Bermuda continues to have 141 total confirmed positive cases.

There are 12 active cases, of which 8 persons are under active public health monitoring, and 4 persons are hospitalized; none are in critical care.

A total of 120 have now recovered, and the total deceased remains 9.

The average age of all of our confirmed positive cases is 61 and the age range of all of our positive cases is from 18 to 101 years.

The average age of persons hospitalized is 77 and their age ranges from 66 to 86 years.

The average age of all deceased cases is 74 and the age range is 57 to 91 years.

Overall, 57% of all cases are Black, 41% are white and 2% are other or unknown.

The source of all local cases is as follows:

- 41 are Imported
- 84 are Local transmission, with known contact
- 11 are Local transmission with an unknown contact, and
- 5 are under investigation

Bermuda’s country status remains “Local Transmission – Cluster of Cases”. The seven-day average of our real time reproduction number is 0.63.

Remarks by Health Minister Wilson

Our reopening indicators will be updated today, showing that we are holding steady in our control of COVID-19. In fact, I’m pleased that our score on face mask wearing has improved, moving us up to amber on that indicator. Well done, Bermuda! On that note, I should thank Mr Aaron Evans for his collaboration with the Ministry of Health team on the reopening scorecard.

I was truly impressed by the images of yesterday’s march with near-universal use of face masks. Our team members who attended the march to hand out face masks reported that there were very few un-masked persons. We hope this responsible action by the public will prevent this mass event from being a ‘super-spreader’ incident.

We will keep a close eye on the reopening indicators to see how things evolve for the coming two weeks of the virus’s incubation period. Until then, please register on HealthIQ and update your status frequently. This is more necessary than ever, following yesterday’s one-off mass event.

I also encourage persons to take advantage of the free testing available through our drive-through at Southside, especially if they were in close contact with one of the very few people who were not wearing a mask. Close contact means within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes.

As we head into the summer, I feel it’s an appropriate time to share with you some of the most recent guidance that has been produced regarding summer day camps and afterschool programmes.

It can be found on the Government website and it is intended for Camp Directors, staff and parents. It includes advice on how to make Camps safer, reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19 and providing a safer environment for those on site, their families, and the wider Bermuda population.

The guidance is informed by our own Ministry of Health and international organizations such as the Centre for Disease Control, Public Health England, and World Health Organization.

If you’re a parent, this guidance will tell you what the government is recommending Camp organizers consider to help limit the risks of COVID-19 transmission. The measures that can be put in place will vary according to the type and location of the camp.

If you’re a Camp Director, this guidance includes a lot of advice and ideas to help you plan delivery of a safer camp such as:

- Safer access to and from the site including drop-off and pick-up;
- Ensuring there are no symptomatic people on site who may have COVID-19;
- Safer child to staff ratios with physical distancing;
- Choosing activities that limit the risk of COVID-19 transmission;

And having a robust plan to provide physical and emotional support if needed.
It goes without saying that children and staff may only enter a camp programme if they are healthy, have not been exposed to an individual with COVID-19 symptoms, and are not under public health directions to be self-quarantined or isolated.

Programmes that provide additional services from private vendors for Karate, Gymnastics, Dance, Music etc. should be aware that the movement of persons from one facility to another poses challenges to containing the spread of the virus. Therefore Camps should consider using remote platforms, such as Zoom, for the continuation of these classes to ensure they are provided safely.

Summer is prime time for campers to take field trips around the community. However, I must reiterate that the use of facility mini vans or private mini buses to transport children for pick-up/drop-off services and/or field trips should be done safely with all the physical distancing precautions – all must wear a mask and keep 3 feet apart. Operators can transport smaller groups to make sure can travel safely.

Extensive hygiene practices should be implemented at the Camps and are listed in full in the guidance on the website.

More than ever it’s increasingly important to maintain high levels of routine, responsivity, and nurturing for children. Children and adults have been significantly impacted by the closure of schools, change in routines, and drastic social adjustments. As a result, it is common to see an increase in problematic behaviours, anxiety, and depression. As many mood-related concerns typically present in behavioural disruptions in child-populations, symptoms may include: anger/irritability, frustration, crying, sadness, and limit testing. The guidance provides ways to address these concerns.

Another set of guidance which has been created and is now posted on the Government website is that for babysitters and nannies working for one or more families in the family’s private homes.

If the family and sitter or nanny are in good health, there is no reason not to continue having them in the home. But each family and sitter or nanny will need to make a risk-based decision about whether to continue their care agreement.

If you’re a babysitter, a nanny or a family who chooses to bring child care into your home, there are several actions you need to take immediately to protect against COVID-19 spread.

These include practicing safe, effective hygiene measures; details of which can be found on the website coronavirus.gov.bm.

Temperatures of the children and adults should be taken regularly and efforts should be made to avoid social gatherings where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

If the babysitter, nanny or the family live with a person who is considered extremely clinically vulnerable and should be shielded, then persons from outside the household should not be entering home.

If either the sitter, nanny or the family has symptoms of COVID-19, then the sitter or nanny should not report to work. Both should remain at home (and keep away from other people) and call your doctor.

I want to note again that masks must NOT be used for children under the age of 2 and should not be used for extended periods of time for children between 2 and 10-years-old.