The Ministry of Health received 7434 test results since the last update, and 35 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 0.5%. 

These results are from testing done on:

• Monday, August 16: 10 positive out of 2289 results (0.4% positivity)
• Tuesday, August 17: 12 positive out of 2573 results (0.5% positivity)
• Wednesday, August 18: 13 positive out of 2821 results (0.5% positivity)

6 of the new cases are classified as imported with history of travel in the previous 14 days, with details as follows:

·1 non-resident who arrived on American Airlines AA 2044 from Charlotte on 8 August and tested positive on their day 8 test

·1 resident who arrived on Delta Airline DL 617from New York on 14 August  and tested positive following onset of symptoms

·1 resident who arrived on American Airlines AA 914 from Miami on 14 August and tested positive on their day 4 test

·1 resident who arrived on British Airways BA 159 from London on 15 August  and tested positive following onset of symptoms

·2 residents who arrived on Delta Airlines DL 584from Atlanta on 17 August and tested positive on their arrival test

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

The additional 7 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 24 recoveries and 0 deaths.

There are 124 active cases, of which:

·123 are under public health monitoring and

·1 is in hospital in intensive care

Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 2750 confirmed coronavirus cases, out of which 2593 have recovered, and sadly 33 COVID related deaths.

The source of all active cases is as follows:

·39 are Imported

·64 are classified as local transmission of which:

o   64 are Local transmission with known contact/source and

o   0 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source

·21 are Under Investigation

Active cases by vaccination status, transmission, and type:

•        Imported cases: 28 (72%) are fully vaccinated, and 11 (28%) are not vaccinated.

•        Local/Under Investigation cases: 22 (26%) are fully vaccinated, and 63 (74%) are not vaccinated.

•        Of the active cases by variant type: 0 are Alpha, 0 are Beta, 102 (82%) are Delta, 0 are Gamma, 0 are wildtype, 15 (12%) cannot be determined, and 7 (6%) are not available.

Since July 1, there have been a total of 35,891 arrivals at the Airport. Out of those arrivals 98% of those arrivals have been vaccinated persons, and 2% have not been vaccinated. Since July 1 0.22% of all vaccinated travellers  have tested positive on or after arrival, while 1.04% of unvaccinated travellers have tested positive. This means that unvaccinated travellers are 4.6 times more likely to test positive for the coronavirus. It is important that when looking at the data we look at the % of cases, and not the total volume and vaccinated travellers outnumber unvaccinated travellers by a factor of 52 to 1.

The source of all confirmed cases is as follows:

·418 are Imported

·2304 are classified as local transmission of which:

o   1805 are Local transmission with known contact/source and

o   499 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source

·28 are Under Investigation

As investigations proceed, transmission categories may change. For information regarding age distributions and overall transmission categories, please refer to https://www.gov.bm/coronavirus-covid19-update.

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

Bermuda’s current WHO country status remains “Sporadic Cases”.

“As a reminder, the vaccine clinic at the King Edward Memorial Hospital is open for appointments and walk-ins, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm-7pm, and Saturdays from 8am-4pm,” said Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP. “Additionally, you can go to the Washington Mall on Saturday, August 28, between 10 am and 2 pm. Medical professionals will be available to answer your questions. You don’t need an appointment. Just show up to talk to someone or to get the vaccine.”

“As always, to decrease the odds of getting the coronavirus, avoid the three “Cs”: closed spaces, crowded places and close contact settings.”

Each of us has a role to play in stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Follow Public Health guidelines, wear a mask indoors, practice good hand hygiene, maintain physical distance and download the WeHealth Bermuda app.