Good Evening Bermuda, and thank you for tuning in tonight. 

Tonight I am joined by the Minister of Health, the Hon. Kim Wilson, who will provide an update on the vaccination program, including numbers of residents vaccinated, vaccine side effects, and other updates from her ministry. 

Following that, I will provide you with an update on the next delivery of vaccines and some other matters.

We are also joined tonight by The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ayoola Oyinloye, who will be able to answer technical/medical questions from the media.

First, we will hear from the Minister of Health …

Thank you Minister…

I would like to commend you and your team for the excellent work in scaling up the vaccination program. Over 4000 doses administered last week is excellent progress, and you and all those who have worked so hard to accelerate our pace of vaccinations are to be commended. 

At the close of today, almost 10,000 doses of the vaccine would have been administered in Bermuda, including over 1,600 residents who have received their second shot and are now fully immunized. 

I know there have been logistical and technical challenges, this is expected with an initiative as large and as significant as our vaccination program. The teams involved are working extremely hard, as all of our teams on the frontline have done throughout the pandemic and their work is immensely appreciated.

If you can register online, I encourage you to do so - go to coronavirus.gov.bm and click “Covid 19 Vaccine Registration”. If you do not have access to the internet, you can use the hotline 444-2498. The Government is working to increase its technical capacity to meet the rising demand. 

The Government is aware that there are those in the community who are eligible but may not have access to the internet. There will be a mailer sent to all households to ensure that no one is missed as lack of access to technology shouldn’t prevent you from being vaccinated. 

As the Minister of Health said, we are aware that some people have experienced adverse effects after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. These side effects are normal, with most cases being mild.  If you have concerns speak with your doctor to get credible medical advice on how to manage these side effects; but do not be deterred from receiving your second dose without medical advice from your doctor. 

It is unfortunate that some in the community wish to discourage persons from making a decision that should be between an individual and their doctor. I am grateful that the vast majority of local doctors who have taken the vaccine have encouraged their patients to do so too, as they, like me, trust the science.

If you have received the vaccine, share your experience with others. Let your family and friends know why you made the decision and what it means to you to receive the vaccine. 

The Government is continuing its work to expand Bermuda’s vaccination program. Earlier today, Government House confirmed that the next tranche of vaccines from the U.K is scheduled to arrive on February 25th. Further details, including the exact number of doses, will be provided in the coming days. 

As a country, we have all lived through the difficult reality of stricter regulations, unable to see our family and socialize with our friends. None of us, including me, wish to experience that again.  This is the reason why we are being deliberate in the relaxation of measures. 

The measures are in place so that we can safely advance towards a time of little impact from COVID-19. We can only do this by working together and remembering that we all share a common goal. To protect ourselves and our loved ones from this virus and get back to life as we would like to live it.

To achieve our goal, we must use the tools we have at our disposal. If you are eligible, register for the vaccine today. Attend your appointments when given and receive both shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, to ensure it is fully effective. Avail yourself of the free testing for residents. Adhere to the regulations that are in place to keep us safe and download the WeHealth app.

At next week’s press conference, the Government will announce changes to the current measures in place for all residents and visitors. We will also provide an update to the rule changes for vaccinated persons travelling to Bermuda. 

During the last outbreak, we all remember that the United States Centres for Disease Control downgraded Bermuda to a level 4 travel warning. Bermuda currently meets the standard for an upgrade to level 2 by the primary criteria. If we continue our stellar record for the next week, we should meet the criteria for Level 1.  The Ministry of Health has been in contact with the CDC, and I also raised this issue with the new acting US Consul General when we met last week. 

Sticking with matters related to travel, last week, I held a meeting with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Transport, the Chief Medical Officer, and the Bermuda Tourism Authority to discuss a long-term strategy for Bermuda's tourism industry. The purpose of the meeting was to consider how we can safely begin to expand our Island's tourism product in light of the ever-changing global situation with the coronavirus. The Government will not rush into these decisions and will act under the guidance and recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Chief Medical Officer. However, it is important for the public to know, especially those who work in our tourism and hospitality industries, that we are examining the options learning from our experiences last year to ensure that we can provide economic activity while we remain safe. 

The Government is also working on getting Bermudians safely back into sports, and to sporting events. Last month the Minister of Youth, Culture & Sport, Dr. Ernest Peets, announced a 4 stage program to help Bermuda safely return to competitive sport. We are currently in Stage 3, and safely progressing toward being able to enjoy playing, and watching competitive local sports again. The Government has rolled out a testing plan for all contact sports, and this will ensure that there are no latent cases of the virus that may occur in the community that can turn into an outbreak as we move back to competitive sport. 

Thanks to National Sports Governing Bodies and the Department of Youth and Sport for working to ensure that sport in Bermuda can resume safely. 

In closing, I ask for us all to take stock of how far we have come. Our active and confirmed cases are low. Growing numbers of residents are receiving the vaccine, with some already fully vaccinated, and more registering by the day. We have successfully managed a second wave when many countries have not been able to do so. 

However, I remind everyone that what we do today plays a significant role in our lives tomorrow. We have a lot to be proud of, but much more work to do. We must continue to make the responsible decisions that protect us, protect our loved ones and protect our country.

We know that many in our community may need extra emotional support. If you need someone to talk with, call the Emotional Wellbeing Hotline. The phone number is 543-1111. The line will be operated every Monday to Saturday, from 5 pm - 9 pm.

This help is available if you need someone to talk with, whether you are: 

·         feeling anxious;

·         feeling isolated; 

·         or if you are not feeling yourself. 

The phone number is 543-1111. Help is available.

To get accurate, reliable and timely information sign up for the Government’s WhatsApp service. Add the phone number 504 6045 to your contacts and send us a simple message saying ‘hi’, and you will receive Whatsapp updates from the Government.

Additionally, you can get Government updates by downloading the Treefrog app - go to the App Store or Google Play, in the search bar, type in Treefrog Bermuda and download the free app today. 

I am now happy to take questions from the media.