COVID-19 Update 17 January 2022

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 6035 test results, and 603 were positive for COVID-19.

These results are from testing done on:

§  Tuesday: 225 positive out of 1945 results (11.6% positivity)

§  Wednesday: 222 positive out of 2281 results (9.7% positivity)

§  Thursday: 156 positive out of 2034 results (7.7% positivity)

107 of the new cases are classified as imported with a history of travel in the previous 14 days.

The additional 496 new cases are classified as either local transmission (56) or under investigation (440).

Additionally, there were 532 recoveries and 0 deaths.

There are 1953 active cases, of which:

·1940 are under public health monitoring; and

·13 are in hospital, with 2 in intensive care.

Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 9144 coronavirus cases, out of which 7081 have recovered, and sadly there have been 110 coronavirus-related deaths.

The source of all active cases is as follows:

·543 are Imported

·148 are classified as local transmission

·1262 are Under Investigation

Information regarding active cases by vaccination status, transmission, and type is currently unavailable.

The source of all confirmed cases is as follows:

·1977 are Imported

·5419 are classified as local transmission of which:

o   3443 are Local transmission with known contact/source and

o   1976 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source

·1748 are Under Investigation

As investigations proceed, transmission categories may change. For age distributions and overall transmission categories, please refer to https://www.gov.bm/coronavirus-covid19-update. The seven-day average of our real-time reproduction number is 0.85.

The Ministry of Health advises that children 12 and above can receive a booster if it has been 6 months from their last dose.

Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP, said, “We are pleased to announce today that the booster vaccine is now available to anyone 12 or older who has had their second Covid vaccination dose a minimum of 6 months ago. I strongly urge everyone eligible to please get your booster as soon as possible.

“Anyone wishing a booster vaccine can book an appointment on www.gov.bm by selecting “Book a Booster Vaccine Appointment.” They may also call the Vaccination Hotline at 444-2498 (option #2) or e-mail vaccine@gov.bm. Those aged 65 and older can walk into Pier 6 on Front Street for a booster, Monday to Friday.

“Please remember that the coronavirus thrives on human contact, and we need everyone in the community to do their part to help reduce the spread. Getting vaccinated and following public health guidance is the best defence against the disease caused by this virus. If you have not yet been vaccinated, please speak to your doctor.

“Continue to wear a mask, wash your hands, keep physically distanced from others, not in your household, and add antigen tests to your pandemic toolbox.”