Premier Burt: Stay Home To Help Save Lives
Bermudians are dying and it is important that we all stay home so we can reduce transmission that may exist to save lives, Premier David Burt said as he issued a stark warning to the island due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, which has now claimed over 75,000 lives, including two here in Bermuda.
The Premier’s strongly worded statement came after he announced the island’s first Covid-19 deaths, saying that he is ‘extremely sad to share with the country that we have had two Covid-19 related deaths.’
Speaking at last night’s press briefing, Premier Burt said, “The purpose of these two weeks are for as many persons as possible to stay at home so we can reduce transmission that may exist in the country to save lives.
“And for those persons, who for some reason did not think that that applied to them, the evidence is real today. Bermudians are dying. It is important. Stay home.”
Following a declaration of the State of Emergency — the first in some 40 years — a Shelter in Place policy has been instituted, and with the exception of essential workers, people have been directed to stay home unless they need to make an essential visit to a permitted business such as a pharmacy, gas station or grocery store.
During the press briefing the officials also discussed businesses trying to stay open, and people trying to move around, with the Police Commissioner calling some of the excuses people have to be out “ridiculous,” while Minister Caines said that they will be increasing the amount of soldiers as it “does not appear that a number of people are getting it.”
The Premier said, “The Shelter in Place order started at 6am on Saturday. A minority of the people in the country chose to ignore the rules that were put in place for everyone’s safety, jeopardizing their health and the health of others.
“To those people I say, stop. If you don’t care about yourself, think about your fellow Bermudians who are already hospitalized with this disease. Think about the countries that have seen their health systems overwhelmed from those suffering with the virus. Think about the Bermudian families who have lost loved ones and are grieving tonight.
“Shelter in Place is a sacrifice. A sacrifice that, in the long run, will benefit our country and will save lives.
“To this point two defendants appeared in Plea Court today and were granted bail in the amount of $3,000 and to appear at a later point in time. The simple message here, for those who choose to ignore the Shelter in Place order, we will prosecute.
“Over the weekend there were questions asked about who can go out and when. To be crystal clear, if you are not going to the grocery store, pharmacy, gas station, work for a critical service, or attending for medical treatment, you should be at home and not be on the streets.”
As the island and world deals with the Covid-19 pandemic, we are doing our best to provide timely and accurate information, and you can find more information on the links below.
- Live: Our continuously updated live blog here
- All: Our coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic here
- Official: The Bermuda Government website here
- World Stats: Live graph of all cases worldwide here
- Bermuda Stats: Chart of the Bermuda stats here
- Timeline: Visual look at the timeline here
- Comprehensive: Our new Covid-19 website here
Sad how the government treats fathers in this country. I can go grocery store to pick up my food but I can’t go pick up my children. Sad. I guess fathers are not essential in the plp’s eyes.
Who said you can’t pick up your children? A bit dramatic aren’t you? You need to decide on where the kids will be primarily and shelter them there. No bouncing around the island or making drama out of this – make a sacrifice like every one else dumb a$$
I’m a dumb ass because I want to see my kid? Wow. I guess I have to be ok about not seeing my kid. Just because your daddy did not want to see you don’t be mad.
Wayne caines said that dumb a$$
He also said “titty milk” – what’s your point?
My point is that it is messed up that fathers are not allowed to go get their children but allowed to go get gas n food. I know how society look at fathers in this country. Especially black ones but come on. So what if this is lockdown last longer. I jus have to come to terms that I can’t go get my son? Absolute joke. #FathersAreNotEssential
“Self-quartine” A few breaks the rules now the whole bermuda besides some workers are got to suffer. Smh I just want to work.People have bills to pay and not everyone can get gov relief. It’s Like they want us in debt to get there asses out of dept.
Cayman recently amended their Shelter in Place rules to allow parents to travel for custody purposes, but it took two weeks of lockdown to happen. I suggest you email the Bermuda Govt to request the same changes…
They now have further reason wothout real justification to lock us down for an additional two weeks. Just watch!
How dare you take that condescending tone with us, on 24/7 lockdown, while you are throwing the doors of the airport wide open for people coming from the worst infected places on earth: US, UK
Yes, I know most of them are Bermudians who supposedly “through ‘no fault of their own’ found themselves stranded…” That’s total BS! Who in their right mind chooses to go on a cruise ship on March 5th? And explain to me why these students didn’t make their way home when their schools first closed nearly a month ago, like all the other students did?
WE are doing what is asked of us, yet these people are very selfishly putting us and our hospital system in jeopardy. (Yes, I know they will go into quarantine but what happens when 50% of them are ill and take up the very spaces in the hospital that those of us who did as we were told need?)
How about you climb down off that high horse for a minute or two?
So I guess essential works are immune from covid and the rest of us aren’t. What? They can’t get sick and start community spread? This us B.S
Green ad nasuem
We know who won the election-point made
I do not believe the supermarket.prices today .eggs 4,25=normally 2.45.last.time.a pktnof fresh broccoli was.over 6
00.heard people complaining
.