The Department of Youth and Sport has been hard at work to help the community during Covid-19, MPs heard today.

Lovitta Foggo, the Minister of Labour, Community Affairs and Sport, said in the House of Assembly that many staff have joined in to help deliver unemployment benefits to those left jobless by the pandemic.

Ms Foggo said the team had worked “long hours and weekends” alongside staff from Work Force Development and others to ensure benefits get into the hands of those who need it.

She said the department was also heavily involved in an “E-Camp” for the children of essential workers, lending staff and facilities for the project.

Ms Foggo said: “The purpose of the E-Camp was to provide child care for our essential workers such as medical personnel, supermarket/grocery store workers and others to ensure that they could continue working.

“The Department’s Community Centre vans were also used to assist with transporting, essential workers who are employed by the Bermuda Hospitals Board to go to and from work.”

Ms Foggo added that the department will continue to adapt as the island works towards the “new normal”.

She said: “The department is currently working on plans for the after school programme, summer camps and the reopening of the Community Centers and their programs.

“This planning includes consultation with the Department of Health on best practices and protocols for minimising the risk of Covid 19 transmission.

“The Department is also working with the national sports governing bodies on ensuring that their members are aware of the phased reopening of Bermuda and how that applies to sports.

“We need to get Bermuda moving again as soon as it is safe to do so.”