Good day. 

The Ministry of Health received 519 test results since the last update, and 18 were positive for COVID-19. One (1) new case is a resident who arrived on Delta Airlines DL 584 from Atlanta on 8 March 2021 and tested positive on their Day 8 test. 15 of the new cases are classified as local transmission with known contact as they are associated with known cases. The additional two (2) new cases are classified as under investigation. These cases are among residents with no currently identified link to other known cases or history of travel in the past 14 days.

Additionally, since the last update, there were three (3) recoveries.

There are currently 48 active cases, of which;

·          All 48 are under public health monitoring and;

·          None are in the hospital.

Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 767 total confirmed cases of COVID-19; out of those, 707 persons have recovered, and 12 persons have sadly succumbed to COVID-19.

The mean age of all confirmed positive cases is 42 years (median: 40 years), and the ages range from less than 1 year to greater than 100 years.

The mean age of all currently active cases is 27 years (median: 24 years), and the ages range from less than 10 years (age group: 0-9 years) to greater than 70 years (age group: 70-79 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:

·         222 are imported

·         539 are classified as local transmission of which:

·         447 are local transmission with known contact/source and 

·         92 are local transmission with an unknown contact/source

·         6 are under investigation

As investigations proceed, transmission categories may change. Today’s update has three (3) cases moving from Under Investigation to Local transmission with a known contact/source.

Of the over 180,000 test results reported, the mean age of all persons tested is 43 years (median:  42 years), and the ages range from less than one (1) year to greater than 100 years.

The seven-day average of our real-time reproduction number is above one (1), and Bermuda’s current country status remains “Sporadic Cases”.

The Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP, today expressed concern regarding the current surge of positive cases. She said: “I am very disturbed by this recent surge of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases. Most of our new cases are being spread by local residents, and the number of people infected is growing. It is worth repeating that the UK variant on island now is much more transmissible than the virus we were dealing with before.”

“I cannot stress enough the importance of everyone acting responsibly, following the guidelines, getting tested, and please get vaccinated if you can. Now is not the time to let our guard down. Things were getting better, but that appears not to be the case anymore.” 

“I would also like to ask persons who are contacted by our contact tracers to please be forthcoming with information as it pertains to your close contacts. We need this to be able to trace the potential spread as you may save a life.”

“I would like to reiterate that if you have been placed under quarantine by the Ministry of Health, you need to stay quarantined- you are NOT released automatically after testing. You are released only after your assigned contact tracer contacts you.”

“I wish to remind people to keep their social bubbles small and to wear your mask when out in public or around others from outside of your household.” 

“If you are experiencing symptoms, please contact your doctor. Your doctor will schedule you or direct you to the COVID-19 helpline at 444-2498 for symptomatic testing appointment slots.”

“Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea. Do not go to work or send your child to school if either of you have these symptoms. To do so simply increases the chance of the disease spreading, and this has a negative impact on us all.”

Minister Wilson also advised persons getting vaccinated: “Please come with proof of residence for your vaccination. This includes a Bermuda driver’s licence, PRC card, work permit. If you have travelled in the last 14 days, even if you had the first vaccination, you must wait until your negative 14-day test results before you can be vaccinated.”