An extra 48 new beds arrived at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital today.

Judy Richardson, Chief of Nursing at Bermuda Hospitals Board, said: “When the beds were ordered originally last year, it was part of a life-cycle replacement programme.

“However, as we are now working to increase our capacity in case we get a surge of Covid-19 patients, the new beds will be used as additional stock.

“We have identified areas in KEMH where they can be placed, giving us the ability to care for more patients if needed through the pandemic.

“It is extremely fortunate that they were on order, but our hope is that the community stay at home, wash their hands, don't touch their eyes, nose and mouth, and cover their coughs to avoid a surge in seriously ill patients who need hospital care.”