Self-Quarantine Required For Arriving Passengers
[Updated] “With effect from 17 March, 2020, all persons arriving into Bermuda will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days and should expect to do so subject to Public Health monitoring,” the Government said today.
A government spokesperson said, “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.
“All passengers will also be provided with healthcare information setting out what they should be doing during the period of self-quarantine. Following this public health advice is critical to minimizing the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 and keeping Bermuda safe.
“With effect from 17 March, 2020, all persons arriving into Bermuda will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days and should expect to do so subject to Public Health monitoring. This means these arriving passengers will be required to remain at home so they do not facilitate the transmission of the virus, including at their place of work.
“Public Health monitoring will include health personnel being in communication with these persons over the period of the self-quarantine and being the first point of contact in the event the person develops fever, cough or difficulty breathing.
“Employers should exercise sensitivity in managing this mandated period of self-quarantine where it affects their employees. They should not require or knowingly allow workers to come to a workplace if they have been required to self-quarantine. Where possible, a worker who is in self-quarantine and does not feel sick should be allowed to work from home. Options such as paid sick leave or other forms of leave, as agreed between the employer and employee, should be considered.
“The requirement to self-quarantine will apply also to visitors to Bermuda, however they can leave the Island whenever this wish if they have no symptoms.
“These restrictions will be reviewed regularly but will likely remain in place through 31 March, 2020.”
Update: A spokesperson added, “The public should note that passengers arriving this evening from New York and Miami will likewise be required to complete the Health questionnaire and are likewise strongly encouraged to self-quarantine in the interest of minimizing the risk of community transmission.
“Additionally, residents are strongly advised to cancel all non-essential travel in light of the rapidly changing global situation in respect of ports of entry and steps taken by most countries to protect their borders.”
Update 4.58pm: The Premier tweeted: “I will request to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate, that both houses of Bermuda’s Legislature meet tomorrow to pass the laws required to give the Bermuda Government the power to enforce the newly announced self-quarantine effective March 17.”
He also added, “Please all of Bermuda, for your friends returning from the UK this evening, now is not the time to ignore the warnings! We all have a role to play in minimising the risk to the vulnerable due to #COVIDー19. Though it will not be legally enforceable until Tuesday, STAY HOME!”
Update 6.31pm: The Government said, “The attached guidance will be given to all travelers who arrive in Bermuda today and tomorrow, 15 and 16 March, 2020. This guidance will be updated on 17 March, 2020.”
The full Covid-19 Self-Quarantine guidance follows below [PDF here]:
So does this mean airport workers will be allowed to wear gloves, masks etc to protect themsleves from passengers?
Surely they can do that now if they want?
First it says required to! Next paragraph says urged to? Which on is it?
Read the article – REQUIRED on 17th when proposed legislation becomes effective, URGED before then.
Self quarantine serves NO PURPOSE unless your sick. The Government could have closed every entry way months or weeks ago. Still wouldn’t make a difference.
Bermuda still depends on international business to ship all goods and service.
This action will only slow the flue down. Practice good hygiene wash hands and avoid anyone with symptoms.
The whole purpose is to prevent those who are sick, but don’t yet know it, from going out before they find out. It is well demonstrated to work, both in this pandemic and in other infections.
Slowing “the flu” (which this isn’t, it’s a different virus) is what all governments are trying to do right now. Please go look on the internet for “flattening the curve” – delaying the spread of the disease so that the peak number of infections does not overwhelm the health service.
Slowing it down may help save lives as our hospital resources are limited and our population is aged and not in great health.
Passengers can wear gloves or masks if they choose too now. Nobody is stopping them from doing so.
Um they are not already???They are not that stupid are they???
So what happens to Taxi drivers that pick them up ? Are they then subject to 2 weeks self quarantine?
No, neither are their household contacts. They should be practising social isolation.
Wonder what is the difference between doing all this on the 17th vs today? Who’s coming home tomorrow that some politician doesn’t want to have to be quarantined? And every church we passed today had lots of cars in the parking lots…but our gov’t is going to meet with church leaders tomorrow so one more weekend for churches to collect offerings etc. Politicians rather than leaders making decisions based on politics rather than what’s best for the public.
Just close the borders to arriving passengers, give us some notice (2-3 days) so Bermudians overseas can make plans to get home. St. Maarten has done it, others are about to do it. Time to be proactive not reactive. Allow cargo to continue as normal.
“give us some notice (2-3 days) so Bermudians overseas can make plans to get home”
A Bermudian living anywhere outside BDA can still bring it home.
From 17 March, or from tonight? It can’t be both.
