Good afternoon Bermuda.
Today the Government joins with all of Bermuda to mourn the passing of the latest victim of COVID-19. We pray for their family and their friends, and we continue pray for those who are currently battling this virus, whether they be at home or whether they be in our hospital.
It is important to remember that COVID-19 is not a joke. It has forced many families to say goodbye to loved ones before their time. It has caused economic stress, personal stress and mental distress to many Bermudians. It has left many without work, especially those in our tourism and service sectors.
It is clear that this disease and this virus is no laughing matter.
Yet this weekend, while the vast majority of Bermudians left their homes only when necessary, far too many treated it as a joke, with reports of gatherings, parties, and certain businesses not enforcing social distancing and also a stabbing. To say that I am disappointed is an understatement.
I have spoken with the Minister of National Security, and enforcement will be stepped up and the penalties will be strictly enforced. The penalties for violating the regulations include a $10,000 fine and/or a term of imprisonment. To be clear, my job is not to criminalise anyone, and I do not wish to criminalise any more persons in this country than we have already done. However, I must balance that between my responsibility of keeping the country safe during a pandemic.
Tomorrow, the Cabinet will meet and amongst our matters of discussion will be whether there is a need to refine the existing regulations, and also the discussion of implementation of further economic relief measures for residents and business owners impacted by COVID-19. Specifically, authorizing a one-time withdrawal from private occupational pensions.
I am joined tonight by the Minister of Health, the Minister of National Security and the Minister of Labour, Community Affairs and Sport. And before I go on to the other Ministers we will begin our press conference today with an update from the Minister of Health on the work being done by her team to protect the health and safety of Bermuda.
MINISTER OF HEALTH SPEAKS
Thank you Minister.
Before Minister Caines speaks, I would like to remind all persons that screening tests of essential workers continues at Southside. If you are a healthcare professional, work as a private home health aide, work in a grocery store or restaurant or if you are a government worker you should go to the drive through testing facility at Southside, which is located in the parking lot of the old White’s Supermarket.
Appointments are available daily from 2 pm - 7 pm. Drop ins, though discouraged, may also be accomodated. Please go to the Government website coronavirus.gov.bm, for the link to book an appointment.
The Minister of National Security will provide details on the elevated enforcement measures stemming from the incidents over the weekend and additional information regarding the Ministry of National Security. Minister Caines.
MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY SPEAKS
Thank you Minister.
In a follow-up to the comments which the Minister has given, I’ve been asked by a few people on line to explain what gatherings of no more than ten means.
It is rather simple. It means no more than ten people can be in the same place, and if there are ten or less persons in the same place, they must be, according to the rules, exercising physical distancing. Six feet or more apart, each person must make sure that they wash their hands frequently, with no hand shaking, hugging or kissing. It is important to reduce transmission risk that everyone at the gathering should wear a mask for the entire time that they are together, especially if they are not from the same household.
Having said that, if you don’t have to gather, then you shouldn’t. Our goal is to reduce the number of people in the country who contract this virus. As a country we will not be healthy or wealthy if we treat this virus as a joke.
I was appalled to see photos of persons that I know live with seniors, this weekend gathered in groups with others who were not wearing masks. Not only are you putting yourself at risk, you’re putting your family at risk, and that is not wise.
There is a lot of talk about masks. And I've had people sending me old social media videos about masks not being recommended by the international organizations. The fact is that this is a new virus and information changes quickly. The old information is that masks were not recommended to be worn. That is old information, and all of the international bodies are now recommending that in cases, where social distancing cannot be achieved, that you wear a mask. And as the Minister of Health has said on numerous occasions, you wear a mask to protect me, and I wear a mask to protect you.
You also heard from the Minister of Health today, that the vast majority of persons who were caught in our screening exercises, both at some of the rest homes, and also on the air bridge flight, who tested positive were asymptomatic. What that means is that they did not have the traditional symptoms of a fever or a cough. They had no symptoms whatsoever.
And so that is why it is important, and I heard people giving comments such as; the guidance does not say that people who are uninfected should wear masks. That is precisely the point. We don't know who may be infected, and the evidence shows that there are a large number of persons who are infected, who do not know they have the virus, and can transmit it to somebody else.
That is the reason why, if you're in groups of persons or, for instance when you're entering buildings, you are required to wear a mask, so you do not spread this disease to other persons unwillingly. This is not something that we are implementing because we think these sets a good fashion style. We are implementing it because it is necessary to save lives.
On another note, we continue to get queries and concerns about landlord and tenant issues. I just want to repeat some guidance, which was previously given by the Government. We're encouraging landlords to assist tenants experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. We ask that landlords consider realistically assessing their own financial situation, and obligations as to how you may be able to assist your tenant. Making sure that you speak with each tenant individually, if you're renting to more than one tenant to assess each tenant’s situation on a case by case basis.
Taking into account the current ability of a tenant to pay, and the history of the tenant’s payment record. Landlords are also requested to have compassion for tenants who do not have family support on the island, and are not eligible for financial assistance, but may be able to claim unemployment benefits, and may have been late in receiving those particular benefits.
We certainly encourage tenants who have the ability to pay their rent to please do so in accordance with their current rental agreements If it comes time to go before the courts, and it is shown that you have had income and were able to pay your rent, then I'm quite certain that the courts will look at your situation in a less favorable perspective.
Changes to a lease must be documented and acknowledged by both parties on the agreement reached, including whether any reduction in rent is temporary, or if the rent reduction is to be deferred to a later time, when the tenant may have more of an ability to pay. In addition, any agreement reached to amend payment terms should be reviewed on a monthly basis, valid for up to 90 days.
