Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 6137 test results, and 26 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 0.5%.

These results are from testing done on:

• Thursday: 6 positive out of 1778 results (0.3% positivity)
• Friday: 10 positive out of 1851 results (0.5% positivity)
• Saturday: 2 positive out of 12513 results (0.2% positivity)
• Sunday: 8 positive out of 1257 results (0.6% positivity)

Four of the new cases are classified as imported with a history of travel in the previous 14 days. The additional 22 new cases are classified as either local transmission or remain under investigation.

Additionally, since the last update, there have been 118 recoveries and no deaths.

There are 258 active cases, of which:

• 229 are under public health monitoring and
• 29 are in hospital, with 6 in intensive care

Since Friday’s update, there have been 4 COVID admissions and 5 COVID discharges from the hospital.

Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 5593 confirmed coronavirus cases, out of which 5240 have recovered, and sadly 95 COVID related deaths.

The source of all active cases is as follows:

• 18 are Imported
• 68 are classified as local transmission
• 172 are Under Investigation

Active cases by vaccination status, transmission, and type:

• Imported cases: 82% are fully vaccinated, and 18% are not vaccinated
• Local/Under Investigation cases: 27% are fully vaccinated and 73% are not vaccinated
• Variant typing is not available at this time due to the prioritisation of test results.

The source of all confirmed cases is as follows:

• 634 are Imported
• 4228 are classified as local transmission of which:
  • 2725 are Local transmission with known contact/source and
  • 1503 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source
• 731 are Under Investigation

As investigations proceed, transmission categories may change. For information regarding age distributions and overall transmission categories, please refer to https://www.gov.bm/coronavirus-covid19-update.

The seven-day average of our real-time reproduction number is 0.48. Bermuda’s current country status is Community Transmission. Community transmission is characterised by an increased incidence of locally acquired, widely dispersed cases, with many cases not linked to specific clusters.

We have completed week 40 of vaccinations. Since January 11, Bermuda has administered a total of 89,029 vaccinations.

Of the 89,029 vaccinations given as of October 16:

• 52% are women and,
• 48% are men

85.7% of all residents over the age of 65 years have had at least one vaccination, and 83.4% are fully immunized.

To date, 70.0% of the population has been vaccinated (1 dose), and 67.6% of the population has been immunised (2 doses).

“It is encouraging that we have reached 70% of the population vaccinated,” said the Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP. “This is good news indeed. If you want to be vaccinated, please register your interest as soon as possible on gov.bm/vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccine remains our best defence in preventing the spread of this virus. It will decrease symptoms and severe illness and, in most cases, prevent death.”

“You can request an appointment or walk into the KEMH Vaccination Clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4 to 7 pm, and Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm. Medical doctors will be at KEMH to answer any questions about the coronavirus and the COVID-19 vaccine. To request an appointment click “COVID-19 Vaccine Registration” on www.gov.bm  or contact the vaccine call centre at 444-2498 option #2.”

“There is also a second vaccination centre at the National Sports Centre to accelerate the booster programme. The dates and hours of operation for the next three weeks are:

• Wednesday 13 October to Friday 15 October 12pm -6:30pm
• Tuesday 19 October to Friday 22 October 12pm -6:30pm
• Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 12pm -6:30pm

“Those 65 and over as well as pregnant women who have had their second dose at least six months prior, are eligible to make their own appointments. To book your own booster appointment, please visit  https://www.gov.bm/vaccine-booster or click the link at the top of gov.bm that says “Book a Booster Vaccine Appointment”.

Minister Wilson added, “If you do not have access to the internet or need assistance in making appointments, please call the Vaccine Centre on 444-2498-option #2, where the team will assist you with booking your appointment. You can also contact your doctor for assistance.

“I would ask all residents scheduled to receive their second dose, please do not miss your appointment! If you do have to change your appointment, we ask that you call the Vaccination Hotline at 444 2498 (option #2) or email vaccine@gov.bm as soon as you can so that we can re-schedule your appointment.”

“We must all do our part to help stop the spread of the coronavirus,” concluded Minister Wilson. “As always, to decrease the odds of getting the coronavirus, avoid the three “Cs”: closed spaces, crowded places and close contact settings. Follow Public Health guidelines, wear a mask, practice good hand hygiene, maintain physical distance and download the WeHealth Bermuda app.”