Thank you to the members of the Press who have joined today for my final press conference of 2021. I thought it would be an opportune time, during this season of giving and sharing, to give a further update on some key fiscal and economic matters. However, before I commence my main remarks, I would like to express my sincere appreciation once again to all of our front line and dedicated community workers, who have played a critical role in helping to deal with the challenges related to COVID-19 that we have once again had to be faced with in this year.

The Ministry of Health is advising that additional appointments for vaccine boosters have been added for Pier 6. 

To book a booster appointment, visit www.gov.bm.

The Ministry notes that there are a limited amount of appointments and will be looking to increase the opportunity for booster doses over the next month. 

Good afternoon.

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 4,124 test results, and 31 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 0.8%. Of the 47 active cases where typing is available, 34% (16) are Delta, 60% (31) are Omicron. We have a total of 62 active cases.

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 4124 test results, and 31 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 0.8%.

These results are from testing done on:

•        Sunday: 6 positive out of 923 results (0.7% positivity)

•        Monday: 17 positive out of 1569 results (1.1% positivity)

•        Tuesday: 8 positive out of 1632 results (0.5% positivity)

The Ministry of Health has made an important update to the Amendments to the Quarantine (COVID-19) (No. 3) Order 2020 that went into effect on December 13th, 2021.

Initially, the requirement was that visitors aged 12 years or older who are not ordinarily resident in Bermuda must be fully immunised to land in Bermuda, whether arriving by air or by sea.

The age has now been changed and all visitors aged18 years, and older who are not ordinarily resident in Bermuda must be fully immunised to land in Bermuda, whether by air or sea.

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 6762 test results, and 20 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 0.3%.

These results are from testing done on:

·Wednesday: 4 positive out of 1563 results (0.3% positivity)

·Thursday: 6 positive out of 2053 results (0.3% positivity)

·Friday: 2 positive out of 1794 results (0.1% positivity)

·Saturday: 8 positive out of 1352 results (0.6% positivity)

11 of the new cases are classified as imported with a history of travel in the previous 14 days.

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 3529 test results, and four were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 0.1%.

These results are from testing done on:

•        Sunday: 0 positive out of 1020 results (0.0% positivity)

•        Monday: 2 positive out of 1303 results (0.2% positivity)

•        Tuesday: 2 positive out of 1206 results (0.2% positivity)

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 6109 test results, and 9 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 0.1%.
These results are from testing done on:

·                  Wednesday: 2 positive out of 1455 results (0.1% positivity)

·                  Thursday: 3 positive out of 2071 results (0.1% positivity)

The United States Government announced yesterday (December 2) that effective December 6, the United States will tighten pre-departure COVID-19 testing protocols by requiring all inbound international travellers to test within 24 hours of departure globally, regardless of nationality or vaccination status. To meet this requirement, through the MDL lab, the Ministry of Health will provide a quick turnaround of antigen test result certification beginning on December 5.

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 4063 test results, and 3 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 0.1%.

These results are from testing done on:

§  Sunday: 0 positive out of 1125 results (0.0% positivity)

§  Monday: 1 positive out of 1448 results (0.1% positivity)

§  Tuesday: 2 positive out of 1490 results (0.1% positivity)

All 3 of the new cases are classified as imported with a history of travel in the previous 14 days.