Inter-Island Communications News Brief – December 21, 2020

According to a Government spokesperson quote, “There were 1374 test results received by the Ministry of Health since the last update and 11 were positive for COVID-19. Three of the new cases are classified as imported. This includes one resident and two non-residents who arrived on BA 2233 from London on the 13 December 2020 and tested positive on their day 4 test. Three of the new cases are classified as local transmission with known contact/source as associated with known cases/clusters. The remaining new cases are classified as under investigation. These cases are among residents with no currently identified links to other known cases or clusters or history of travel in the past 14 days. Additionally, 9 cases have recovered since the last update. Bermuda now has 527 total confirmed positive cases, with 242 active cases and 238 are under public health monitoring and 4 are hospitalized with 1 in critical care.

The source of all cases is 145 are Imported, 300 are classified as local transmission of which 278 are Local transmission, with known contact/source and 22 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source and 82 are Under Investigation. As investigations proceed, transmission categories may change.

Today’s update has 7 cases moved from under investigation to local transmission with a known contact/source as associated known cases/clusters. The seven-day average of our real-time reproduction number is greater than 1 (1.21) and Bermuda’s current country status is “Clusters of Cases.”

The push to reform the long-standing stop list issue may have a new high profile supporter, specifically US Consul Lee Rizzuto. Consul Rizzuto just published a summary of his first year in office, with one section of his statement referring in detail to the stop list issue. Specifically, it reads quote “The world has evolved and it’s our job to suggest revisiting the language and eligibility criteria of individuals seeking to travel to the United States. Many of our customers come in for visa waivers. Some are first-time applicants, while others continuously apply to renew their waiver for an extended period. As U.S. law allows citizens of Bermuda to travel to the United States without requiring a visa, it has been suggested that perhaps language should be amended to allow those who have been approved for a waiver over an extended period of time, be less restricted. The United States has embraced criminal reform by both the Democrats and Republicans and timing is ideal to embrace potential changes to eligibility requirements for travel from Bermuda to the United States. With the opening of the new airport, it’s an ideal time to also expand U.S. PreClearance services of General Aviation. These services are currently only available to commercial passengers. Approximately 150 private flights go back to the U.S. monthly. PreClearance would significantly increase that number and make Bermuda a more attractive destination for private charter flights.”

According to a police spokesperson quote, “The Bermuda Police Service [BPS] is aware of an image being circulated on social media, depicting what appears to be an exercise involving armed police officers, outside the City Hall building. The BPS wishes to make it clear, this was not a police exercise and there was no involvement by the BPS or any of its officers. Preliminary inquiries indicate this image was captured during the filming of a staged event, for what we understand to be a local production. The BPS is now urgently seeking to make contact with the individuals identified as being responsible for the staging of this event, as to undertake such activity, without proper permissions and controls can cause unnecessary and very real alarm and distress to the public, not least with the enactment involving the use of imitation firearms. Indeed, the public should be aware that impersonating a police officer and possession of replica firearms without the proper authority or permission are offences punishable under law. Anyone with information regarding this matter is asked to call 211 or, the main police number, 295-0011.”

Finally, according to a Bermuda Union of Teachers spokesperson quote, “The BUT is fully supportive of our sister unions in opposition to the recent passing of legislation designed to allow for the decertification of unions in workplaces. Unionism is a right of every worker, and the struggle to improve conditions for workers has been a historically imperative one; it is the story of human evolution through compassion, determination, and solidarity. Unions have made tremendous strides toward making workers’ lives better in Bermuda, and this Act evokes unsettling thoughts of attempts to demonize workers’ unions, and destabilize honest, hardworking citizens. The BUT will stand firm with our unionized brothers and sisters in opposition to this proposed model of decertification.” Dr. Michael Charles, General Secretary of the BUT, said: “Having been a part of the original committee that worked on the consolidation of this Bill [Trade Union and Labour Relations [Consolidation] Bill], I anticipate that prudent minds will eventually prevail, and the resulting legislation will be favourable to all concerned.”