How many agency or other staff i.e. Orderlies, nurses and other support staff are available and able to stand in as needed?

Are there enough supplies on hand? And if not why not and when will they be available.

Duty relief is useless if there is no supply for masks etc.

PS the horse is already out of the gate. Government is truly in serious catch-up mode and we are only in the 1st inning of what will probably be a terrible scenario for our Paradise.

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“Bermuda currently sends all our tests to the Caribbean Public Health Agency to obtain scientifically valid, true and reliable results that will protect individuals and the community. Four to five days is the standard turnaround time to get a valid result and so far Bermuda has done eight tests to date – the three results received were all negative and we await the others.”

THEY HAVE ONLY DONE 8 TESTS? And still waiting for 5 of those results? If it takes so long to get the results, how are they doing the basic public health task of contact tracing?

Sounds to me like we don’t have any confirmed cases on island because we are asleep at the wheel.

While it’s nice to finally have a few solid, bullet-pointed actions listed by the gov’t and a handful of vague recommendations beyond hand washing, this list and update falls near-negligently short of adequate. I can’t believe that this ministerial statement lacks ANY guidance on social distancing and travel.

We know that this virus is incredibly contagious and that it is most likely here, on our shores; to think otherwise is an incredibly naive (at best) and ostrich-like (at worst) mentality to assume. While washing our hands and being responsible with our own symptoms is undoubtedly important, current evidence suggests that extreme social distancing is one of the most effective forms of slowing the spread of this coronavirus. Where are the recommendations to social clubs, religious groups and schools?! When we know that people are contagious when asymptomatic, why are we wasting time with a nurse at the airport or even thinking of ceding responsibility of reporting ill passengers to cruise ships.

We are in a unique position on this island to contain the spread of this virus and mitigate its effect on our people and health system, and we can do so in 2 simple steps: 1) put a 3 week hold on commercial flights and cruises and 2)close schools, churches and other large group gatherings. Unpopular moves, both of which will require serious chutzpah on the part of our leaders, but If we do it now, we can get ahead of the game. Wake up, Bermuda: don’t panic but let’s take responsibility for our loved ones and our general healthcare.