Local News From Every Source
Good Morning, Mr. Speaker.
I am pleased to provide another update on the Short Term Stimulus Programme that was launched on December 17th, 2020 to a maximum value of BMD $13,385,000 where small to medium sized contractors were invited to participate.
Mr. Speaker,
Today I rise to share with my honourable colleagues and the community at large an update on the impact of COVID 19 in our public schools.
Mr. Speaker,
The Minister of Social Development and Seniors, the Hon. Tinee Furbert, JP, MP, recently visited the K Margaret Carter Centre to accept a heartfelt donation from Kenneth Pushā II, Owner of Mask’d Co., alongside the K Margaret Carter Centre Administrator Mrs. Veronica Baptista, staff, and clients.
Minister Furbert said, “The Ministry of Social Development and Seniors would like to acknowledge Mr. Pushā, affectionately known as Kentu, for his generous donation of over 50 cloth (reusable) masks to honor those living with disabilities.”
Following a recent Ministerial Statement given by Transport Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Scott JP, MP, Royal Caribbean International, announced on Tuesday that they would offer cruises departing from Bermuda starting on 26 June 2021.
Minister Scott stated, “The news from RCI recently, serves as evidence of our commitment to not only do what we say we will do but demonstrates how we have become innovative during a time riddled with travel restrictions.
Requirement to apply Enhanced Due Diligence for higher risk jurisdictions
Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Reform, Hon. Kathy Lynn Simmons, JP, MP today issued AML-ATF Advisory 1/2021 about the risks in a number of jurisdictions arising from inadequate systems and controls to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
The Ministry of Health has two new walk-in and drive-through pop-up locations that will offer COVID-19 testing to the community. You do not need an appointment to get tested at these locations.
The locations are:
TCD (outdoor drive-through lanes), Monday 29 March and Wednesday 31 March, from 5:30 – 7:30 pm.
Horseshoe Bay Beach car park, Monday 5 April and Wednesday 7 April, from 4:30 – 7:30 pm.
Madam President, Bermuda had a sobering anniversary last week, as March 18th marked the one-year anniversary of the first Covid-19 case in Bermuda.
The Public is advised that the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo [BAMZ], will close the zoo portion of the facility to the general public from March 23rd, 2021 for three weeks. This is to limit potential exposure to certain animals that are susceptible to coronaviruses and to ensure that the needed provision of care can be provided.
Please note that the aquarium, museum, and gardens will remain open. However, the aquarium hall and other indoor spaces at the facility are limited to a maximum of ten people at any one time for everybody’s safety.
Today the Chief Medical Officer has directed that all students and associated teachers in both the P4 years at Elliot Primary School must be quarantined, based on an updated risk assessment by the Ministry of Health, and in accordance with the Public Health Act 1949 and the Public Health (COVID-19) Regulations 2020. This means that children and teachers associated with both (two) P4 years must stay home and away from other activities. All affected persons will be contacted directly by the Department of Health.
Good Evening Bermuda.
As a parent with a child in the Bermuda Public School System, I am well aware of the anxiety our parents are facing. It was very difficult for me to explain to my daughter how the nasal pharyngeal test works as she and all of her school mates of Whitney Institute was tested recently. Thankfully she and all that were tested on that day were negative. The decision made today was a very difficult one, as I truly believe that our children deserve to be inside our school buildings.
Good Evening Bermuda,
I am here with you tonight as both the Premier and a fellow Bermudian who understands the frustration that we are all currently experiencing due to this latest outbreak. I see the stress and the angst that so many of you are going through. I am no different from you. Yesterday morning I was crushed by the sight of my daughter crying wondering why she had to quarantine and why she couldn’t hug her daddy like she does many times a day.
Good afternoon.
The Ministry of Health received 866 test results since the last update, and ten were positive for COVID-19. One of the new cases is classified as imported by a resident who arrived on Delta Airlines DL617 from New York on 7 March 2021 and tested positive on their Day 14 test. Six of the new cases are classified as local transmission with known contact as they are associated with known cases.
The Ministry of Public Works is pleased to advise the public that the Crow Lane and Trimingham Hill Roundabout Easter displays are in place for the public’s enjoyment.
As of yesterday, the Crow Lane and Trimingham Hill Roundabout displays show decorated Easter eggs and Easter bunnies in addition to the plants and flowers.
School students from Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy, Elliot Primary, West Pembroke Primary, St. George’s Prep and Purvis Primary decorated the eggs. The Department of Parks staff decorated the bunnies.
The Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP, has this afternoon released the following statement to address the proactive measures being made to ensure the health and safety of our Bermuda Public School teachers, students, parents, and the larger community.
The Chief Medical Officer has directed that all students, teachers and staff of Dellwood Middle School must be quarantined. The decision to quarantine is based on an updated risk assessment by the Ministry of Health and in accordance with the Public Health Act 1949 and the Public Health (COVID-19) Regulations 2020.
This means that Dellwood teachers, students, and staff must stay home and away from other activities from 22 March 2021, until and including 2 April 2021.
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, there is no tourism without transport. The cruise ship industry is a key revenue generator for Bermuda. On average, the economic impact from the industry is $170M, with approximately 185 ship calls annually. In 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the island saw only four calls out of the scheduled 196 projected calls. In 2021, 189 calls were originally projected, and the number of calls continues to dwindle. The Cruise Ship schedule requires a complete overhaul because of daily cancellations. To date, there have not been any calls in 2021.
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.
Mr. Speaker:
I rise today to announce to this Honourable House that this Government has amended the policy for proving domicile in Bermuda to simplify the process for persons seeking to repatriate home to Bermuda to obtain Bermudian Status.
In support of the Repatriation & Mixed Status Families legislation, with particular focus on the repatriation of Bermudians born overseas to a Bermudian parent, the Ministry has removed the requirement for the production of an Affidavit of Domicile.
The Current Process
Mr. Speaker:
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.
“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.
Good day.
The Ministry of Health received 758 test results since the last update, and six (6) were positive for COVID-19. All six (6) of the new cases are classified as local transmission with known contact as they are associated with known cases.
Additionally, since the last update, there were two (2) recoveries.
There are currently 52 active cases, of which;
· All 52 are under public health monitoring and;
· None are in the hospital.
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.
The Health Insurance Department (HID) office, located at 48 Church Street Sophia House 2nd Floor, will not serve customers in person during the week of March 22nd.
HID will provide support for Policyholder and Provider claims submission and client services via the phone and email contacts below:
General Questions
Hamilton, March 19, 2021– The Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme (BOPP) has released three preliminary research reports as part of its Blue Economy work, which features recommendations for key sectors of Bermuda’s economy: Fisheries, Blue Tourism, and Ocean Renewable Energy.
Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to provide to this Honorable House and the public with a reminder of the legal measures of the Public Health (COVID-19 Emergency Powers) Regulations2021, which have been enacted, and from time to time amended,in an effort to prevent another surge in COVID-19 positive cases in Bermuda.
Mr. Speaker, the path to realising a properly regulated gaming industry for Bermuda has been a challenging one. Since the Green Paper on Gaming for Bermuda too little discernible progress has been made to actually introduce gaming on a scale that supports tourism andadds to the product offerings for travellers to Bermuda.