Today, I am sad to report three COVID related deaths,” said Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP. “My heartfelt sympathy goes out to their family and loved ones.”

“Reporting one death is sad, but reporting three deaths at one time is truly upsetting and a disturbing reminder of how serious the coronavirus is.”

The Ministry of Health received 1274 test results since the last update, and eight (8) were positive for coronavirus, yielding a test positivity rate of 0.6 %. 

Two of the new cases are classified as imported. One is a resident who arrived on Jet Blue B62231 from New York on 27 April 2021 and tested positive on their arrival test.One is a resident who arrived on Delta Airline DL 584 from Atlanta on 19 April 2021 2021 and tested positive on their Day 8 test.

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

The additional three 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 37 recoveries.

There are 550 active cases, of which:

·         523 are under public health monitoring and

·         27 are in hospital with 7 in intensive care; 

Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 2382 confirmed cases of coronavirus, out of which a total of 1805 have recovered, and sadly 27 COVID related deaths.

The source of all cases is as follows:

·  291 are imported

· 1592 are classified as local transmission of which:

o 1387 are local transmission with known contact/source and 

o   205 are local transmission with an unknown contact/source

·         499 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 0.58.

Bermuda’s current WHO country status remains “Community Transmission”.

“Please remember that the Ministry of Health is still vaccinating close to home. This is convenient for people who have not yet registered for the COVID-19 vaccine, do not have access to the internet and prefer to register in person, or simply have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Kim Wilson, JP, MP, Minister of Health. “The Department of Health will have a COVID-19 vaccines ride through, drive-through, and walkthrough site on Sunday, 2 May at TCD, from 10 am – 2 pm.”

“Additionally, the Bermuda College vaccination centre will be open for walk-ins tomorrow from 9 am to 1 pm. The Bermuda College vaccination centre is not open on weekends. If you require a weekend appointment, please register for the vaccine on gov.bm, call the COVID-19 helpline on 444-2498, or attend this weekend’s walk-in vaccination clinic at TCD.” 

“If you are putting off getting the vaccine, please don’t delay much longer. We are seeing younger people seriously ill and being hospitalised from COVID-19. I encourage all eligible residents to please speak to your doctor so that you can make an informed decision about the COVID-19 vaccine which has proven effective in preventing serious illness and death if you contract the coronavirus.”

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.