Good Evening Bermuda.
As a parent with a child in the Bermuda Public School System, I am well aware of the anxiety our parents are facing. It was very difficult for me to explain to my daughter how the nasal pharyngeal test works as she and all of her school mates of Whitney Institute was tested recently. Thankfully she and all that were tested on that day were negative. The decision made today was a very difficult one, as I truly believe that our children deserve to be inside our school buildings.
However, this afternoon I issued a media statement addressing the proactive measures underway to ensure the health and safety of our Bermuda Public School teachers, students, parents, and the larger community.
Bermuda, the Ministry, the Department of Education understands the anxiety and alarm is heightened due to the recent positive cases. I can assure you that it is of paramount importance to the Ministry of Education that we are transparent with the COVID-19 Protocols we have in place. Any decision that impacts our ability to educate our children is one that is taken lightly. However, in light of the recent rise in positive COVID-19 cases on the island, the Ministry of Education will implement the following:
Easter Break 2021
Easter Break 2021 will commence on Monday, March 29, instead of Thursday, April 1. The last day of school for students will be Friday, March 26. Students will return to schools as normal on Monday, April 12. We acknowledge that the rise in positive cases has disrupted our staffing levels as a result of teachers being ordered to quarantine during contact tracing. With this in mind, and out of caution, we have decided to move forward proactively. Schools will be asked to send out learning packets for students to work on during the four days next week. We also will hold discussions with our Union partners about the possibilities of making up those four days.
Senior Schools Remote Learning
Effective Wednesday, March 24, our two senior schools will be allowed to transition to remote learning, while senior school teachers will be allowed to report to school and conduct classes virtually.
Personal Development
The previously scheduled Professional Development workshops for teachers will still take place on Thursday, April 1. I have also been made aware of Professional Development scheduled for this week being unable to go forward for various reasons. Hopefully, these can still take place next week.
In the press statement issued on Sunday, the Government informed the public that additional information would be released about Schools once further details were known. I can report that the following updates:
Northlands Primary
The entire school, except those ordered to quarantine, was tested on March 19, and out of the 102 tests performed, two returned positive. The DOH determined the movements of one or more positive individuals within multiple school bubbles made it possible for wider exposure in the school on or before March 19.Out of an abundance of caution, the decision was made to transition to remote learning while students and staff are required to quarantine until April 2.
Purvis Primary
The entire school, except those ordered to quarantine, was tested on March 20, and out of the 138 saliva samples taken, there were zero positive cases. However, when the initial exposure case's close contacts were tested, four additional positive cases were identified. The Department of Health has determined that the movements of one of these positive cases within multiple bubbles at the school made it possible that wider exposure may have happened in the school on or before March 16. Therefore, the decision was made to transition to remote learning while students and staff must quarantine until March 30.
Elliot Primary School:
This past weekend, the Chief Medical Officer had directed that all students and associated teachers one P4 class must be quarantined. Students and the teachers in the P4 class were tested on March 22 and will be re-tested using Nasopharyngealswabs again on or after Day 14, which falls on March 31 2021. The entire school (99 casual contacts) was tested on Monday, March 22, as per the new testing protocol announced last week using Saliva Testing.
West Pembroke
This past weekend, as with Elliot Primary, the Chief Medical Officer had directed that all students and associated teachers the P6 classes must be quarantined. Students and the teachers in the P6 class were tested today, March 23 and will be re-tested using Nasopharyngeal swabs again on or after Day 14, which falls on April 1, 2021. The entire school (117 casual contacts) was tested today, March 23, as per the new testing protocol announced last week using Saliva Testing.
As a summary and in addition to the above, we also have classes currently quarantining from Devonshire Pre-school, Whitney Institute and Paget Primary, with Dellwood moving to remote learning.
Given the data that we have received, the Ministry is taking a proactive approach to balance what is best for our student's learning and our island's health and safety.
Bermuda, I remind you that the vulnerable must be protected. That means we must all be considerate of how exposure to COVID-19 affects students, schools, teachers, parents, and the larger community. While we have seen our bubbles work very effectively, I want to remind parents to check with their doctor if their child is experiencing any signs of sickness and do not send them to school.
The additional time over the Easter Break will be used to further refine our COVID-19 Protocols within our School Buildings. We intend to return after the Easter Break with a renewed vigour to ensure our children are served as they should.
We ask everyone who has children, family, or friends associated with the school system to use caution and strictly adhere to the Government's safety measures to help us contain this latest community outbreak and reduce the transmission of COVID-19. We must all work together – wear your mask correctly, wash your hands regularly, maintain physical distance and get immunised when you can.
Before I close, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Department of Health and the Bermuda Government Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory for their dedication and commitment to ensure the safety of our schools.