The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed by diagnostic test to have reached the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda on 18 March 2020; with individuals having arrived from the UK and US. Those individuals had been traced to back to the fourth and sixth of March. This was the first it was confirmed and some believe that COVID-19 could have been on island undetected with asymptomatic individuals before that time.
The Government of Bermuda has pushed to keep its people safe from COVID-19 and to reduce social media rumors. To assist in the reduced rumors on social media, the official government website (to the left) was updated with a direct link for information relating to Bermuda. They also used WhatsApp to communicate with the general public. Therefore, due to the size of Bermuda and limited published worldwide data the below data can be verified via the media links below.
The Ministry of Health also did not report on some data information until the identifications of individuals could be protected. Bermuda is a small community and using process of elimination identities could be revealed when numbers are small. Therefore, data regarding details, flights, race, and age did not get published until privacy could be maintained.
Response The government announced a 14-day 24-hour "Shelter in Place" starting 4 April, where residents were only allowed to leave home for groceries, pharmaceuticals, or medical emergencies. On 14 April, it was announced that the "Shelter in Place" would be extended 14 more days.
Government Quarantine Facilities (GQFs) had been designated and those locations had prohibited access as the general public was not permitted. Individuals who had been required to stay at these facilities had been restricted to their rooms and once departures had been completed the sites had been cleaned thoroughly using standards as approved by the department of health. These facilities are being used until technology based tools, similar to that used in Hong Kong (CITV Bermuda press conference broadcast dated 2020-05-20 on YouTube) could be used to ensure people comply with the stay-at-home orders. Due to the sensitive nature of COVID-19, the facilities were not identified in this article, it will only state that one to three sites had been used at different times during the pandemic.
The head of KEMH announced on Wednesday, 20 May 2020 that they are prepared to use convalescent plasma therapy and have six treatments in stock.CITV Bermuda press conference broadcast dated 2020-05-20 on YouTube
Background On Sunday, 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.
The Case fatality rate for COVID-19 has been much lower than Severe acute respiratory syndrome, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll. From 19 March, Public Health England no longer classified COVID-19 as a "High consequence infectious disease".
The Minister for Health during the pandemic was, and continues to be, Kim Wilson, whose policies acted with "an abundance of caution".
Timeline March 2020 Wednesday, 11 March Government started public addresses to the general public via CITV, and social media the CITV Bermuda YouTube channel video (11 March). These public addresses continued almost daily and they were daily from the Monday, 30 March 2020 until Monday, 18 April 2020. At which time they changed to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and have continue as such up to this update on Friday, 15 May 2020. This is important to note because the Government of Bermuda improved its online standard and presence during the pandemic. Encouraged due to the social distancing guidance at the time. From this version of video aired on 11 March, with a photo and voice over, they moved to live streaming and clear images. Also producing many government informational clips that were shown on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. These clips had been informational in nature to provide the general public with directions on the pandemic and videos of gratitude for the many essential workers like cashiers, dockworkers, doctors, firemen, nurses, Police, Royal Bermuda Regiment, and Sanitation personal to name a few.
Thursday, 12 March Public Health - Overseas Arrivals Quarantine (Travel Ban) Order 2020 listed the following countries in its travel ban China, Iran, Italy, and Republic of Korea: Daegu or Cheongdo.
Wednesday, 18 March At 6:50 p.m. the Premier of Bermuda announced in a press conference that the first two diagnosed cases in Bermuda were confirmed. It was also reported that these cases had been imported from overseas by the follow means: Flight from Miami, Florida of the United States onboard American Airlines (AA305) on Wednesday, 4 March; Flight from London, Gatwick, of the United Kingdom onboard British Airways (BA2233) on Friday, 6 March.
In light of the presence of COVID-19 on the island since those flights the government moved quickly and announced the closure of some facilities/locations including schools. Also, a moved to close the L.F. Wade International Airport to all arriving passenger flights containing non-residence was announced.
Thursday, 19 March Custom Officer concerns made and work stoppage regarding concerns with COVID-19.
Friday, 20 March Bermuda showed up on the World Health Organization Situation Report.Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report – 60 Public Health - Overseas Arrivals Quarantine (Travel Ban) Order 2020 ban on arrivals to Bermuda by general visitors.
Bermuda L.F. Wade International Airport set to close to all passengers, non-resident, as of 11:59 p.m. today (20 March).
Saturday, 21 March
Public Health - Closures Order to close the following in the interest of public health, pursuant to section 88 of the Public Health Act 1949.
