There have been many queries around whether parents of quarantined, asymptomatic school-aged children should also be in quarantine.

The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ayoola Oyinloye explains: 

The Ministry of Health received 2003 test results since the last update, and 41 were positive for COVID-19. Two of the new cases are classified as imported by one resident who arrived on Delta Airlines DL617 from New York on 15 March 2021 and tested positive on their Day four (4) test, and one non-resident who arrived on Jet Blue B62231 from New York on 12 March 2021 and tested positive on their Day eight (8) test

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to advise this Honourable House and the public of the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan (“ERP”).

Mr Speaker

I rise today to inform this Honourable House of the latest outbreak of COVID-19 in Bermuda, and the measures put in place to reduce and depress the spread of the disease.

Mr Speaker

A year ago, the Bermuda Government made the difficult decision to suspend services, close businesses, and impose restrictions on our resident population in our efforts to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in Bermuda.

The Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU) is aware of COVID-19 exposure at West Pembroke Primary School and the person(s) confirmed with COVID-19 have been isolated.

Based on the risk assessment conducted by the ESU, all students and associated teachers in P6 classes must quarantine until April 1st, 2021. They must get COVID-19 tested and re-tested again on or after Day 14. 

On Friday, the Ministry of Education released an update made by the Emergency Education Measures Committee (EEMC) on the new COVID-19 testing protocols for schools. 

The new protocol outlines that immediately, the bubble that any positive student is a part of, defined as their close contacts, are ordered to quarantine and get tested via the nasal-pharyngeal or oral swab. Additionally, the rest of the students and staff at the school, defined as casual contacts, will be tested using the Saliva Testing method within a day of the initial notification.

Good day. 

“We must act now,” said Premier David Burt today announcing changes in the Public Health Regulations which will come into effect from 6 am tomorrow morning. “Cabinet met earlier today and following a full briefing from the Minister of Health determined to roll back the current measures to what was in place in mid-December.” 

The Premier confirmed that:

- The curfew would now be in place from 11pm until 5am

- Clubs and bars will be prohibited from serving patrons indoors, outdoor service is for table service only

The Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP met with the Education Emergency Measures Committee (EEMC) to address the recent rise in positive COVID-19 cases within the community. 

Following yesterday's meeting, the EEMC agreed that public schools will remain open however, further protocols will be implemented to keep our educators, parents, and students safe. 

The Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU) is aware of a potential COVID-19 exposure at Purvis Primary. The person confirmed with COVID-19 has been isolated and the ESU is contacting confirmed close contacts. These person(s) are being advised that they must quarantine (stay home from school and other activities) and get tested for COVID-19.