The Ministry of Health received 2018 test results since the last update and 89 were positive for COVID-19. This gives a test positivity rate of 4.4%. 

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

·         1 resident who arrived on Delta Airlines DL 584 from Atlanta on 1 April 2021 and tested positive on their Day 4 test.

18 of the new cases are classified as local transmission with known contact as associated with known cases.

The additional 70 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 23 recoveries and 0 deaths.

There are currently 737 active cases, of which:

·         717 are under public health monitoring, and

·         20 are in hospital with five in intensive care.

Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 1586 confirmed cases of COVID-19; out of these 835 have recovered and 14 persons have sadly succumbed to COVID-19.

The mean age of all confirmed positive cases is 41 years (median: 39 years) and the ages range from less than 1 year to greater than 100 years.

The mean age of all currently active cases is 41 years (median: 40 years) and the ages range from less than 10 years (age group: 0-9 years) to greater than 80 years (age group: 80-100 years).

The mean age of all hospitalized cases is 61 years (median: 59 years) and the ages range from 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 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:

·         252 are Imported

·         1021 are classified as local transmission of which:

o   927 are local transmission with known contact/source and

o   94 are local transmission with an unknown contact/source

·         313 are Under Investigation

As investigations proceed, transmission categories may change. Today’s update has three cases moving from under investigation to Local Transmission with known contact/source and two cases moving from under investigation to Local Transmission with unknown contact/source.

Of the over 200,000 test results reported, the mean age of all persons tested is 43 years (median:  42 years) and the ages range from less than 1 year to greater than 100 years.

The seven-day average of our real time reproduction number is above 1 (1.18).

Bermuda’s current WHO country status is Community Transmission.

Minister of Health, the Hon Kim Wilson stated, “Today is World Health Day. I must first recognize, highlight and appreciate the hard work of every healthcare professional who has worked in any capacity over the last year in Bermuda to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Each person should be thanked and applauded for the long, tireless hours they have worked to help keep Bermuda safe. I encourage everyone who knows a healthcare professional to send them a note, a text, or a What’sApp message of thanks and support.”

Minister Wilson continued, “Against this backdrop, and with the World Health Day theme of building a fairer, healthier world, the Government of Bermuda is focused on bringing down the cost of medications so they are affordable for everyone. Several weeks ago, I announced the creation of a Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee which will evaluate drug utilisation in Bermuda and assess new drug classes and clinical indications.

“The Committee will also determine how medical products will be added to, or deleted from, the Drug Formulary. The Drug Formulary will list the common essential medications and associated products and devices used in medical treatments, which are intended to be medically appropriate, cost-effective and sold at a regulated price.

“It is only fitting that the public is reminded about the Bermuda Health Council Amendment Act 2021 that was passed by the Upper House and Lower House last month. This is just one of the many ways the Ministry of Health is working to ensure all Bermudians have affordable access to healthcare and medications in Bermuda, thereby building a fairer, healthier community.”

Minister Wilson concluded, “We each have a role to play, whether it is helping to reduce healthcare costs or stopping the spread of the coronavirus. To this end, gym users are reminded that all indoor gyms are closed. Given the highly contagious nature of this variant of the coronavirus, we must each act as though we may have the virus and think those we interact with may also have the virus. Therefore it is important to continue to wear your mask, maintain physical distance, practice good hand hygiene and download the WeHealth Bermuda app.”