Crowds lined up for Covid tests at the weekend in the wake of an increase in cases across the island.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health confirmed that 522 people received tests at the Shelly Bay MarketPlace on Saturday alone after the scheduled testing hours were extended.

Testing hours were also extended at the Southside test centre at the former White’s supermarket in St David’s.

Testing sessions carried out at Dellwood Middle School in Pembroke for pupils and staff on Saturday and Sunday.

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, said on Saturday: “Testing, along with rigorous contact tracing, is vital in our fight against the novel coronavirus.

“In the past two days alone, we have tested close to 1,500 people in a massive screening exercise to locate those with Covid-19, investigate their close contacts and issue quarantine instructions as necessary.

“This number includes some 500 frontline service workers – and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the testing teams, bars and restaurants for tackling this so quickly."

The minister appealed to the public to use the self-reporting website Healthiq.bm to help the Government track cases of the virus.

Ms Wilson said: “HealthIQ provides the island with more insight into where potential cases of Covid-19 may be and gives us a proactive way to address them, giving us tens of thousands of eyes so that we can all stay safe.

“We are asking that each household go to healthiq.bm and enter your information and update it often. It only takes a moment and is completely private.

“Give yourself and your community a better understanding of how we're all doing."

The Ministry of Health confirmed a total of four new cases were logged on Saturday from 640 tests carried out on Friday.

Two of the new cases were classified as on-island transmissions - one a symptomatic resident who had household contact with another known case.

The second was an asymptomatic resident who had workplace contact with a known case.

The other two new cases are under investigation.

The spokeswoman said: “These cases are among symptomatic residents. As yet, these cases appear unrelated, with no links to travel or the current known clusters.”

As of Saturday Bermuda now had 251 total confirmed positive cases including 29 active cases.

One patient was hospitalised, but not in need of critical care, while the other 28 are being monitored by public health officials.

· Testing appointments can be booked atgov.bm/coronavirus-get-testedand walk-ins are welcome.