Premier confident Bermuda will be added to UK green list
Bermuda’s position on Britain’s “amber list” of Covid-19 travel restrictions is “not surprising” in light of the island’s current designation of community transmission for the virus, the Premier said.
But David Burt said he was “confident” that a review, which would include talks with Government House in two weeks’ time, would see Bermuda added to the green list for travel to the UK.
Under the rules travellers from Bermuda will have to undergo a ten-day quarantine.
Mr Burt was speaking at the Covid-19 press conference on Thursday night.
Meanwhile Kim Wilson, the health minister, said discussions will continue with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to obtain clearance for Britain’s supply of the Pfizer vaccine to be given to children aged 12 to 15.
Ayo Oyinloye, the chief medical officer, said Bermuda was covered under the UK’s legal indemnity for administering the jab to people aged 16 and up.
Dr Oyinloye added: “The indemnity is based on advice from the committee on vaccination and immunisation and the (UK’s) Medicines and Health Regulatory Authority, both of which are still considering data from Pfizer.”
He said Bermuda would automatically receive approval to extend its use to younger recipients once the UK Government cleared it.
It follows a decision last week by advisers to the United States Centres for Disease Control to green light the Pfizer vaccine to younger recipients.
Non-immunised children travelling to Bermuda from June 6 will not be subject to mandatory 14-day quarantine under the border control regulations with phase 3 of the island’s restrictions – as long as the adults travelling with them have been fully immunised.
On Friday, a health ministry spokeswoman said the Government was “keen to use the Pfizer vaccines currently on the island for children aged 12 to 15 and anticipate approval from the UK’s MHRA whilst reviewing alternatives”.
Covax, the global Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access group, has been contracted by the Bermuda Government to supply the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Covax also supplies the Pfizer jab, but there was no word as to whether the Government planned to purchase more from the organisation.
The CDC also issued new guidance on mask wearing, recommending that people who had been fully immunised against the coronavirus be able to remove the masks in most settings.
The spokeswoman said regulations now in place required residents wear a mask in all indoor settings and outdoors if they cannot maintain physical distance.
She added: “The Minister of Health is currently reviewing its guidance and will provide an update at tomorrow’s press conference.”
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