“Sadly, Bermuda has recorded another coronavirus related death”, said Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP. “I extend my deepest condolences to everyone associated with the deceased.”

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 6199 test results, and 241 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 3.9%.

These results are from testing done on:

• Wednesday:  80 positive out of 1823 results (4.4% positivity)
• Thursday: 66 positive out of 1767 results (3.7% positivity)
• Friday: 57 positive out of 1636 results (3.5% positivity)
• Saturday: 38 positive out of 973 results (3.9% positivity)

18 of the new cases are classified as imported with a history of travel in the previous 14 days.

The additional 223 new cases are classified as either local transmission (75) or under investigation (148).

Additionally, there were 719 recoveries.

There are 925 active cases, of which:

• 911 are under public health monitoring; and
• 14 are in hospital, with 2 in intensive care.

Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 10793 coronavirus cases, out of which 9751 have recovered, and sadly there have been 117 coronavirus-related deaths.

The source of all active cases is as follows: 

• 88 are Imported
• 261 are classified as local transmission
• 576 are Under Investigation

Information regarding active cases by vaccination status, transmission, and type is unavailable.

The source of all confirmed cases is as follows:

• 2172 are Imported
• 6155 are classified as local transmission of which:
  • 3872 are Local transmission with known contact/source and
  • 2283 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source
• 2466 are Under Investigation

As investigations proceed, transmission categories may change. For 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 0.71. 

“Thanks to the success of our vaccine and booster programme, Bermuda is making progress. But many people are still getting sick, and unfortunately, we are still seeing coronavirus related deaths,” continued Minister Wilson.

“I would like to remind people who have not yet been vaccinated to speak to your doctor. Those who are eligible for the booster shot, please get it as soon as possible.”

 “We must keep doing our part to keep each other safe and 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, and maintain physical distance.”

Statement

The Bermuda Health Council to support the Bermuda Molecular Diagnostic and Research Laboratory (BMDRL)

 

(Hamilton, Bermuda – Friday, January 31 2022) – The Cabinet Office today announced that the Bermuda Health Council would continue to provide support to transition activities at the Bermuda Molecular Diagnostic and Research Laboratory (MDL), in accordance with the Bermuda Health Council Act 2004.

Premier David Burt said, “The MDL, a national asset since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has established a legacy as a community laboratory that grows innovative scientific ideas, and it will continue to thrive well into the future.”

From February 1, operational support to the MDL team will be provided by experienced lab operations personnel Mr. David Rogers, Health Council Project Manager, Health Technology and Innovation, and Ms. Andresa Bashir, Public Health Analyst at the Central Government Laboratory.  In addition to their existing responsibilities, they will support procurement of supplies, staff concerns, staff training, and progress towards the laboratory’s full accreditation.

Dr. Pradeep Ambrose PhD MBA, a New York Virologist, will also join the team to become the primary Scientist for MDL as part of a directorship transition. Dr Ambrose, who previously used his scientific expertise to work at MDL during the Delta Outbreak, will provide technical guidance to the team, assist in calling results and will determine when variant typing and viral sequencing should occur.

Dr. Ambrose has agreed to pause his RNA scientific research at The Rockefeller University’s Laboratory of Virology & Infection Disease to support this transition. The team comprising Mr Rogers, Ms Bashir and Dr Ambrose will be in place from 1 February, and work on recruiting a new laboratory director will continue.

Dr. Ricky Brathwaite, PhD MS MSHS, CEO, Bermuda Health Council states, “MDL has a fantastic team that has produced a great volume of results during the many stages of the pandemic. These are dedicated technicians and scientists-in-the-making that have led Bermuda through very tough times and pressure packed situations. They have rolled samples, extracted viral material, plated primers, calculated run times, entered data into the test reporting system, sanitized countertops, donned and doffed PPE, and in general spent countless hours doing necessary work.”

“Mr Rogers, Ms Bashir and Dr. Ambrose will continue this work with the MDL team to ensure that goals of the lab in respect to COVID continue to be successfully managed and met.”