Bermuda recorded 21 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday, bringing the number of active cases up to 417.

The new cases signalled a slowdown in new cases after more than 100 cases were recorded on Sunday and Monday.

But the number of people in hospital rose from one to three, said Kim Wilson, the health minister, and the average age of people with the coronavirus also rose.

Ms Wilson added that the sources of ten of the new cases were known and 11 were under investigation. However, 30 cases were moved from under investigation to local transmission.

To date, Bermuda has had 1,157 confirmed cases of the coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic.

Ms Wilson said: “This outbreak is significant. We have community spread, and every day the numbers are increasing.

“However, it will get better, especially if we all do our part and take responsibility for our behaviour.”

Ms Wilson said that, through Saturday, 37,788 doses of the Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine had been administered.

“These are excellent results so far, and I would like to thank all those who have taken the step to get their vaccination to protect themselves, their families and our community,” she said.

She said 35 per cent of the population had received at least one dose of the vaccine while 24 per cent were immunised with two doses.

Of that number, 54 per cent were women and 46 per cent were men.

She said 4,290 doses of the vaccine were administered last week.

By age group the following people have been vaccinated:

· 55 per cent of the population over 80 had received both doses of the vaccine and 13 per cent had received one dose;

· 49 per cent of 65 to 79-year-olds had received both doses of the vaccine and 13 per cent had received one dose;

· 34 per cent of 50 to 64-year-olds had received both doses of the vaccine and 15 per cent had received one dose;

· 10 per cent of 16 to 50-year-olds had received both doses of the vaccine and 9 per cent had received one dose.

To date, she said 24,256 people had registered for the vaccine. Of that total, 31 per cent were Black, 46 per cent were White, 16 per cent were Mixed or other and seven per cent did not give their ethnicity.

Ms Wilson last night urged residents to enjoy Good Friday within their household bubble and not to mix with others at parks or in other activities.

She said: “Remember Bermuda – stay in your household bubble at all times, especially this Easter weekend.

“The virus can be spread even if you are outside socialising closer than six feet to others.

“Avoid yard and beach parties and any gatherings of more than ten people that are not in your immediate household.”

David Burt, the Premier, encouraged people who may have exposed people to Covid-19 to contact the Ministry of Health and their information would remain anonymous.

With vaccine doses administered through Monday exceeding 38,500 doses, Bermuda had passed the March 31 target of 38,000 doses set at the beginning of the year.

He also asked people to download the WeHealth app. More than 22,000 people had downloaded it so far and it was critical to help with contact tracing and to control the spread of the coronavirus.

Mr Burt also reiterated that a person who had received the vaccine could still contract coronavirus. He said the vaccines were designed to prevent severe illness and symptoms and would reduce the spread of the virus.

He noted that those people who contracted the coronavirus after being immunised had lower levels of the virus and were therefore less likely to pass it on.

Asked what the cause of the relatively low level of hospitalisations relative to active cases was, Dr Ayoola Oyinloye, the chief medical officer, said the outbreak was only a few weeks old and outbreaks elsewhere had seen people going into hospital two to three weeks after the outbreak with deaths following two to three weeks after that.

He said it was hoped vaccinations would minimise this.

“Vaccinations are your best chance,” he said. “Get vaccinated now.”

Mr Burt noted that the number of people in hospital had increased from none to one to three in a matter of days and that the average age of people in the current outbreak was rising.

He said the Government’s goal was to put the restrictions in place now to cut off the spread.

Mr Burt said he was saddened that people would not be able to gather over the Easter weekend, but said it was important to take steps now to restrict the spread of the UK variant of the coronavirus so that people could come together later this year.