Inter-Island Communications New Brief – March 30, 2020

Inter Island Communications News Brief March 30 2020

22 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed here in Bermuda. This from a release over the weekend, which updated the total tally and testing conclusions – specifically, of the 36 test results received on Saturday, there were five more confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 31 negative results. The release said quote “Three of the confirmed cases were imported and two had close contact with a confirmed case and are limited local transmission. One of the confirmed cases arrived in Bermuda on the British Airways flight BA2233 on 15 March 2020. Another arrived on flight BA2233 on 18 March 2020 and the third arrived on BA2233 on 20 March 2020. Here’s what you need to know if you were on one of those British Airways flights:

If you arrived on 15 March your monitoring period ends on 29 March 2020.
If you arrived on 18 March your monitoring period ends on 1 April 2020.
If you arrived on 20 March your monitoring period ends on 3 April 2020.

If you are feeling fine and have no symptoms, there is nothing for you to do except to remain in your house and continue to observe the self-quarantine guidelines.

If you have any respiratory symptoms, such as a cough or even a mild fever, please contact your doctor. Explain that you were on one of the mentioned British Airways flights and that you would like medical guidance. Do not go to your doctor’s office or the hospital. Please call ahead.

There are currently two confirmed COVID-19 patients in [the] hospital in stable condition.

The COVID-19 Curfew began at 8 pm Sunday night, lasting until 6 am Monday morning. National Security Minister Wayne Caines underlined the fact that this curfew, keeping people in their homes overnight, has been necessitated for three days to ensure social distancing.

The goal of the curfew is to keep community transmission of covid19 to a minimum, not criminalize people unnecessarily. This from Police Commissioner Stephen Corbishley explaining the process undertaken by police for the first nine people found contravening self-quarantine in particular and the overall curfew process.

Starting Monday, the Ministry of Health’s Ageing & Disability Services [ADS] will be conducting wellness checks on the island’s vulnerable seniors. According to Health Minister Kim Wilson, quote “The wellness checks are our way of making sure that Bermuda’s most vulnerable have what they need to stay safe and well during this pandemic. Many of them have no or limited next of kin support on which they can rely to ensure they have sufficient supplies of groceries and medications so our ADS officers will be visiting them, assessing their needs and assisting where needed. In addition, ADS officers will be distributing hand sanitizer, along with Covid-19 information flyers, to seniors and vulnerable persons throughout the community. Regarding the distribution of hand sanitizer, the ADS team will mobilize on Monday afternoon and begin with Bermuda Housing Trust properties. They will then target the supermarkets and banks during their seniors’ hours on Tuesday and the remaining will be spread out throughout the week and into the next. This will be a phased programme to ensure we reach those who most need our help. More than 1,200 personal hand sanitizer bottles will be distributed over the next two weeks with more, larger ‘pump bottles’ on order and scheduled to arrive soon,” a spokesperson added. Any members of the public who know of a vulnerable senior needing help can call ADS at 292-7802.”

We hope you have found value in the first two parts of our three-part series on the Novel Coronavirus. Today we have our final installment where we explore the question of “What’s Next?”