UK Arrivals: Additional ‘Quarantine Restrictions’

December 22, 2020

[Updated with PDF] “As the virus strain has been around since September, it seems unlikely it isn’t here already which is why we have not closed our border to the United Kingdom,” the Health Minister said, added that the Ministry is “putting in place additional quarantine restrictions” for those travelling from the UK, saying “they will be required to quarantine in their accommodation for four days.”

Speaking at this evening’s press conference, Health Minister Kim Wilson said, “there have been a number of questions regarding the new strain of the coronavirus

“On 14 December 2020, authorities of the United Kingdom reported that a SARS-CoV-2 variant has been identified through viral genomic sequencing. Given that this strain can be dated back to September 2020 in UK, the latest report from PAHO states that it is likely this virus is already circulating elsewhere.

“Further studies are needed to determine if this new strain is different in terms of the severity of disease it causes. However, the UK government has reported that there is no evidence at this stage to suggest the Covid-19 vaccines currently being rolled out across the UK will not work against the new variant of coronavirus.

“It is important to note that all viruses change over time. There have so far been hundreds of variations of this virus identified worldwide. To date, most changes of this virus have had little to no impact on how it transmits or the severity of disease it causes.

“The occurrence of mutations is a natural and expected event within the evolution process of the virus.

“Evidence indicates that the SARSCoV-2 viral variants identified to date have a much lesser influence on the transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 than other risk factors, such as age, underlying conditions, or even social behavior.

“Bermuda has not been routinely sequencing our positive cases so we can’t say for sure yet if this particular strain is already circulating. However, this is something we hope to start doing in January, as we do have the equipment to conduct nanopore sequencing on island. This will be led by Dr. Carika Weldon who was the Project Manager and Lead Researcher for nanopore sequencing at Oxford University.

“On balance, as the virus strain has been around since September, it seems unlikely it isn’t here already which is why we have not closed our border to the United Kingdom.

“However, the Ministry is putting in place additional quarantine restrictions for those travelling to Bermuda from the UK and those who have travelled in the UK in the past 14 days before coming to the island.

“Regardless of whether or not those UK travellers have a pre-arrival test, they will be required to quarantine in their accommodation for four days, and cannot be released from quarantine until they have a day 4 negative test result. This will provide an added layer of protection for all of us.”

Update | The Quarantine [Covid-19] [No. 3] Amendment [No. 8] Order 2020 [PDF here]

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Comments (8)

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  1. Dirk Gentley says:

    A four day quarantine? What a joke. Last I heard, there is a 14 day incubation period for this disease. This is going pear shaped rather quickly.

  2. Dirk says:

    “On balance, as the virus strain has been around since September, it seems unlikely it isn’t here already which is why we have not closed our border to the United Kingdom.”

    Has the Health Minister just thrown in the towel?

  3. Jason says:

    This makes sense. Media headlines are all scaremongering.

    What we fail to reconfigure here is the USA is and always has been much worse than the UK. But the us doesn’t talk about it. Seriously go on cnn news you will barely see covid anymore.

    All passengers. Not just Uk. Should have to quarantine for 4 or even 8 days reccomended for best case if you can type of thing. I’m a traveler and I did it myself and so did my wife. Bermudians need to do this for each other.

    Hopefully those responsible for the four events that weekend in November will be charged to the full extent of the law. I would like a whistleblower to leak their names and we should reward them. These selfish people have cost businesses money and people their jobs again around the Xmas period. If the govt won’t prosecute them, we should sue them in civil court instead in class action suit.

    • Hate much? says:

      Relax mate! Happening all over the Planet Earth! No need to crucify our brothers and sisters. A little compassion and recognition that the virus is the real threat actor here!

      Peace be the journey!

  4. Seriously says:

    4 days, all the Honorable Minister talks about is the 14 day incubation period. It is a joke.

    This mobile Quarantine is even a bigger joke.

    You get of the plane and have a test and you can shop retail, get groceries, take a bus, grab a cab, get in the take-out line, go to get gas, visit friends and family. Oh gracious, now they have to wait 4 days instead of hours – news flash: no one is keep tabs on these people anyway – they don’t wait one day they certainly won’t be waiting 4 or 14.

    More visitors are here from the UK and they aren’t in hotels, I know my street is full of them, visiting family. They are here to babysit the grandkids and are out and about pushing strollers, on outings with the family and wandering all over the Island. SMH isn’t is the senior population who we are trying to protect, well they are putting themselves at risk and now everyone else.

    It’s a mess and we are now a High Risk Country according to the CDC – but the Premier doesn’t think that it is really reflective of where we are because we had less than 10 cases today – wake up….. almost 300 since December 1st???????

    • Question says:

      The super spreader events have been nothing to do with returning residents, etc.

  5. Joe Bloggs says:

    “However, the UK government has reported that there is no evidence at this stage to suggest the Covid-19 vaccines currently being rolled out across the UK will not work against the new variant of coronavirus.

    That is a non-statement. If there is no study, there will be no evidence. So what the Minister might well be saying is that the UK has not studied the new virus so “there is no evidence at this stage to suggest the Covid-19 vaccines currently being rolled out across the UK will not work”.

    “Bermuda has not been routinely sequencing our positive cases so we can’t say for sure yet if this particular strain is already circulating.”

    Sigh

  6. MADDOG says:

    I agree Jason, it should apply to all travelers and regardless of what Government says WE as responsible people should all be doing what we know is RIGHT….you travel STAY HOME, it’s a new world you can’t do whatever you want anymore – accept that!

    HATE MUCH? you say relax mate? Not likely you would be saying that when you have to watch your loved one struggling to breath and die in front of you – THAT is happening all over the world – so yes, you act selfishly and disrespect others increasing the risk for people other than yourself, then you should be penalized.