Bermuda recorded a further 27 positive cases of coronavirus yesterday, Health Minister Kim Wilson said today.

Of the new cases, 13 were caused by local transmission and 14 are under investigation. That brought the number of active cases to 149. Two people remain in hospital.

Ms Wilson made the announcement at a press conference with the Premier, David Burt, being carried live here.

Mr Burt said people who were unable to work due to closure notices could apply for relief at uba.gov.bm. Employees of bars and restaurants could receive up to $1,000 which was the equivalent of two weeks of unemployment benefits, he said.

People who submitted their full applications by Monday would receive money by Wednesday, he said.

Ms Wilson also announced care homes were being required to return to phase one visiting, which means visitors to residents must remain outside the building and can only communicate through a window or door, except in emergencies.

The update comes after the Premier announced a number of new restrictions – including a curfew – that will come into effect tomorrow.

Mr Burt said the new restrictions were aimed at reducing possible spaces for transmission and to give investigators time to contact trace.

He said restrictions on gatherings were targeted at places where social distancing was not regulated, and not schools and offices. But he urged employers to allow people who could work from home to do so.

And he encouraged people not to mix households and to stay within their family groups.

Mr Burt and Ms Wilson said resources for contact tracing would be added, and urged people not to make multiple appointments for tests.

Ms Wilson also revealed the Pfizer vaccine will not now come to the Island until the first week of January. Click here for the story.

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And you can see all of our Covid-19 coverage here