“Restrictions Relating To Curfew Will Expire”

January 19, 2022

“The current restrictions relating to Curfew will expire as of 5:00 am on 20 January 2022,’” the Ministry advised today, adding that other restrictions will remain in place such as maximum group sizes of 20 people.

A Government spokesperson said, “The Ministry of Health today announces that effective Friday, 21 January 2022 the following requirements will continue to be in effect for a further two weeks:

  • “Maximum group sizes will remain at 20 people.
  • “Household mixing is strongly discouraged. However, if you must attend a household other than your own, we continue to strongly urge persons to take an antigen test before they visit another home or welcoming someone into their home.
  • “Masks must be worn indoors and, also, outdoors when you are within 6 feet of another person.
  • “For restaurants, bars and clubs, tables will be limited to a maximum of 10 people and must be spaced 6ft apart. SafeKey will continue to be required for these indoor settings.
  • “We are encouraging employees who are able, to work remotely from home. Along with this, we are encouraging employers to use antigen tests to ensure employees who must be at the workplace are not infected with the coronavirus.
  • “Churches will be open; however, all members must wear masks – the officiants, congregation and choirs.
  • “Gyms can remain open – but SafeKey must continue to be used, and physical distancing must be observed.
  • “Personal care services – SafeKey is recommended for those services that require masks to be removed.

“The current restrictions relating to Curfew will expire as of 5:00 am on 20 January 2022. This mixture of legislative and guidance changes will help to reduce coronavirus transmission while taking into account what we know about the Omicron variant and allows for the expiry of the current Curfew.”

Minister of Health, Kim Wilson said, “Early evidence suggests that, though the Omicron Variant is more contagious than previous variants, the illness caused by the Omicron variant is shorter, with a reduced risk of hospitalizations. Additionally, this evidence suggests that hospitalizations for Omicron are around half of those related to Delta and that this is due to the increasingly high vaccination rate and booster uptake.

“Given what we know about the Omicron variant, yesterday, 18 January 2022, Cabinet considered and approved the recommendations made by the Cabinet Covid Committee relating to restrictions currently in place for the island, which are due to expire on 20 January 2022.

“Evidence shows that the positive Omicron cases are symptomatic. However, for those who are vaccinated, their symptoms are mild.

“These symptoms include cold-like symptoms, fatigue, runny nose, cough, headache, congestion, sore/scratchy throat, and body aches. If you have any of these symptoms, please stay at home even if you do not think you are sick. Our priority is to protect all our residents, especially our most vulnerable community members. Omicron is indiscriminate, and we must put safeguards in place to not only protect our community but to ensure that our healthcare system does not become overwhelmed.

“SafeKey remains a valuable tool to help reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission. Persons who are have received at least two doses of the vaccine can automatically renew their SafeKey for one month by going to gov.bm/safekey and using the ‘click here to renew’ link at the top of the page.

“From 15 February, persons will require a booster in order to be eligible for this automatic renewal process if their second dose was received more than 6 months ago.

“In addition to using SafeKey, wear your mask properly, practice good hand hygiene and keep physically distanced from those not in your household. Take an antigen test before you go out to know your status. A home test is a quick, easy way to determine whether you are infectious.

“We must all follow these safety tips, but, as I have said many times, vaccination remains the best defense against the virus that causes COVID-19, and I encourage all unvaccinated people to speak to their doctor about getting vaccinated.”

“Pending the MDL Lab returning to a 24-hour turnaround for results, testing appointments at Government sites have been limited to a daily maximum. With the progress being made at the Lab it is expected that by this weekend, additional capacity will have been restored, and additional appointments for testing will be made available. This will allow for SafeKey renewals as well as other community testing requirements to be met.”

covid-19 divider 1

You can find more information on the links below from our dedicated website BermudaCovid.com, which is the most comprehensive resource and historic record available of Bermuda’s handling of the pandemic.

  • All Charts: Vaccine, testing & more here
  • Timelines: Dates of major developments here
  • Test results: Chart of testing stats here
  • Vaccine: Data covering vaccinations here
  • Dedicated website: BermudaCovid.com

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Comments (16)

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  1. Rig says:

    A joke how misinformed and conservative we are, David Burt has lost the plot.

