Bermuda resumes Shelter at Home as COVID-19 spread increases; Premier tests positive

 Bermuda will be under a Stay at Home Order from 5am on Tuesday, 13 April 2021 for seven days. This means persons are not to leave their homes for anything other than essential movement or grocery shopping.

Premier David Burt made the announcement on Sunday, 11 April 2021, citing reckless conduct which introduced a variant and its spread into the community. The new order wad made even as the Premier disclosed that he had tested positive for the virus.

“… this outbreak is far reaching and has affected many. You are used to seeing me at these press conferences from the Cabinet Office, but there is a reason I am joining remotely today and that is because I recently tested positive for coronavirus infection. It was a very low-level positive due to the fact that my immune system can recognise the virus due to the vaccine and I have had no symptoms whatsoever. It was my fifth test in three weeks, and on Good Friday my entire family tested negative, so it was quite a shock, especially as we’ve been extra cautious but it was a shock experienced by many in Bermuda.

“Thankfully they have all tested negative again and they are quarantined, while I am isolating from them, as required by law. I am fine, and thankfully because I am immunised I have no fear and I’ve experienced no symptoms. But it is a reminder to all of us that we cannot be too careful, and that we should avail ourselves of the testing that is available, and make sure that we protect ourselves with the vaccine that is available,” Premier Burt said.

The new order followed a meeting Premier Burt held with his Cabinet on Sunday to discuss the current circumstances and the Ministry of Health’s recommendations for further actions to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

He pointed pout that the recommendations were founded in a need to stop the spread; to permit the vital work of contact tracing to accelerate, to isolate positive cases and allow our healthcare teams to focus on increasing testing and vaccinations.

“The number of people in hospital, the number people in the ICU and the number of people testing positive for this virus mean that we must take stronger action to stop the spread and save people’s lives. We must and we will act now,”, Premier Burt said.

Among the new measures he announced are: alphabetised days of grocery shopping by surname, limited banking services. Working from home continues to be mandatory.

Source: CARICOM TODAY