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Covid-19: Another death, active cases pass the 1,500 mark

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Covid-19 update September 20, 2021

The island last night recorded another death from Covid-19, bringing the death toll to 43.

Kim Wilson, the health minister, said another 155 coronavirus infections had been logged over two days and the number of active cases now stood at 1,513.

Ms Wilson highlighted that people continued to go out in public, including going to work, with symptoms.

She said: “This behaviour is irresponsible and puts a lot of people at risk.”

Ms Wilson told the public: “Your individual choices impact us all, and as I have said before, we’re all in this together, and we must work together to end this outbreak.”

She added: “Unfortunately, the current outbreak is being predominantly driven by members of the Bermuda community who are not vaccinated.”

There were 54 people in hospital with the illness, compared to 51 on Sunday, and the number of patients in intensive care remained at 12.

Ms Wilson said: “We now have 1,513 active cases, and when you look at the local transmission cases or those that are under investigation, 74 per cent of those people are not fully vaccinated.”

She said contact tracers “regularly” saw transmission of the virus from unvaccinated people to vaccinated people.

But Ms Wilson added the reverse appeared to happen “in only a few instances”.

The latest figures, from tests carried out last Friday and Saturday, showed eight of the new cases came from overseas.

The other 147 were classified as either on-island transmissions or still under investigation.

There have been 68 recoveries since last Sunday’s update.

The number of new cases was down from the high seen early last week, such as Tuesday, when 191 new cases were recorded.

There have been six new Covid-19 admissions to the hospital and two have been discharged since Sunday’s update.

Ms Wilson offered her condolences to the latest victim’s family and friends.

Covid-19 statistics on Sunday listed the number of active infections at 1,427.

Deaths attributed to Covid-19 rose by four over the weekend to 42.

Ms Wilson said the seven-day average of Bermuda’s real-time reproduction number was 1.25 and the country status remained at “clusters of cases” although Bermuda met the criteria for “community transmission” status.

She added: “I recognise that this is a very stressful time, and the surge of positive cases is causing anxiety. I encourage anyone who needs someone to talk to contact the Emotional Wellbeing Hotline. It is available to help.”

Ms Wilson told the public the hotline offered “access to a qualified, experienced mental health practitioner to talk to if you’re feeling anxious, sad, overwhelmed, or stressed”.

The hotline, at 543 1111, is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm to 9pm.