Two Cases Of Covid-19 From Delta Flight
[Updated] Two positive COVID-19 results were detected during arrival testing of passengers from yesterday’s Delta flight from Atlanta, with both of the individuals who tested positive being residents of Bermuda.
A Government spokesperson said, “The Ministry of Health can report that two positive COVID-19 results were detected during arrival testing of passengers from yesterday’s Delta flight.”
The Minister of Health Kim Wilson said, “Although this is disappointing news, it is a testament to our stringent testing regime that we were able to identify these individuals early and move to quarantine all passengers with public health monitoring.
“Strict quarantine is essential in this case as the risk of exposure has been identified. Our main priority is ensuring that cases of COVID-19 are isolated from the community and that it does not spread to our domestic population.”
“There were 47 passengers on this flight, all of whom had Travel Authorizations and 29 had pre-departure tests. Out of the 29 individuals who took a pre-departure test, 19 were visitors and 10 were residents. All but 3 passengers [44] were tested for COVID-19 upon arrival. Two passengers did not require testing as they were under the age of 10 and the other was a minor who will quarantine instead of testing.”
“Both of the individuals who tested positive are residents of Bermuda. Residents are not required to undergo a pre-departure test however one of the travelers had a pre-departure test which was negative for COVID-19.”
The Delta airlines flight — the first commercial flight from the United States since March – landed at the LF Wade International Airport yesterday [July 6], marking the second commercial flight to land in Bermuda since the airport fully re-opened earlier this month.
The first commercial flight this month, an Air Canada, landed on July 2nd, and this month’s flight schedule includes once a week Air Canada flights on Thursdays, daily Delta flights from Atlanta effective today, and twice a week flights from British Airways effective July 17.
From late March to July 2nd there were no commercial passenger flights to the island, however cargo, charter and private planes were arriving.
Update 5.10pm: A Government spokesperson said, “Today there were 181 test results received by the Ministry of Health, and two were positive for COVID-19. Both cases were imported [returning residents].
“Bermuda has 148 total confirmed positive cases. Their status is as follows:
- there are 2 active cases, of which
- 2 people are under active public health monitoring,
- none are hospitalized
- a total of 137 have recovered, and
- the total deceased remains 9.
“The average age of all of our confirmed positive cases is 60 and the age range of all of our positive cases is from 18 to 101 years.
“The average age of all deceased cases is 74 and the age range is 57 to 91 years.
“The source of all local cases is as follows:
- 44 are Imported
- 85 are Local transmission, with known contact
- 16 are Local transmission with an unknown contact, and
- 3 are under investigation
“Bermuda’s country status is ‘Local Transmission – Sporadic Cases’.”
The Minister of Health Kim Wilson said, “I want to reiterate the importance of mask-wearing and physical distancing. COVID-19 has not gone away; as today’s two imported cases prove. With our low COVID numbers, it’s perhaps easy to forget that we are living in the midst of a pandemic; but the reality is that we are and we need to take the same precautions we always have to protect ourselves and our community. Now is not the time to let our guard down.”
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.
- 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
Close the borders to the United States, its like asking for someone to spit in your mouth knowing they have herpes.
I know everything is being done to the best of abilities. Question is why were not all the passengers required to be tested prior to boarding 72 hours like I was lead to believe was going to happen. Now we are hearing but some people are exempt from that? Sounds like standing in front of gun and thinking, as long as I can hear the bang, I will be able to get out of the way!
Disappointed to hear we have a system and it was not adhered to. And whats up with kids not being tested or whatever since they are not likely to transmit? That sounds like a Bermuda theory, one that Trump would put forward.
I hope I am wrong in so many ways.
They were Bermudians returning home so the 72 hr test wasn’t required.
Actually they were very careful to avoid saying “Bermudians”. Both cases were referred to as “returning residents”.
My thoughts exactly. They have been using the word ‘residents’ which includes guest workers, Bermudians, spouses of Bermudians, PRC, etc…anyone who has the right to reside here.
the 72 hour test is sadly unrealistic. Here in NYC the minimum turnaround is 5 to 7 days. The government needs be telling people ahead of time that if one passenger tests positive, all will have to quarantine for two weeks. This information is not available anywhere.
My grandson who lives in Florida has been sent home from summer camp because 4 children have been tested positive and they are 6 years old.
Ok. Am i right in saying that people are tested at the airpott, then allowed to go on their way while the results come in?
If so, who did these people come into contact with? And what is happening to the others on the flight?