    Today the UK – yes that huge country of 70 million people with loads of information, said they would remove all Covid restrictions from 24 March. All school kids in the UK shed their masks TOMORROW.

    We have to get back to normal, the economy, mental health, kids education, none of which the PLP seems interested in.

    • Sandgrownan says:

      Be careful. The data doesn’t support what’s going on in the UK, it’s “operation save Boris” and politically motivated.

      It’s designed to appeal to Tory backbenchers.

      • aceboy says:

        You aren’t wrong at all, this is all completely political. Boris flew off the handle when Omicron hit and put in place ridiculous travel bans and started to clamp down hard on the population with mask and vaccine mandates. Then he got caught having parties while the rest of the UK couldn’t. (Sound familiar btw?) Now he is all about getting rid of restrictions, which is what the PEOPLE actually want but was done PURELY for political “gain”. It is a great example of how the entire COVID 19 debacle worldwide has been about politics from the start. Thanks for making the point.

        Now, tell us again how this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated.

    • incel1608 says:

      notice how MSM is attacking Boris though? At this point Ive seen so much personally that I know the media and big pharma and governments do not have our best interest in mind.

      OPEN UP AND LET ME EAT FRUIT, I DONT CARE ABOUT FAT PEOPLE ANYMORE

      • sandgrownan says:

        Everyone is attacking Boris, largely because he’s a lying douche.

        His relaxation of UK rules is a calculated “save Boris’s skin” move that isn’t backed up by hard data. The “anti-vax-it’s just a cold” morons who post here conveniently forget that in December, 7,372 patients were in hospital with COVID, now it’s 18,971.

        It’s a public health policy designed to ensure some mouth frothing right wing MP’s don’t send a letter saying the PM isn’t fit to serve.

        • Question says:

          The UK number in ICU with covid is the lowest it has been in months, and 30% fewer than in November.
          About half the people ‘with covid’ in hospital are actually in for some other reason. In addition, many of them could be discharged back to care homes, except they can’t because care homes are short-staffed due to the stupid vaccine mandate.
          You call other people ‘morons’, but you’re the ne that is clueless about what you’re saying.

    • unknown800k says:

      Away for himself now, knows his days are number, worst premier ever.
      Just a puppet

  2. rotten onion says:

    Enough of the government overreach on our lives. Get rid of the travel Authorization and safekey in 2 weeks.

  3. Ringmaster says:

    Time for this Government suppression of the people to stop. MPs are not subject to all these restrictions so they don’t care, and it’s proof they have nothing to do with health issues, just control. Bermuda needs a Government that knows what it is doing and not making stuff up like testing school kids. If only some of the PLP back bench would get a spine and do what’s right for Bermuda, and not for themselves.

  4. hot pepper says:

    I AGREE, TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION NEEDS TO GO LIKE YESTERDAY, ITS JUST MILKING THE PUBLIC

  5. Enough is Enough says:

    Yes, please end the safekey nonsense!

  6. Nah says:

    Bermuda, this sleazy govt has been lying to us for 2 years and the opposition is no better!! All of them need to be removed from office!!!

  7. Joe Bloggs says:

    “The current restrictions relating to Curfew will expire as of 5:00 am on 20 January 2022. This mixture of legislative and guidance changes will help to reduce coronavirus transmission while taking into account what we know about the Omicron variant and allows for the expiry of the current Curfew.”

    What a brilliant move with a record number (2,000 or so) of active cases!

  8. Triangle Drifter says:

    Good, now get rid of safe key (for vaxed persons) & the TAF for everyone.

    Apply same rules here as US, i.e. no vax, no come here.

    Government needs to get out of our lives & deal with the real issues of the day.

  9. Ringmaster says:

    The controls will continue because it shows that the Premier and Min of Health know what they are doing. Not. It is the simple way out for them. They don’t even know the population of Bermuda or any basic data, so it’s easier to keep the restrictions. Why the TA until April 2023? Why keep Safekey? No reason so it must be to keep money flowing to someone. If only somebody would find out who is getting all this money.