Government of Bermuda
The Premier, the Hon. David Burt, the Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Caines and members of Disaster Risk Reduction Management Team met with interfaith representatives yesterday (March 16) to discuss with the group Government’s preparation plans regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus).
This afternoon the care home team of the Ministry of Health held a COVID-19 preparedness meeting at the K. Margaret Carter Centre for all categories of care home staff.
At the meeting, co-presenters Ja-Mae Smith, Programme Manager of the Care Home Regulation Programme; and Rosheena Masters, Department of Health Long Term Care Quality Officer, discussed preparation strategies to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Long Term Care Homes.
Today, the Ministry of Tourism and Transport received confirmation that American Airlines (AA) and WestJet (WJ) have announced flight suspensions for Bermuda.
The public is advised that effective immediately, AA inbound flights to Bermuda from Miami (AA 308) and New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (AA 1416) are suspended through March 23 with service expected to resume March 24.
Likewise, outbound AA flights from Bermuda to Miami (AA 1325) and John F. Kennedy Airport (AA 1443) are also suspended through March 24 with service expected to resume March 25.
The public is advised that the Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) convened a meeting earlier today (March 16) to assess the latest health, public services and private sector information and plans regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus).
This afternoon’s meeting was co-chaired by Premier the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, and the Minister of National Security the Hon. Wayne Caines, JP, MP. The Minister of Health, the Hon. Kim Wilson, JP, MP, the Governor, Mr. John Rankin, Deputy Governor Ms. Alison Crocket and Police Commissioner Steven Corbishley were also in attendance.
The Department of Education can confirm that public schools will remain open. While school activity has been restricted public schools remain open. In this rapidly evolving situation, we are taking preventative and protective measures, working closely with the Department of Health, reviewing policies and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and listening carefully to our school communities.
The Ministry of Health can confirm that as of today, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19, also referred to as the coronavirus, in Bermuda. We can confirm that the rumors to the contrary currently circulating via social media and throughout the community are false.
Minister Wilson urged members of the public to rely only on official sources of information to prevent damaging rumours from creating false narratives and diverting public health resources away from situations posing an actual threat.
Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to provide this Honourable House with an update on some of the proactive economic and fiscal measures to be taken by the Ministry of Finance to combat the likely systemic threat that the COVID-19 Pandemic will have on the economy of Bermuda and by extension Government’s finances.
During this crisis, the Government of Bermuda is committed to ensuring that we communicate as often as possible, with information that is vital to our community, who are looking for answers to natural concerns.
The COVID-19 Pandemic has already had significant health, economic and social impact on people and countries around the globe. This Government has therefore already taken key steps to address this serious threat to the safety and welfare of the residents of Bermuda.
On Saturday afternoon, The Ministry of Health facilitated a training session for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC).
All arriving passengers from the UK this evening and on all flights tomorrow, 16 March, 2020, will be required to complete a detailed Health questionnaire setting out their travel history for the last 14 days and are strongly urged to self-quarantine for the next 14 days.