There is a high likelihood others on the plane are infected now too. Covid free island was nice while it lasted. We should not be opening to the US until their infections are brought under control. EU said no, we should too.
“Returning residents are not required to have a pre-departure test”……… really? That makes zero sense; now the condition of all the other persons on the flight comes into question. Are all occupants of the Atlanta flight now under quarantine?
For the two residents who obviously did not get tested prior to the flight, what have they been doing for the past 24 hours? Who picked them up from the airport? Who have they been in contact with?
The Bermuda Government has now officially re-started the Covid spread with their shambolic policies.
One resident did pretest and was negative but tested positive at airport. But yes, you raise a good question about what happens to the others on that flight now?
Not to mention: Children under 10 do not need to be tested. Because they are immune??? Can someone point me to any article that claims children under 10 cannot catch the virus or spread the virus?
Listen to Minister Wilson’s explanation re testing of children in the Q&A of the last press conference.
Government making a big mistake opening airport.
Is it not ironic that the Mayor of Atlanta tested positive for COVID-19 on the same date that the first flight arrived from Atlanta?
Wouldnt wanna be on that plane
Presumably it takes more than 2 hours to test positive… so how many “new” but undetected cases left the airport thinking they were clear?
Exactly, I think its definitely a lot more to come.
Get used to it….every flight will have people on it with Covid
the 72 hour test is sadly unrealistic. Here in NYC the minimum turnaround is 5 to 7 days due to how backed up they are. The government needs be telling people ahead of time that if one passenger tests positive, all will have to quarantine for two weeks. This information is not available anywhere.
Wow..sorry for coming in on the conversation..here in Wisconsin we have 24 hour test results. I had one doctor making all patients get tested before appointments…then he cancelled and had to reschedule …so I was tested twice..both neg. Also was watching a report saying numbers are inflated in the USA..most positive tests patients will get tested again and sometimes have an anti body test…CDC is counting tests…not per patient
Said this weeks ago but was hoping to be wrong. Even if people are not positive upon arrival, it takes time before there is enough virus to test positive. In three weeks, we may be faced with a self-inflicted second wave larger than the first. Politicians don’t like to admit mistakes, so won’t phase back quickly enough.
In my humble opinion, it is madness to allow Americans into our country while there is a COVID-19 wildfire raging in America. Follow the EU and ban Americans. I know the government must balance the economic and health well being of our citizens but considering that the situation in America is essentially out of control and that the leaders are engaged in magical thinking, the decision for me is an easy one
.
I do recall the Gov’t highlighting that their are risks in opening the borders, but if this risk can be mitigated then we can get the economy started back up. I do believe however, that we should make more adjustments with the pre departure screening….of all.
We are dammed if we do dammed if we don’t.
Remember folks this was the very first flight from the USA.
There were only 44 passengers.
Of those two were Covid positive. And the remaining 42 are wondering if they’re next.
There’s going to be a new flight every single day from the country with one of the worst virus control procedures in the developed world.
It’s going to be a dangerous summer. And winter.
First Air Canada flight, and a passenger busted having a pre-quarantine swizzle, second flight to land, the Delta, and we have two new cases after being COVID free for several days. THIS BODES WELL.
Am I missing something here. Out of 47 passengers on the plane, only 29 were pre-tested?? What could possibly go wrong with that scenario?
thos two people who tested positive on the delta flight should have been required to pre test before they boarded that flight just like everyone else. the protocol should be evan if you are a resident of bermuda if you were out fo the country you need to be tested. Now the rest of those passengers have to be quarentind
So now 47 people have to be quarantined for 14 days? Where? How? How many people will they have already had contact with and now also need to be in quarantine? Who pays the bill for the visitors who are now in quarantine. What are the hotels responsibilities to these guests who may have been exposed to Covid?
What would the procedure be for a tourist who lands for arguments sake, for a 6 day stay at an AirbnB but tests positive? Do they quarantine at the place they rented? Is it 14 days? What guarantee do the owners have to get paid? What if reservations have to be cancelled?
So do the other passengers on that plane now have to quarantine for 14 days as well?
Unlikely, if all were masked and socially distancing from check in at ATL through departure in BDA from LS Wade.
Bermuda seemed covid free. What brainiac though it was a good idea to open the flights from the worst infected country in the world?? He’s the one that should be resigning! He has possibly killed people now. I just hope they can sleep at night knowing they have just reversed months of sacrifice from everyone.