Monday, 23 March Sanitation workers halted garbage collection voicing concerns and talks with the Bermuda Industrial Union occurred and the trash collection was resumed the following Monday, 30 March 2020. These concerns had been addressed by a meeting with health personal explaining COVID-19 and answering many questions as at this time the virus was not well understood by the general public, and understandable with the rapidly changing events in the world at that time.
Public Health - Closures Order to close the following in the interest of public health, pursuant to section 88 of the Public Health Act 1949; with effect from 5:00 p.m. until the Monday, 30 March 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
Public Health - Overseas Arrivals Order to monitor individuals arriving to the island via flights at the airport. The order applies to all flights arriving in Bermuda on the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20 March 2020 and in each case is to be of a fourteen-day duration. Details of the impacted flights can be found at the reference.PUBLIC HEALTH (COVID-19) NOTICE
Fines for none compliance with the Ministry of Health with this order up to three months in prison, or $6,000.00 to $10,000.00 fine, or both prison and fine.
Friday, 27 March The start of a 'Rolling Curfew' were hours of movement had been restricted each night from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. this continued until the 'Shelter in Place'. Bernews has identified this to start on Sunday, 29 March.
Fines for none compliance with the curfew at this time had been up to six months in prison, or up to $2,880.00, or both prison and fine.
Saturday, 28 March
Public Health - Closures Order to close the following in the interest of public health, pursuant to section 88 of the Public Health Act 1949.CLOSURE NOTICE UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT 1949 SECTION 88
April 2020 Wednesday, 1 April
Proclamation by His Excellency the Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Bermuda and in accordance with section 14(3) of the Constitution of Bermuda, the Governor in consultations with the Premier of Bermuda have declared that a state of emergency exists in Bermuda due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Another proclamation was made, same day, in accordance with section 14(4) to summon both Houses of the Legislature to meet on Monday, 6 April 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
Public Health - Business Order to require all businesses to shift to remote work where it can be done by passing the Occupational Safety and Health (COVID-19) Temporary Regulations 2020.
Friday, 3 April The Government of Bermuda passed the "Emergency Powers (COVID-19 Shelter in Place) Regulations 2020", and subsequent amendments spoken about in this article shall be referred to as "Emergency Powers" in general as amendments did occur.
Saturday, 4 April Shelter in Place, also known as 'lockdown' in the general public and other jurisdictions at the time, started at 6:00 a.m. that Saturday morning for a period of fourteen days until Saturday, 18 April 2020 at 6:00 p.m. The legislation, the legal 'cease to have effect' date was on Wednesday, 15 April 2020 at 6:00 p.m. unless extended, which it was extended until Saturday, 18 April 2020 at 6:00 p.m. and again to Saturday, 02 May 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
The phrase "Shelter in Place" was chosen to reduce the mental impact of words like "lockdown" and how they impact the community.
Fines for none compliance with the Shelter in Place at this changed to up to six months in prison, or up to $10,000.00 fine, or both prison and fine.
Monday, 6 April It was announced that there had been the first two COVID-19 deaths on the island.
Published by Governor's Notice (GN371/2020) an extension to the 'Shelter in Place' until Saturday, 18 April 2020 at 6:00 a.m. was published to the official gazette, approved by the House of Assembly and Senate.
Thursday, 9 April The Shelter in Place was amended a first time, to give the Minister of National Security the ability to permit restricted movement and other general administrative items to assist the country at the time of this pandemic.
Tuesday, 14 April There were 5 deaths from COVID-19.
Thursday, 16 April There were 83 cases on the island out of which 26 were imported, 45 were community spread, 12 were pending investigation, and 35 of those cases were recovered.
Friday, 17 April
First time in history the Parliament of Bermuda held a virtual meeting to extend the Shelter in Place and enact legislation to continue restrictions for the safety of public health going forward.
Monday, 20 April The legislation "Emergency Powers" was amended a second time, to assist the country and its people to allow further assistance regarding grocery shopping and food for pets, it also identified what days people can go to the grocery stores. Shopping days at this time changed to all those with a surname beginning with the letter shown below, can proceed to shop or get needed supplies. Monday and Thursday (A to F) Tuesday and Friday (G to Q) Wednesday and Saturday (R to Z) Sundays (Persons aged 55 years and over, disabled people, and essential workers) It was also allowed that anyone who was able to move/shop on Sunday will also be allowed to do so in accordance with their surname. This was in part due to the observation and encouragement for family to assist those who live alone and needed assistance. This was a change from the previous name structure, see above 4 April, as it was noticed to be less efficient and added stress to individuals.
Tuesday, 21 April An order to extend quarantine of individuals already in quarantine who test positive.
Friday, 24 April "Emergency Powers" amended a third time, to further assist with remote work to allow an office or computer supply store to operate.
May 2020