02 March, 2021

Good afternoon.

The Ministry of Health received 333 test results since the last update, and none were positive for COVID-19.  Additionally, since the last update, there were two recoveries.

There are currently 17 active cases, of which;

·         17 are under public health monitoring and;

·         None are in the hospital.

Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 713 total confirmed cases of COVID-19; out of those, 684 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 ages range from less than one year to greater than 100 years.

The mean age of all currently active cases is 41 years (median: 47 years), and the ages range from less than 20 years (age group: 10-19 years) to greater than 50 years (age group: 50-59 years).

The mean age of all deceased cases is 75 years (median: 77 years), and the ages range from 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:

·         210 are imported

·         502 are classified as local transmission of which:

·         410 are local transmission with known contact/source and

·         92 are local transmission with an unknown contact/source

·         One is under investigation

As investigations proceed, transmission categories may change.

Of the over 170,000 test results reported, the mean age of all persons tested is 43 years (median:  42 years), and the ages range from less than one year to greater than 100 years.

Additionally, during the week of 21 to 27 February, 660 saliva screening tests were conducted. Therefore, as of 27 February 2021, results have been received for 6464 saliva screenings. The mean age of all persons screened is 56 years (median:  57 years), and the ages range from less than 10 years to greater than 100 years.

The seven-day average of our real-time reproduction number is less than one, and Bermuda’s current country status remains “Sporadic Cases”.

I will now provide an update on our vaccine programme, which plays a critical role in Bermuda’s return to normal.

We have completed the seventh full week of vaccinations and the fifth week using two Vaccination Centres operating six days a week. For the seven-week period, from January 11 to February 27, Bermuda has administered a total of 20,705 vaccinations – a figure that rises to 21,387 if you include yesterday’s vaccinations as well! – which is a remarkable accomplishment.

Of the 20,705 vaccinations administered for the period we are reporting on, which ends February 27;

·         11,373 (or 55%) were given to women, and,

·         9,332 (or 45%) were given to men.

Bermuda’s goal of “herd immunity” will be achieved when 70% of the population (64,054) has been immunized. To date, 21% of the population has been vaccinated (with 1 dose) and 11% of the population has been immunized (with 2 doses).

Each week since January 11 has seen an increase in the number of vaccinations administered, with 4314 vaccinations delivered last week. The public has accessed these vaccines as follows:

·         the Vaccination Centre at Bermuda College (previously at the Police Recreation Club) administered 12,036 or 58% of vaccinations,

·         7,760 or 37% were administered at the Bermuda Hospitals Board Vaccination Centre,

·         767 or 4% were administered at rest homes and long term care facilities, and

·         141 or 1% were administered at Other Vaccination Sites.

Assessed against Bermuda’s vaccination priority targets:-

In Phase 1A

·         1,703 persons or 55% of those aged 80 years and older have been vaccinated. 441 have had one vaccination, and 1,262 (41%) are fully immunized.

·         381 persons or 51% of residents in rest homes and long term care have been vaccinated. 70 have had one vaccination, and 311 (42%) are fully immunized.

·         1,365 health care workers or 56% have been vaccinated. 221 have had one vaccination, and 1,144 (47%) are fully immunized.

·         1,393 essential workers or 59% have been vaccinated. 403 have had one vaccination, and 990 (42%) are fully immunized.

 

In Phase 1B

·         4,523 persons or 48% of those aged 65 – 79 years have been vaccinated. 1,590 have had one vaccination, and 2,933 (31%) are fully immunized. 

These are excellent results so far, and I would like to thank all those who are getting their vaccination to protect themselves, their families and our community.

 

Government House has informed the Government that Bermuda will receive another 15,000 doses of the vaccine later this month. This is great for our vaccine programme as we are receiving more and more persons who are registering their interest to be vaccinated.

I would like to remind residents that we are currently in Phase 2 of Bermuda’s COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy.

Phase 2 is for residents who are 50 years or older, have been diagnosed with heart disease, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, have a disability, are of no fixed abode or essential travelers – persons who must travel for medical purposes or to return to school.

If you fit the criteria for Phase 2, please register for an appointment by completing the registration form at forms.gov.bm/covidvaccine.

Also, we are in the process of making appointments for the remaining persons who are 65 years-old and older who registered online but have not yet been vaccinated. We encourage all those in that group to continue to register as they will be prioritized in the booking system, along with all who are medically vulnerable.

If you are not able to access the registration form online, ask a friend, neighbour or family member to help register you online, or you can call the vaccine hotline on 444 2498 and select option 2.

With regard to the numbers of persons who have registered interest.

For the week ending February 27th, 20,877 persons have registered their interest in getting vaccinated. The breakdown is as follows:

·         5,068 Black

·         9,704 White

·         2,404 Mixed or Other, and,

·         3,701 Prefer not to say or Not Specified.