So the BA flight took off 2 hours ago, and they announce this now. That is simply poor planning.
Hundreds of people coming home will be met with this and with no choice.
It should have been effective Tuesday, at least then people could have decided if they wanted to fly.
I know 100 people that would love to remain home for 14 days so their jobs can’t say crap.
It’s mostly students on that flight
75-80% OF COVID-19 TRANSMISSIONS IN FAMILY CLUSTERS
So what happens to their family members, kids and seniors at home? When can we have a quarantine facility on the island?
Google it and watch a 5-6min video MSNBC interviewing Donald McNeil, science and health reporter for the New York Times, talking about measures to take. Other islands have already started screening people, temperature checks, etc
Exactly!
Are people allowed to come for a vacation? Will tourists be required to self quarantine for 14 days?
What about young children coming home from school and they don’t show any signs of symptoms? Will they not be able to see friends with this in place?
No, they won’t be able to see their friends. It’s quarantine. The clue is in the name
What about their parents and siblings? What do they do?!
most if not all kids “talk” with their friends online through a social media platform…most adults do too….
What happens with the airline crews that overnight?
So have we stopped ALL cruise ships yet?
too late,the horse has bolted!
I noticed the hotels have no idea. Thought I might look at a night at one of the nicer hotels next week for my wife and I.
Loren $600, Ham P and Tuckers $500!!
Are you kidding me? – surely no guests and thinking of letting people go, its bad management/marketing. The planes are EMPTY!
Just because it’s a pandemic the price of goods or hotel rooms will not change. Be real!
You want real? There are zero visitors coming, absolutely none, all business travel is curtailed, no vacationers and what resident is going to spend that much?
So you have no guests, nobody in the bars, shops and restaurants and people get laid off and businesses close.
Better to charge $150 a night, encourage staycations, keep the bars and shops busy.
That’s real and sensible. I don’t see anything but stupidity in an empty hotel.
Totally agree! Bermuda cannot survive the impact of this…and we got here 2 days ago, sanitized the whole way, wore masks, etc. Nobody took our temperature at airport, just asked about a list of countries visited…crazy.
These hotels would rather empty rooms to get rid of staff costs. Trust me no one is complaining as it’s an opportunity to clean shop!
Elbow Beach has a special. Price is $188 per night.
On another note it would reassuring to know that the supply chain of food and supplies will continue to arrive. What we have seen with some “buying up the town” can lead to some desparate situations in the future. It would be prudent for our Leader to have this conversation with companies such as butterfield and Vallis and the market place and others that supplies have not been, nor will be hampered.
Wow why with all this half azz stuff just shut it down… cause you know for sure ain’t nobody goin to self quarantine.
Hundreds of students are coming back, the BA flight tonight is packed. If students self isolate, should parents and siblings? Govt has not thought this one through!
Really? Seems like you have not it through and seems like iit might just be the parents problem with the kids ion the plane not the governments.
Don’t worry though am sure the government thought to buy TP so it can continue wiping your a&&
The wholesalers can’t get product like ordering from Amazon. Anything that they order today won’t see Bermuda for at least a month. The panic buying is nuts. Some people must be planning to spend an awful lot of time sitting on the porcelain throne in the coming months.
As soon as those students arrive 1st on the list check for friends, 2nd grocery store for home cooked Bermuda meal, 3rd on the list packages sent in advance to collect from the post office to pay less duty, 4th catch up with more old friends and visit family, 5th….
Honestly… our young people are not stupid. They know how serious this is. Stop making assumptions.
So what’s the difference between the people traveling over the weekend to those on the 17th?
Bunch of jokers
This is sensible. They seem to be taking it seriously now.
Agree with everyone here! Arrived 15 March, none of this was in place,no airport workers in masks, nobody taking temperatures, nothing. This guidance says to quarantinecin place “in your home” and not go to the beach, grocery store, reataurant, nowhere but to “ask a friend to get you what you need”….hello? We are visitors, staying in a rented, private home! We have no way to drive, we have no friends to bring us food, etc. Bermuda officials, ws understsnd your concerns,but as my grandma would say “you are a day late and a dollar short”. Get it together! If you are putting this in effect, give peooke notice so they can cancel plans BEFORE they arrive!! Apparently for those of us who made it in before this ill-planned roll- out started, we are exempt…we sanitized, wore masks, etc the whole way and did not cone via NY or Miami…but if we are here visiting, Auntie Pink Sand cannot just be at our beck and call to help us sit put for 2 weeks ..gonna enjoy the island, people,but will do so with some careful distancing, sanitizing, etc….
What about the flight crew?
Lock everything down like the Chinese did