Inter-Island Communications News Brief – August 17, 2020

Bermuda has 162 confirmed cases of COVID-19 after 3 new positives arrived on the island via the JetBlue flight from New York last Friday. This from a Ministry of Health representative who shared that quote “The travellers were residents who did not have pre-departure tests. Contact tracing has begun to isolate the cases and their close contacts.” This means we’ve currently got 6 active cases, all of whom are under active public health monitoring.

The Ministry of Health went on to remind residents of quote “the importance of following the quarantine instructions given at the airport. Travellers are also reminded that prior to boarding a flight to Bermuda, both visitors and residents must obtain a Travel Authorization through the online portal. Without a Travel Authorization you will not be permitted to board a plane. Travellers are encouraged to get their Travel Authorization 48 hours before travelling. Leaving it to the last minute at the airport may result in being unable to board.”

Tropical Storm Josephine is still headed our way earlier this week but is currently expected to be more of a rainmaker than a violent storm. This from the most recent meteorological updates, as described here by analysts from Direct Weather.

An aggressive commitment to selling Bermuda on the basis of our covid19 success goes beyond just tourism. This from Premier David Burt during last week’s national pandemic briefing.

When schools re-open, educational specialists as in art and music teachers will be restricted to single schools on a weekly basis to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This from Health Minister Kim Wilson.

In other public school news, Education Minister Diallo Rabain clarified that mask policy students will be subject to when they re-enter the school system in a couple of weeks.