The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital today dropped from its top alert level to reflect a fall in the number of Covid-19 patients who need emergency and intensive care.

But a spokeswoman said the downgrade from Level 4 to 3 was a tentative step.

She emphasised Covid-19 patients were still in hospital and an overflow intensive care unit remained open.

The spokeswoman said the hospital’s visiting restrictions will remain in force place elective surgery is still suspended.

She added preparations for routine surgery to restart were “under way for a gradual relaxation, if numbers continue to decline”.

Michael Richmond, the chief executive of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, said the relaxation of the alert status had come after a tough time for staff.

Dr Richmond said: “Much was asked, much was given and we have a deep appreciation for their efforts.

“We are all hoping for a period to gradually recuperate.”

He thanked donors who provided meals for hospital staff.

Dr Richmond told them: “Not only did you help people under immense pressure, but you gave us a feeling of connection with our community, a sense of being supported, that helped us through an extremely challenging time.”

He added that, although friends and relatives would want to visit loved ones in hospital as soon as possible or get their scheduled surgery the board was still “moving cautiously at this alert level”.

Dr Richmond said: “Our staff are recovering, especially those who worked directly or in support of acute, emergency and critical car areas.

“We also have an overflow ICU open, which is usually a post-anaesthetic care unit for surgery.”

Dr Richmond added the mood among hospital staff was similar to “the period immediately after a major storm”.

He said: “There is some restoration needed, and we need to be sure that the worst is past before we return to more normal functions.”