The Ministry of Health, sadly reported another death has been recorded in Bermuda since the last update, due to COVID-19 in Bermuda.

In a statement issued tonight, Health Minister Kim Wilson said: “It saddens me that that Bermuda has recorded another death of someone who was Covid positive,” said Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP. “I extend my deepest sympathies to the bereaved family and friends. I am sorry for your loss, and my prayers are with you.”

According to the latest update, another 79 new cases were reported tonight, taking the number of active cases on island up to 205, with three patients in hospital battling this virus. But there are no patients in intensive care.

Sixteen (16) of the new cases were classified as imported with history of travel in the previous 14 days.

Details are as follows:

  • 1 non-resident who arrived via British Airways BA 159 from London on August 12  and tested positive on their outbound test
  • 1 resident who arrived on Delta Airline DL 617 from New York on August 14  and tested positive on their day 14 test
  • 1 resident who arrived via British Airways BA 159 from London on August 15  and tested positive on their day 14 test
  • 1 resident who arrived via Jet Blue B61731 from New York on August 16 and tested positive on their day 10 test
  • 1 resident who arrived via United Airlines UA 1985 from Newark on August 22 and tested positive on their day 4 test
  • 1 non-resident who arrived via Jet Blue B6203 from Boston on August 23 and tested positive on their outbound test
  • 1 resident who arrived via American Airlines AA 1863 from Charlotte on August 23  and tested positive on their arrival test
  • 1 resident and 2 non-residents who arrived via British Airways BA 159 from London on August 26  and tested positive on their arrival test
  • 1 non-resident who arrived via United Airlines UA 1985 from Newark on August 27 and tested positive on their arrival test
  • 1 resident who arrived via Jet Blue B61731 from New York on August 28 and tested positive on their arrival test
  • 1 resident who arrived via American Airlines AA 914 from Miami on August 28  and tested positive on their arrival test
  • 1 resident who arrived via United Airlines UA 1985 from Newark on August 29 and tested positive on their arrival test
  • 1 resident and 1 non-resident who arrived via American Airlines AA 1863 from Charlotte on August 29  and tested positive on their arrival test
  • 27 of the new cases are classified as local transmission with known contact as associated with known cases

“The additional 36 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,”  a Ministry spokeswoman said.

“Additionally, since the last update, there were 28 recoveries and 1 death.

“There are 205 active cases, of which 202 are under public health monitoring and three (3) are in hospital with 0 in intensive care.

“Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 2923 confirmed coronavirus cases, out of which 2684 have recovered, and sadly 34 COVID related deaths.”

The source of all active cases is as follows:

·         41 are Imported

·         98 are classified as local transmission of which:

o   98 are Local transmission with known contact/source and

o   0 is Local transmission with an unknown contact/source

·         66 are Under Investigation

Active cases by vaccination status, transmission, and type:

•        Imported cases: 35 (86%) are fully vaccinated, and 6 (14%) are not vaccinated.

•        Local/Under Investigation cases: 42 (25%) are fully vaccinated, and 122 (75%) are not vaccinated.

•        Of the active cases by variant type: 0 are Alpha, 0 are Beta, 159 (78%) are Delta, 0 are Gamma, 0 are wildtype, 25 (12%) cannot be determined, and 21 (10%) are not available.

The source of all confirmed cases is as follows:

·         458 are Imported

·         2,382 are classified as local transmission of which:

o   1,875 are Local transmission with known contact/source and

o   507 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source

·         83 are Under Investigation

“We have completed 33 weeks of vaccinations. Since January 11, Bermuda has administered a total of 85,415 vaccinations,” the spokeswoman added.

Of the 85,415 vaccinations given as of August 28:

– 52% are women and,

– 48% are men

83.3% of all residents over the age of 65 years have had at least one vaccination  and

82.2% are fully immunized

To date, 66.7% of the population has been vaccinated (1 dose), and 

65.4% of the population has been immunised (2 doses).

Meanwhile, the Minister warned: “The pandemic is far from over, and as we now find ourselves living with COVID, we all must do everything we can to reduce the transmission of this virus at all levels.

“If you have cold, flu or coronavirus symptoms, stay home and call your doctor or the COVID helpline 444-2498 for advice about getting tested.

“The vaccine against COVID-19 is one of the single most important measures to keep our community safe. The vaccine prevents approximately 80 percent of symptomatic infections and prevents approximately 96 percent of hospitalisations and deaths. Vaccines also appear to reduce transmission. With the outbreak we are experiencing now, 62 percent of the active cases are not fully vaccinated, and the transmission is spreading through households and workplaces and in social situations.”

The Ministry is advising parents and guardians that if an unimmunized child travels and returns home, and his/her parents are immunised, then he/she should:

  • Comply with the on-island testing requirements on days 4, 10 and 14 
  • Not attend school or day care until receiving a negative day 10 test result, in accordance with a medium risk setting of the Safe Return to Work after Travel Guidance. 
  • Conduct remote learning

A day 8 test will be acceptable until the school year’s start only for families with existing travel plans. Call the Covid-19 Information Hotline, 444-2498, to make arrangements for a Day 8 test.

There will be a pop-up vaccine clinic at Lindo’s in Devonshire on Tuesday, September 7 10 am – 2pm, and Thursday, September 16 3 – 7pm.

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.

The Bermuda Advisory Council on Immunisation Practices (BACIP) is presently considering all the evidence available on booster vaccinations for COVID-19. It will be setting out its advice to the government soon. This advice is needed before the Ministry of Health can plan for the operational details for rolling out this vaccine.

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