This evening (April 24), the Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne M. Caines, JP, MP, provided the following update during the COVID-19 press briefing.
Minister Caines advised that the daily Community Advisory Points continue across the island supported by the Royal Bermuda Regiment (RBR) and the Bermuda Police Service (BPS). On Wednesday (April 22) there were 13,633 stops, and yesterday, (April 23) there were 11,532 stops.
The Minister continued, “This evening our Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation (DRRM) Team are working with our colleagues at Customs, the Department of Health, the Regiment and Skyport to welcome 97 returning residents back to Bermuda on the British Airways airbridge flight. All arriving passengers have been pre-processed electronically by the Department of Immigration to minimize contact with our Customs Officers. From a safety standpoint, as part of the landing process, each officer conducting inspection duties will have the appropriate PPE. And each passenger will be given a face mask as well as have their temperature checked in the arrival hall. Once the thorough landing process is complete, the returning residents will be transported by the RBR to an approved Government quarantine facility, which is managed by the DRRM Team in partnership with the Bermuda Reserve Police and licensed security personnel.”
This evening’s arriving British Airways flight will also have on board critical and much needed medical supplies and PPE equipment. These include:
- 12,000 COVID-19 testing kits;
- 10,000 N95 masks – personal protection equipment; and
- Other non-COVID-19 essential pharmaceuticals required to meet the island’s regular needs.
“In this regard, I wish to thank His Excellency Governor John Rankin, Deputy Governor Alison Crockett, the Government House staff and Bermuda’s London Office for all their hard work in facilitating this flight,” Minister Caines said. “Tomorrow (April 25), the British Airways flight will depart Bermuda with 74 passengers on board who are returning to the UK. To ensure the safety of all persons involved, we have instituted a strict protocol process for tomorrow’s departing flight. Again, the DRRM Team, Customs, the Department of Health, the Royal Bermuda Regiment, Skyport and British Airways staff will all work to coordinate the processing of the 74 passengers on tomorrow's departing British Airways flight.”
Turning to the Shelter in Place approvals for businesses to operate – to date 73 businesses have been granted permission. These businesses have very strict guidelines in place and must adhere to them at all times. The public can visit www.gov.bm to see what businesses have been granted permission to operate. Any business that opens contrary to the Emergency Powers (Shelter in Place) Regulations is liable to prosecution.
The Minister added, “Since we have instituted this process, we have received robust feedback and some queries regarding the guidelines for taxi operators. I think we have to be clear - we must always adhere to the safety guidelines in place by the Department of Health, because they are in place to save lives.”
As a reminder, here are the guidelines for taxi operators. In order to operate during the shelter in place period persons must apply to the Ministry of National Security for permission. Taxi operators can provide a courier service and they must have a partnership or be connected with a permitted business, such as a:
- Grocery store
- Pharmacy
- Laundromat
- Pet shop
- Hardware store
- Plant nursery
- Shipping, freight, courier company
- Water distribution Services
The public can contact an approved business for the pickup of goods and the taxi driver can be the courier of the goods. Taxi operators should not be in the area of an approved business seeking a fare.
Under special circumstances, a taxi operator can pre-arrange to take an individual to a grocery store, however the Ministry of Health’s guidelines must be adhered to. This includes:
- Practising Social distancing and wearing masks and gloves
- Having no contact with customers; and
- Wiping down areas of taxi and packages
For more information about the Government’s health guidance regarding COVID-19 and the Shelter in Place regulations visit www.gov.bm/coronavirus.