Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 9,532 test results and 516 were positive for COVID-19.

These results are from testing completed between December 29, 2021 and January 1, 2022 inclusive:

• Wednesday: 123 positive out of 2314 results (5.3% positivity)
• Thursday: 116 positive out of 2746 results (4.2% positivity)
• Friday: 160 positive out of 2501 results (6.4% positivity)
• Saturday: 117 positive out of 1971 results (5.9% positivity)

The Ministry notes that 176 of the new cases are classified as imported with history of travel in the previous 14 days.

The additional 340 new cases are classified as either local transmission (113) or under investigation (227).

Additionally, there are 126 recoveries and 0 deaths.

There are 912 active cases, of which:

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

Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 6,936 coronavirus cases, out of which 5,914 have recovered, and sadly there have been 110 coronavirus-related deaths.

The source of all active cases is as follows:

• 407 are Imported
• 158 are classified as local transmission
• 347 are Under Investigation

Active cases by vaccination status, transmission, and type:

• Imported cases: 92% are fully vaccinated and 8% are not fully vaccinated.
• Local/Under Investigation cases: 65% are fully vaccinated and 35% are not fully vaccinated.

The source of all confirmed cases is as follows:

• 1,309 are Imported
• 5,249 are classified as local transmission of which:

• 3,285 are Local transmission with known contact/source and
• 1,964 are Local transmission with an unknown contact/source

• 378 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 less than 1 (0.81).

The Ministry is once again issuing a reminder about testing for outbound travellers.  Outbound travellers must still in the first instance undergo the process of getting tested at a testing facility.
The Ministry notes however that there continue to be delays being experienced with persons receiving their test results in a timely manner due to the current outbreak fueled by the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Outbound travellers getting tested at a government site the day before their departure may run the risk of not receiving their test results in time for their flight.

As such, the Ministry encourages those who require an outbound test from a government testing site to get tested at least three (3) days before their departure date to avoid disappointment. 

The Ministry of Health advised that it continues to work with local healthcare partners and professionals to make outbound antigen tests available through physicians’ offices and pharmacies.

As an added note, the Ministry provided the following update regarding tomorrow’s (Wednesday’s) Miami flight.

Testing will not be done at the Airport. Instead, MDL has planned for those results to be issued this evening.

The Ministry reiterated however that apart from the Miami flight, antigen testing for those outbound passengers who have NOT received their results in a timely fashion, and whose travel plans may be impacted will have their tests facilitated at the Airport as advised by the Call Centre.

For more information regarding outbound traveller testing or for updates on their test results before travelling, persons should contact the Call Centre at444-2498 or 1-833-570-2594.

The Ministry also notes that the vaccination/booster programme at Pier Six resumes tomorrow (January 5, 2022), and booster appointments can be booked for weekdays at Pier Six from tomorrow.

As a reminder, those individuals who are 65 and over and those who are eligible for a booster (as their second shot was more than six months ago), should take advantage of this opportunity to get vaccinated.

If you are 65 and over, you do not need an appointment at Pier Six.

Lastly, the Ministry reminded that each of us has a role to play in stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Please continue to follow the public health guidelines; please wear a mask; please practice good hand hygiene; and please maintain physical distance.