Working in collaboration with the Real Estate Division of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, the COVID-19 landlord / tenant addendum agreement guidelines as well as a COVID-19 rental relief form has been developed to support discussions around adjusting rent payment during these uncertain times and can be found on the Government website at coronavirus.gov.bm, and just click on COVID-19 forms.
The Unemployment Benefit Programme has had its successes, yet we cannot celebrate until every single Bermudian that is eligible for this safety net has received the support they so desperately need. Today, Minister Foggo has joined us again and will provide an update on the Unemployment Benefit Programme
MINISTER FOGGO SPEAKS.
Thank you Minister Foggo.
The government has authorized Travel Edge to operate a second charter flight to bring Bermudians home from the United States. The flight will operate from Atlanta on May 15, if there is enough interest. Passengers on the flight will be required to quarantine at a government facility for 14-days at $100 per day on arrival in Bermuda.
Travel Edge requires 90 confirmed passengers in any combination of inbound and outbound travel to make this work.
If you are interested, you should contact Travel Edge at info@traveledge.bm. If you have previously registered your interest on the government website, we will ensure that you receive the information about this charter flight.
This morning the government expanded services that are available to the public. These services include the Transport Control Department, the Office of the Tax Commissioner, and ground floor cashiers in both the Government Administration Building and the Dame Lois Brown Evans Building.
The Transport Control Department was open for most business today. While there were long lines at one point this morning, overall, today went well at TCD. There was one element of confusion with respect to the collection of vehicle registrations by those persons who licenced their vehicle online while TCD was closed. Those who used the eTCD system and elected to have their items picked up, versus them being mailed can collect their registration at the National Sports Centre pavilion.
To assist with physical distancing, TCD is asking everyone to go the pavilion using the same system used for grocery shopping days. So, if your last name is:
A - F: your day is Mondays and Thursdays
G – Q: Tuesdays and Fridays
R – Z: Wednesdays and Saturdays
For those persons whose last name is R – Z and you wish to collect your registration on Saturday, please visit TCD offices on North Street, not the pavilion on Saturday.
All customers going to TCD on North Street will be served on a first come, first served basis. However, it is important to know that you can avoid all lines by using the etcd.gov.bm website and choosing the option to have your vehicle registration mailed to you, versus you picking it up.
To give an update on the delivery of mail: home delivery has been occurring every week Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. This will continue for the next few weeks. All post boxes are accessible to the public at this time. Starting tomorrow parcels can be collected from the General Post Office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Public access to Government offices, however, will be limited and there are a number of new procedures in place for anyone who has to go into a Government office; specific locations may have additional criteria in place.
Before entering any Government building, a Government official will request that all persons have their body temperature taken with an infrared (touchless) thermometer.
To enter Government buildings, everyone must wear a face covering. Those without a face covering will be refused entry.
Hand sanitizer will be set up at each entrance. Everyone must sanitize their hands before entering the building.
Regarding the use of elevators, depending on size, only one or two people may ride in an elevator at the same time. There will be signs outside each elevator indicating how many persons are allowed in at the same time. However, to encourage physical distancing persons are encourage to use the stairs.
To assist with physical distancing outside, there will be there will be markers identifying breaks between six feet. Government officials will be located at doors and there will be signs at the front of each building to let you know what you should and shouldn’t do while in the building.
Earlier today, discussions were held with our union partners on the economic situation facing our country and how together we can act as our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, and do our part to save jobs, help those in need and save tax payer dollars. Within government, we have already identified $65 million dollars in taxpayer savings and we are working collaboratively with our union partners and we expect to find even more.
These talks were fruitful and I am convinced that we understand the need to find solutions that will benefit all.
Yet as we look to our public officers for sacrifice and solutions, all too often social commentators look solely to them to bear the burden of sacrifice, while those who can afford to sacrifice are rarely asked to do so.
Our public officers have often been scapegoated, abused, and disrespected and portrayed as the source and solution to most of our problems. The Government certainly does not accept that. In fact we reject that mindset entirely. We know the sacrifices they make, and the tireless work that many of them have performed, especially in the last few months, as this country has battled this pandemic.
As we are in this together, sacrifice will be discussed with all, worked upon by all, and made by all. Not just those at the lowest end of the economic scale, and just not by public officers. It makes no sense to ask persons to take cuts to their wages when people do not get cuts to interest rates or cuts to their power bills. So to be clear, fairness is needed across the board, and this government will ensure that all are to be a part of the equation.
As we close tonight, I want to focus on the people who did their part in the early days of Phase One to try help our country move forward and closer to the next phase to reopening of our country and our economy.
If you serve on the frontlines as a medical professional battling COVID-19 and caring for its victims;
If you serve on the frontlines in maintaining law and order;
If you are helping to keep our people fed, or reopening your business, following the rules and ensuring people maintain their strict social distancing;
Or if you simply played by the rules, maintained physical distancing, limited gatherings to 10 or less people and only left the house when necessary.
Thank you.
You are the ones who, despite the actions of a selfish few, will help move all of us to a closer normal return.
Bermuda we can get through this. And we have come too far together, to fracture and crumble now. I know that there may have been a lot of pent up frustration and energy, after being inside of your homes for four weeks. However, it is important that as a country, we do better, we stand stronger, we hold each other accountable, and obey the law so that together we can see our lives and our collective health, improve.
This is not forever, but the longer it takes for us to get our act together, the longer it will take for us to come out of this. Thank you, and I'm happy to take any questions that you may have.