The Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Caines is advising the public of the following update from the Department of Immigration.

Minister Caines said today, "The processing of existing applications has resumed with a reduced workforce under social distancing conditions to enable the Department to return to normal functioning as soon as is possible.

"Emergency passports needed for medical purposes are also being addressed."

Good afternoon.

Today I am joined by his Excellency the Governor, I am joined also by the Minister of Health, the Minister of National Security and the Minister of Education.

Good Evening,

I would like to begin my update by first thanking our school Leaders and staff for their hard work and the efforts put forward during the past week in engaging our students and keeping our parents updated as we navigate through this current COVID-19 situation. 

My updates will focus on three areas:

Good afternoon.

I issued a press release last night giving an update on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases there are in Bermuda. That update of 22 confirmed cases is the case at this moment in time. There are no additional cases to report at this moment.

There are 22 confirmed cases in Bermuda. Of these, ten persons of the 22 have fully recovered, two remain hospitalized in stable condition (they are not critical and they are not requiring use of a ventilator) and the others are currently isolating at home with mild symptoms.

Today the Minister of Health the Hon. Kim Wilson JP MP announced that, starting on Monday, the Ministry of Health’s Ageing & Disability Services (ADS) will be conducting wellness checks on the island’s vulnerable seniors.

Premier the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP today announced of the 36 test results received today, there were five more confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 31 negative results. 

Three of the confirmed cases were imported and two had close contact with a confirmed case and are limited local transmission.

One of the confirmed cases arrived in Bermuda on the British Airways flight BA2233 on 15 March 2020. Another arrived on flight BA2233 on 18 March, 2020 and the third arrived on BA2233 on 20 March 2020.

Good afternoon Bermuda:

As a further measure of public safety the Governor, in consultation with the Premier, the Hon. David Burt has exercised his authority under the Emergency Powers Act 1963.  

This has allowed for the enactment of the Summary Offences (Curfew) Order 2020 where the public is required to be off the roads or highways during certain hours of darkness.

As the Premier announced yesterday, the Curfew order takes effect tomorrow, Sunday 29th March 2020, from 8.00 p.m. – 6.00 a.m. for the next three days in the first instance. 

GOOD AFTERNOON.

This has been another incredibly busy day for the entire Government team engaged in this pandemic response for Bermuda. Let me begin this press briefing by thanking the people of Bermuda who have taken the time to send messages of support for the work that is being done by your government. These are challenging times and on behalf of my colleagues and myself I wish to truly thank you for your support.

The Ministry of Tourism and Transport is aware of Bermuda residents abroad who ordinarily reside on the island and are in need of advice or assistance.

To that end, please note the following information:

The Government today condemned and refuted rumors circulating in the community falsely claiming that grocery stores would be closed today. 

A government spokesperson stated, “The government is committed to preventing the community spread of Covid 19 and with providing the public with accurate factual information.  Despite this, there are those in our community who spread rumors and misinformation without any compassion for their fellow Bermudians and for the panic that these rumors could create.”