If you need to stay home from work, they will let you know. Public health is our number one concern and I urge you to please follow their advice and instruction. 

Another balance we must strike is the balance between a person’s right to privacy and the media’s need to report and inform. 

We MUST protect people’s privacy – just as we do with other communicable disease such as HIV. Privacy is something we value beyond measure at the Ministry of Health…which is why I do not  always answer every detail of every case when I appear at press conferences each week; some details would identify an individual and we will never compromise public trust or individual confidentiality. 

I appreciate and understand the need for transparency and relevant information to be provided to members of the public, and I must emphasis the word ‘relevant’. However this must and will be measured first and foremost against the backdrop of a person’s right to privacy.   I will not compromise this for the sake of the media’s insatiable desire to receive personal private details of an individual; details which could reveal their identity.  And I thank members of the press in advance for their understanding of my position. 

When positive cases are flagged to the Ministry of Health they are given a number; and that is how they are known during internal case discussions. 

Next week I will provide information on further testing opportunities for residents which are currently being finalized by my team.

Thank you.