Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 13,772 test results and 406 were positive for COVID-19, giving a test positivity rate of 2.9%.

These results are from testing completed between December 22 and 28, inclusive:

• Wednesday: 50 positive out of 2,048 results (2.4% positivity)
• Thursday: 59 positive out of 2,580 results (2.3% positivity)
• Friday: 34 positive out of 2,005 results (1.7% positivity)
• Saturday: 60 positive out of 1,318 results (4.6% positivity)
• Sunday: 47 positive out of 1,567 results (3.0% positivity)
• Monday: 67 positive out of 2,278 results (2.9% positivity)
• Tuesday: 89 positive out of 1,976 results (4.5% positivity)

The Ministry notes that 242 of the new cases are classified as imported with history of travel in the previous 14 days.

The additional 164 new cases are classified as either local transmission (41) or under investigation (123).

Additionally, there are 114 recoveries and 4 deaths, as reported previously. The Ministry notes that none of the recently announced deaths were due to the Omicron variant.

There are 522 active cases, of which:

• 522 are under public health monitoring; and
• Zero (0) are in hospital with zero (0) in intensive care.

Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 6,420 coronavirus cases, out of which 5,788 have recovered, and sadly there have been 110 coronavirus-related deaths.

The source of all active cases is as follows:

• 318 are Imported
• 60 are classified as local transmission
• 144 are Under Investigation

Active cases by vaccination status, transmission, and type:

• Imported cases: 94% are fully vaccinated and 6% are not fully vaccinated.
• Local/Under Investigation cases: 75% are fully vaccinated and 25% are not fully vaccinated.
• Of the 217 active cases where typing is available, 2% (5) are Delta, 98% (212) are Omicron.

The source of all confirmed cases is as follows:

• 1,113 are Imported
• 5,135 are classified as local transmission of which:

• 3,172 are Local transmission with known contact/source and
• 1,963 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source

• 152 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 1 (0.58).

The Ministry of Health also provided an update on the current vaccination programme status, noting that 50 weeks of vaccinations have been completed. Since January 11^th, 2021 Bermuda residents have received a total of 115,145 vaccinations.

Of the 115,145 vaccinations given as of December 23:

• 52% are women and 48% are men.
• 87.0% of all residents over the age of 65 years have had at least one vaccination; and
• 85.6% are fully immunized.

To date, 72.4% of the population has been vaccinated (1 dose) and 71.0% of the population has been immunized (2 doses). Additionally, 34.9% of the population have received a booster.

The vaccination/booster programme will resume on January 5, 2022.

Acting Minister of Health, Wayne Furbert said today, “The increase in numbers is significant. This confirms what we have been saying for the past several weeks – the Omicron variant is highly transmissible and spreading rapidly.

“Bermuda is not alone in dealing with the spread and spike in Omicron cases. Countries around the world are seeing exponential numbers in infection rates as this dominant variant spreads. Here at home we continue to advocate vigilance, personal responsibility and compliance.

“While we currently have no hospitalisations, this current spread has the potential to overwhelm our hospital’s resources, as well as our testing teams and MDL, and we must guard against that.

“As Bermuda heads into the New Year’s holiday weekend I am urging the community to please make responsible choices.

“We are extremely concerned about reports of people who are testing positive and still attending events such as football games, holiday parties and social gatherings. This is simply irresponsible. Please adhere to the current guidelines and requirements that are in place, which are there to protect and save lives.”

Minister Furbert also said, “Many of our healthcare workers are encountering a considerable amount of abuse from some members of the public, particularly at our testing centres. This is simply unacceptable. This has been a lengthy holiday period and there have been significant demands that have been put on our team of dedicated healthcare workers. The professionals at our testing sites must not be subjected to verbal abuse from members of the public. They should be treated with decency and common courtesy.”

The public should continue to wear a mask, wash their hands, keep physically distanced from others not in their household, and add antigen tests to their pandemic toolbox.

Finally, the Ministry provided an updated schedule of the testing center sites, which are as follows:

 

Perot Post Office, Hamilton:

Friday December 31^st, 2021 – 10.00 AM – 4.00 PM

Saturday January 1^st, 2022 – 10.00 AM – 4.00 PM

Sunday January 2^nd, 2022 – 10.00 AM – 4.00 PM

Monday January 3^rd, 2022 – 10.00 AM – 4.00 PM

Bulls Head Car Park:

Friday December 31^st, 2021 – 10.00 AM – 3.00 PM

Saturday January 1^st, 2022 – 10.00 AM – 3.00 PM

Monday January 3^rd, 2022 – 10.00 AM – 3.00 PM

Clocktower, Dockyard:

Friday December 31^st, 2021 – 10.00 AM – 3.00 PM

Monday January 3^rd, 2022 –  10.00 AM – 3.00 PM

Penno’s Wharf, St. George’s:

Tuesday January 4^th, 2022 – 10.00 AM – 4.00 PM