Good evening.

There were 1043 test results received by the Ministry of Health since the last update and 11 were positive for COVID-19. 

Three of the new cases are classified as imported, all testing positive on their arrival test, with details as follows

§  1 resident who arrived on DL 584 from Atlanta on 13 December 2020 with no pre-test

§  1 non-resident who arrived on BA 2233 from London on 13 December 2020 – *airline crew with no pre-test

§  1 resident who arrived on BA2233 from London on 13 December 2020 with a negative pre-test

*All BA crew are tested on arrival, as they usually overnight.

Three of the new cases are classified as local transmission with known contact/source as associated with known cases/clusters.

The remaining new cases are classified as under investigation. These cases are among residents with no history of travel or currently identified links to other known cases or clusters.

Bermuda now has 467 total confirmed positive cases. Their status is as follows:

·         there are 208 active cases, of which

·         206 are under public health monitoring and

·         2 are hospitalized with 1 in critical care;

·         a total of 250 have recovered, and

·         the total deceased remains 9.

 The mean age of all confirmed positive cases is 44 years (median: 40 years) and the age range is 0 to 101 years.

The mean age of all currently active cases is 35 years (median: 30 years)  and the age range is 0 to 77 years.

To protect privacy and confidentiality, the average age and age range of the hospitalized cases 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:

·         137 are Imported

·         266 are Local transmission, with known contact/source

·         21 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source, and

·         64 are Under Investigation

As investigations proceed, transmission categories may change.

The seven-day average of our real time reproduction number is greater than 1  (1.96) and Bermuda’s current country status is “Clusters of Cases”.

“We’ve had many queries from members of the public about when is it necessary to quarantine, said Minister of Health, the Hon Kim Wilson.

“Persons who test positive, live with someone who tested positive, or who were identified as being in close contact with a positive case, must quarantine at home for 14 days. As well – if you live with someone who is a close contact with a positive case and you cannot safely separate at your home, you must quarantine for 14 days. And, if someone at your work or school is positive and you were identified as a close contact, you must quarantine.

“If you are travelling to Bermuda, you are required to quarantine for 14 days if you did not have a pre-arrival test or you live with a traveler and cannot safely separate during the traveller’s quarantine.

“Each situation is different and it is important, while you wait to receive guidance from the Ministry of Health’s ESU, that you quarantine to keep yourself and others safe. Please visit gov.bm for all official COVID-19 information.”