Good afternoon Bermuda; and Thank you Members of the Media for your attendance. Today I am joined by the Minister of Health, the Hon. Kim Wilson who will lead our weekly update on the continuing public health emergency.
MINISTER OF HEALTH READS HER REMARKS.
Thank You Minister.
One note from our cabinet meeting today, is that we will be extending the hours for liquor licensed establishments. Currently those establishments must close at midnight that will be pushed back to 2AM. It is important to note that enforcement is still critical and any establishment not following the rules will be subject to a closer order
It has been a long journey to opening schools for the 2020/21 school year. I am pleased that given the recent closures of schools due to Hurricanes Paulette and Teddy, that all of our Public Schools have opened today, and students can now begin settling-in and progressing with their studies.
During the first week back, Recovery Week, students are engaged in learning new routines and expectations, especially as it relates to school safety and health. Schools are balancing academics with a focus on student well-being.
I wish to thank all of our students for their patience, and a thank you to our parents for working with your respective school Principals and Administrators to implement the new safety and health procedures.
This pandemic has changed the way we go about our daily lives, and our school educators have had to make changes as a result.
We are grateful to Officers in the Department of Education under the leadership of the Commissioner of Education, and Officers in the Department of Health who have worked tirelessly during the past months to prepare for a safe return to school for our students. The success in keeping our public schools responsibly safe moving forward depends on the entire community of which I ask for your dedicated support.
Bermuda is one of the few countries that has been able to re-open school in person for all students. It is a testament to our collective work that this has been achieved.
Our essential and frontline officers were also on the ball last week and I am appreciative of them as well. Days after Hurricane Paulette, we held the Advanced Poll for Seniors, Travelers, and Incapacitated Voters.
Prior to the Poll there was some disquiet from certain corners about the Poll being safe for voters. The Parliamentary Registrar is not an office that normally finds themselves defending their performance in the media so I will. I have no doubt that either Public Officers from the Parliamentary Registrar, or Returning Officers made up from members of the public would be able to keep voters safe.
Last week’s Advanced Poll, the longest in Bermuda’s history, ran for four days and it is safe to say that anyone who wanted to vote and qualified for the Advanced Poll could have voted.
Again, I fully appreciate the Parliamentary Registrar and her team’s efforts, in difficult circumstances.
That confidence means there can be no reasonable fears about Public Safety and the General Election. Protocols and measures that have been put in place are effective against spreading the virus, and are also accommodating for voters.
If you are following the global response to the pandemic you may have noticed that many countries that thought they had managed COVID-19 are now experiencing increased cases; We have seen spikes in Spain and France, and now the UK where football grounds were due to be opened this upcoming weekend; and today the Government announced bans on groups larger than 15 people. We are seeing what is possibly a second wave.
We have largely avoided community transmission in Bermuda. That result was reached by using a combination of science, medical advice, adapting our behaviour, and relying on the common sense and the dependable care and concern of Bermudians to take care of themselves and others.
Given that Bermuda’s population travels quite a bit, and many jobs depends on welcoming people to our shores for work and/or leisure, our response had to be both stringent and dynamic. In preparation for the winter, and as more countries open, more residents will travel and return home; and more international travelers will arrive. As a result, we know that between now and the end of 2020 we need to be more vigilant and more aware.
As time goes on, many are likely to think the risk from the virus is very low given the number of negative test results we receive; but that is precisely when we have to be more watchful and guard against complacency.
Together we have done a great job of managing the pandemic on our shores, however we must look at the example in other places if we are not careful.
From all reports it appears that Hurricane Teddy did not have the impact on lives and homes that we feared was possible when it was an intense, monster storm churning in the Southern Atlantic Ocean late last week. I, and many, many others have said: “We Bermudians are no doubt blessed”.
While seemingly there has been significant damage to our foreshores and coasts, and while we trust nature will restore herself, we cannot ignore the fact that given Paulette had come seven days before, we faced this storm with readiness.
The last time we faced this sort of challenge was in 2014 with back-to-back hurricanes Fay and Gonzalo; we endured, overcame, and continued to thrive...it’s how we do, what we do.
Over the last week weeks I witnessed time and again the essence of what makes us Bermudian. We cared for each other and supported each other. I saw neighbors helping neighbors as each household prepared for the storms. We checked and made sure windows were bordered and there was storm necessities in place. We made phone calls, did grocery runs and put support in place. This is truly who we are and these characteristics are on display daily and more so, when we have to face adversity together.
Therefore I was dismayed to see the irresponsible behavior of a few parents who allowed their children to play in the ocean during the aftermath of the storm. We know the wave action created a significant amount of damage to our shoreline.
We must always be aware that before, during and after a storm, playing in the surf can be dangerous for adults and more so for children.
I will say it now for future storms and extreme wave action, when we advise people not to go into the water, please heed these warnings.
They are for your safety and well-being and those around you. I am grateful that the children were not injured or worse and we use this as a learning opportunity to take the warnings seriously.
Which brings me to the individuals and organizations tasked with guiding us safely through hurricanes, our essential workers and members of the Emergency Measures Organisation – the EMO. We hear about this organization usually before, during and after hurricanes.
Members of the EMO are tasked with working together, seamlessly providing and sharing information that will allow the Minister of National Security to make decisions that will keep us safe and secure.
I am truly humbled by the men and women who sacrifice their comfort and their family’s needs, and stand ready and be alert, to answer emergencies in difficult conditions.
Working throughout the night, with little sleep to ensure Bermuda stays safe and is continually updated with vital information.
I have met many of our frontline heroes I can say that each one of them sees their job as service and their duty as a calling.
So on behalf of the Government and people of Bermuda I extend a sincere thank you and acknowledge Minister of National Security, the Hon. Renee Ming and our courageous and selfless Emergency Measures Organization workers. We truly appreciate you and your hard work.
Thank you.