Bermuda has hit a “different stage” of the coronavirus crisis, the Premier said yesterday after five more positive tests for Covid-19 pushed the total to 32.
David Burt added that he would consult with the Chief Medical Officer and health minister to decide if extra measures to combat the disease should be introduced.
But he said that the Cabinet approved a three-day extension of the 8pm to 6am curfew — which meant it would run to Saturday at least.
Mr. Burt also revealed that:
- Three people with Covid-19 were in hospital
- There were no confirmed community transmissions, but that three cases were under investigation
- Minibus operators will be asked to run special services scheduled to get the island’s essential healthcare staff to work after public transport employees downed tools
- Regulations were introduced to stop employers from refusing staff permission to work from home if they were able to
Mr. Burt said: “The additional cases and the additional one under investigation does mark a different stage in our affairs.
He explained that out of six test results that came back yesterday, five were positive.
Two of the new cases arrived on the March 18 British Airways flight and a third arrived on American Airlines flight 308 on March 14. Another was a close contact of a confirmed case and the fifth was under investigation.
Mr. Burt explained there were 20 cases in total that were “likely” contracted outside of Bermuda and brought in by travellers.
He said nine cases were “local transmission”, which meant they were contracted when someone had close contact with another confirmed to have the virus.
