Bermuda suffers first deaths related to COVID-19
Bermuda has experienced its first two COVID-19-related deaths.
One middle-aged individual passed away over the weekend of April 4-5, having shared a household with someone who had been identified as positive for COVID-19. The person was subsequently tested and found to be positive for COVID-19.
David Burt, Bermuda’s Premier, said: “It appears this individual was not in good health generally, so at this time it is not possible to ascertain the exact cause of death. As required, this will be investigated by the coroner so for the time being we are not able to share any further details.”
The second individual is a senior who had been hospitalised and was one of the cases identified on April 4. This person was in stable condition on April 5, but their condition deteriorated and they passed away on April 6.
Meanwhile, Bermuda has completed eleven more COVID-19 tests, with two of the tests returned positive. The total confirmed positive cases in Bermuda now stands at 39.
One of the new cases is hospitalised but stable, and is another imported case from a Delta flight on March 13. The passenger was not symptomatic on the flight but became ill within 14 days of returning to Bermuda.
The second positive result was the individual who passed away on April 6.
Meanwhile, on April 6 an air bridge flight from London returned 129 Bermudian residents to the island, with all passengers taken to government quarantine facilities where they will remain for the duration of their mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
Another flight is expected from Florida on April 7, to bring back Bermudians stranded in the US.
Burt also implored Bermudians to adhere to the rules set out for the country’s Shelter In Place regime, noting people should only be exercising within one kilometer of their homes, and only for one hour.
Essential visits to the grocery store and gas station should only be made on specific days of the week, according to peoples’ last names: last names beginning A through L can shop on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while those with names beginning M through Z should shop on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Sundays are being reserved for senior citizens or those who are physically challenged.
If possible, only one person per household should be visiting shops at a time. Single parents of young children may take their children with them, but otherwise children should avoid going to grocery stores.
Shops will be permitted to open on Good Friday - April 10 - if they wish, to ensure people have access to necessary supplies.
