17 New Positive Coronavirus Cases Recorded Today

The Ministry of Health received 3423 test results since the last update and 17 were positive for COVID-19, giving a test positivity rate of 0.5%.

These results are from testing done on Thursday (five positive out of 1263 results – 0.4% positivity), Friday (three positive out of 1218 results – 0.2% positivity) and Saturday (nine positive out of 942 results – 1.0% positivity).

Three of the new cases are classified as imported. One is a resident who arrived on Jet Blue B62231 from New York on 30 April 2021 and tested positive on their day eight test. One is a resident who arrived on British Airways BA 159 from London on 4 May 2021 and tested positive on their day four test. One is a non- resident who arrived on Jet Blue B6203 from Boston on 8 May 2021 and tested positive on their arrival test.

Five of the new cases are classified as local transmission with known contact as they are associated with known cases.
The additional nine 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 75 recoveries and one death over the weekend, which was previously reported.
There are 250 active cases, of which:
·         236 are under public health monitoring and
·         14 are in hospital with two in intensive care;
Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 2451 confirmed cases of coronavirus, out of which a total of 2170 have recovered, and sadly 31 COVID related deaths.
For information regarding age distributions, please refer to https://www.gov.bm/coronavirus-covid19-update .

The source of all cases is as follows:
·         298 are Imported
·         1909 are classified as local transmission of which:
o   1427 are Local transmission with known contact/source and
o   382 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source
·         244 are Under Investigation
As investigations proceed, transmission categories may change.

The seven-day average of our real-time reproduction number is 0.54.  Bermuda’s current WHO country status remains “Community Transmission”.
There are two Close to Home mobile vaccination programmes this week. One will be at the Shelly Bay Marketplace tomorrow from 10 am until 2 pm, and on Thursday, 13 May at the TN Tatem Middle School, from 10 am until 2 pm.

The Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP, said, “This drive/walkthrough site is for residents who have not yet registered for the COVID-19 vaccine, do not have access to the internet and prefer to register in person or have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Doctors are on-site to answer any questions.”

“As a reminder, our current supplies of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines expire at the end of June. For Pfizer, which requires three weeks between doses, we anticipate the last first dose will be administered on 8 June. For AstraZeneca, the period between doses can be as great as 12 weeks, so we will continue to administer that vaccine until 30 June and administer the second dose when we receive our next COVAX delivery. We can vaccinate anyone who wants to get vaccinated, and we have plenty of supply to reach community protection.”

“There is concern from parents and guardians that Astra Zeneca is not currently approved for those under the age of 18. Bermuda can still receive supplies of the Pfizer vaccine from the UK if we require more. At this time, we encourage parents and guardians to register their 12 to 15-year-old children to be vaccinated so that the Bermuda Government can appropriately gauge interest and assess whether additional supplies of Pfizer are needed.”

Each of us has a role to play in stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Follow Public Health guidelines, wear a mask, practice good hand hygiene, maintain physical distance. And download the WeHealth Bermuda app. Do the research, talk with your doctor and make an informed decision about getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

The next COVID Update press conference will be on Thursday, 13 May at 5:30 pm.
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