Covid-19: 1,244 Test Results, 4 Were Positive

August 17, 2020

Between Sunday and today there were 1,244 test results and four were positive for Covid-19, three were imported and one is under investigation.

A Government spokesperson said, “Between Sunday and today there were 1,244 test results received by the Ministry of Health, and four were positive for COVID-19.

“Of the four new cases, three were imported and one is under investigation. All three imported cases arrived on Jet Blue flights from New York, as follows:

  • Resident with pre-departure test arrived 15 August and was identified on arrival;
  • Resident with pre-departure test arrived on 7 August and was identified on their day 8 test;
  • Visitor with pre-departure test arrived on 12 August identified on their day 4 test; and

“All cases have been isolated and contact tracing has begun.

The Minister of Health Kim Wilson said, “It is important to note that two of the new imported cases tested positive after having both a negative pre-departure test and a negative arrival test; one also had a negative Day 4 test.

“I remind people that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot in time and will not detect the virus at very low levels. This is why it is so important to follow public health guidance on mask wearing, hand hygiene and physical distancing at all times; and why it’s so vital that travellers follow their quarantine restrictions as well as the strict Return to Work guidance.
“While COVID-19 is being imported to Bermuda it is very important for everyone to limit their movements and contact, and to practice mask-wearing and physical distancing.”

“Bermuda has had 166 total confirmed positive cases. Their status is as follows:

  • 147 have recovered, and
  • there are 10 active cases, who are
  • all under active public health monitoring;
  • none is hospitalized or in critical care, and
  • the total deceased remains 9.

“The average age of all of our confirmed positive cases is 58 and the age range of all of our positive cases is from 18 to 101 years.

“The source of all local cases is as follows:

  • 61 are Imported
  • 85 are Local transmission, with known contact
  • 19 are Local transmission with an unknown contact, and
  • 1 is under investigation

“Bermuda’s country status is “Sporadic Cases”. The seven-day average of our real time reproduction number is less than 1.”

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Comments (12)

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  1. piss ant says:

    sorry but i am NOT getting a cosy warm feeling from this at all.In fact alarm bells should be ringing LOUDLY. I do not preach doom and gloom but am beginning to feel 2 week quarantine TOTALY may still be required especially when dealing with IMPORTS from US and most of then being Local Residents. The Americanss have NOT GOT IT RIGHT by any stretch of the imagination

  2. Ringmaster says:

    Please will the Ministry stop this R is under 1 rubbish. Clearly they do not understand how that is calculated. R is based on community spread per 100 people and there is no community spread so R is 0. What should be of concern is to have positive tests after negative tests. How many other people have been exposed? Can hey be traced? Will we have the normal “I don’t have that information” from the Minister?

  3. Ringmaster says:

    Apart from 1 case involving a visitor, all other case are returning residents. The solution is clear. Either ban residents from travelling, but if you do you either cannot return, or you will be in 30 day quarantine, at a Government controlled location at your expense.

  4. Goofy Dog says:

    now 2 police officers. Maybe its time to start a massive continuios locals test. Clearly ( in my eyes ) there is a distinct possibility of super spreaders amongst us. I am deeply alarmed and when transiting Hamilton ( which bythe way govt needs to leave alone ) it looks and acts as before covid . I really feel we are slipping BACKWARDS rather rapidly at that.

    • Colibm says:

      The 2 police officers are in the 4 new cases count, not in addition to. Not the best news but still better than 6 new cases.

  5. Chris says:

    The one officer is local transmission with unknown source. Meaning that it was not obtained from the officer that was traveling. Officer is also Asymptomatic so no telling when contracted and who else may have.
    Flights to and from the US should be banned and actually should have never been restarted. Specially as they were restarted when Georgia had it’s largest number of cases and Governor was preaching against masks.
    Sooner or later it will get missed. Like experts told government that it is inevitable and probably already happened.

  6. Chirs says:

    Think about this…

    Resident with pre-departure test arrived on 7 August and was identified on their day 8 test…

    That means that after 4 day test being negative they were allowed to move around island till being positive on day 8 test. 4 days of exposing people.

    • trufth says:

      NO, I don’t think your numbers are right. I think this person was let loose the day his arrival test at the airport came back negative (since he already had the negative pre-boarding test) which could have been less than 24 hours if the labs worked efficiently that day.

      So this person arrived here on the 7th, got negative arrival test result on 8th and went about his business as normal (grocery stores, restaurants, retail stores, hardware stores etc) until his day 8 test results which would have been given to him on day 9 at the earliest.

      If my understanding is correct, that’s 8 days of exposing everyone he came in contact with!!

      The next few weeks should be interesting.

  7. Vortex says:

    Its pretty obvious what the issue is.

    Let’s not pay the price for Trump’s inactivity, its time to shut the US Border again.

    • wahoo says:

      Agreed there is no real good reason why Bermudians need to be in the US at this time other than medical reasons. I fear it is too late and another lock down is eminent. The few wealthy travelers seeking safe haven will find somewhere else.

  8. Hudson says:

    The government has done an outstanding job on the handling of Covid-19 in our community to date, and I applaud their efforts. However, I fear that the balance between protecting the health and safety of the community against ensuring economic recovery is now tipping in the wrong direction. I do not agree with closing the borders as that is simply unsustainable; rather, the Government needs to mandate a 14 day self isolation upon entry to the Island, regardless of circumstance. In the last 48 hours I’ve heard of 3 cases where it was a day 8 positive test – this is not going to bode well to containing community spread going forward if the existing policies relating to travel continue.

  9. Ringmaster says:

    The new positive test on the visitor with previous negative tests has resulted in multiple quarantine orders on locals and shutdown of local businesses. How will the Minister address this and what steps will she take? Is this a risk worth taking, or should Bermuda enforce a 14 day quarantine on all incoming passengers?