For those of you who have registered already – thank you, and please encourage your family and friends who may be in the priority groups to register. The COVID-19 vaccination will prevent you from becoming seriously ill or dying from the virus. The more people who are vaccinated, the harder it will be for the virus to spread in our community. Please remember that there are those in our community who cannot get vaccinations because of health issues. Our immunization protects them.

I must also remind people that you cannot get your vaccination if you have travelled and not yet received your 14-day negative test or if you are in quarantine. And you must wear a proper mask or face covering – no neck gaiters please– when you attend a vaccination centre.

As previously announced, there will be changes to the guidance for persons who are immunized.

Most immediately, I can inform the public that persons who are immunized are able to travel to Bermuda and, with two negative COVID-19 test results (pre-arrival and on arrival at the airport), may dine indoors, go to work, visit a bar or nightclub, and go to the gym. However, they are still subject to the full testing regime, which includes tests on days 4, 8 and 14.

If the traveller does not have a pre-arrival test, then the two negative test results needed will be on arrival and day 4.

All immunized persons must practice workplace isolation, which means, if you are a teacher, for example, do not eat in the staff room. Keep as much separation between you and others as much as possible until you have completed your day 14 test.

For students in households where adults are immunized and have been travelling, they will be able to continue to attend school. They will not need to be in quarantine at home.

For more information regarding these changes, please check the website at gov.bm/coronavirus.

With respect to Bermuda’s ‘country status’…

Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control, the CDC, reduced Bermuda from Level 4 (COVID-19 very high; travellers should avoid all travel to these destinations) to Level 3 (COVID-19 high; travellers should avoid all non-essential travel to these destinations). That was encouraging news but is not quite where we want to be.

However, even this will be in jeopardy if we cannot control and eliminate new cases of COVID-19 on our shores.

Recently, Bermuda has gone from 9 active COVID-19 cases, where 8 of the 9 are imported cases, to 17 active cases where 8 are imported, 8 are local transmission, and 1 is under investigation. This happened in just two weeks.

These new cases represent an emerging outbreak, and they appear to be linked to one of the more transmissible variants, most likely the UK variant.

As investigations into this emerging outbreak continue, the number of cases has also increased, and the risk of transmission that increases with large gatherings of persons presents a clear and present danger. With the increase in locally transmitted cases of Covid -19, we felt it prudent to amend the Regulations as it relates to curfews.  This will help to minimize the time where people may be socializing together in close proximity to each other and in closed-in spaces. Also, as we know, increased alcohol consumption can lead to poor judgment calls and slips in protective health measures.  The Ministry’s contact tracing investigations strongly suggest that it is social mixing or gatherings of people that are most likely to produce local transmissions and positive cases.

Last week I advised members of the public that individuals who attended house parties over the weekend of February 19th, should arrange Covid-19 testing as soon as possible. 

As I have stated previously, concerning the issue of “close contacts”, I want to reassure the public that their information will be kept private.  It is used only for outbreak investigation. Having said that, I would like to ask persons who are contacted by one of our contact tracers to please be forthcoming with information as it pertains to your close contacts. We need this to be able to trace any potential spread … your cooperation may well save a life.

Outbreaks occur when members of our community choose not to follow public health guidelines and measures – and they are making a deliberate choice. The result is outbreaks of COVID-19 which can have, and have had, a devastating impact on our economy and way of life. The wider community does not deserve to be placed under more strict public health measures because of the actions of a few.

Every single one of us has a responsibility to adhere to the public health guidelines as they help stop the spread of disease. They are not difficult: wear a mask, physically distance and avoid the “three Cs” of closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings. 

Bermuda, we cannot have another spike in positive cases. You will recall that last November there were three events at two venues over one weekend, which resulted in more than 80 people testing positive and more than 550 people being placed in quarantine. Many of those persons who were required to isolate and or quarantine, were financially disadvantaged due to their inability to go to work. We cannot go back to that.

As I said previously, contact tracing is vital to ensure all persons possibly exposed to the coronavirus are tested and, if necessary, quarantined. I urge the public to co-operate with our contact tracing team. Their work is vital in preventing the spread of the virus. Also, knowing your COVID-19 status is important even if we are not dealing with an outbreak. Get tested! And get tested regularly.

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind funeral homes, churches, restaurants, event planners – anyone hosting services and events – that, by law, they may be liable to prosecution pursuant to the Public Health (COVID-19 Emergency Powers) Regulations 2021 as a host of, as well as being a part of, an assembled group that exceeds the gathering size permitted by the Regulations. There is a fine of $6,000 for the first offence and $10,000 and or a prison term of three months for a second or subsequent offence.

As always, Bermuda, please continue to follow the public health measures and guidelines put in place for our collective safety. Continue to wear your mask and practice physical distancing. And get vaccinated when it is your turn.

Thank you.