There were 896 test results received by the Ministry of Health since the last update and five were positive for COVID-19.  One of the new cases is classified as imported by a resident who arrived on BA 2233 from London on 6 January 2021 and tested positive on their arrival test.

The remaining four new cases are classified as local transmission with known contact as they are associated with known cases.

Additionally, since the last update, two cases have recovered.

There are currently 94 active cases, of which;

·         88 are under public health monitoring and

·         6 are in hospital with none in critical care;

Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 646 total confirmed cases of COVID-19; out of those, 540 persons have recovered and 12 persons have sadly succumbed to COVID-19.

The mean age of all confirmed positive cases is 43 years (median: 40 years), and the age range is less than 1 year to greater than 100 years.

The mean age of all currently active cases is 42 years (median: 43 years), and the age range is less than 10 years (age group: 5-9 years) to greater than 80 years (age group: 80-100 years).

The mean age of all currently hospitalized cases is 53 years (median: 54 years), and the age range is less than 30 years (age group: 20-29 years) to greater than 80 years (age group: 80-100 years).

The mean age of all deceased cases is 75 years (median: 77 years), and the age range is less than 60 years (age group: 50-59 years) to greater than 80 years (age group: 80-100 years).

The source of all cases is as follows:

·         171 are Imported

·         423 are classified as local transmission of which:

·         378 are Local transmission with known contact/source and

·         45 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source

·         52 are Under Investigation

As investigations proceed, transmission categories may change.  Today’s update has 7 cases moving from under investigation to local transmission with unknown contact/source.

The seven-day average of our real time reproduction number is less than 1 (0.60) and Bermuda’s current country status remains “Clusters of Cases”.

With regards to the persons feeling ill or exhibiting COVID symptoms, Minister of Health, the Hon Kim N. Wilson said: “It is important that if you begin to exhibit or feel some or any symptoms of having COVID-19 – fever, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, headache, congestion or runny nose, fatigue, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat – you should contact your doctor in the first instance, and have your symptoms assessed.”

“Your doctor can assist with next steps, which, depending on the outcome of the assessment, may involve booking you in for a COVID-19 test at their office or at one of the Government’s testing sites. If you have already contracted COVID-19, continue to stay in touch with your doctor so that decisions can be made about your care.”

The Ministry of Health also reminds the public that it will host ‘Vaccine Awareness - Join the Conversation’ on the Government’s Facebook page and CITV, live, tomorrow, Saturday, 9 January 2021, at 6 pm. This is an excellent opportunity for those who may have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine specifically, and vaccines in general. This programme will allow viewers to post their questions online to have them answered by medical professionals.

For trusted sources of information on COVID-19 visit www.gov.bm, and for information on vaccines and how the COVID-19 vaccination will be administered in Bermuda, as well as frequently asked questions on the vaccine, visit www.gov.bm/vaccines