Restricted indoor service at bars, restaurants and nightclubs can resume on Sunday under a string of new health guidelines to come into effect.

Shops and grocery stores will be permitted to open with no limits on capacity, and gatherings will move to a maximum of 50, the health ministry said last night.

The phase 3 health restrictions against the coronavirus were announced as the island saw no new cases of the virus in the latest 1,145 test results. Yesterday was the fourth consecutive day with no positive cases.

And the number of people who are fully immunised with two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine increased to 52.1 per cent of the population, while 58.3 percent has had one dose.

The move to phase 3 means the island’s curfew moves from midnight to 5am.

Religious services can also resume indoors.

The maximum gathering size will not apply, provided public health measures are applied: congregations must remain masked and officiants and choirs must wear masks if unable to maintain 6ft physical distance.

Weddings, funerals, and domestic partnership ceremonies are allowed for indoor and outdoor ceremonies to a maximum of 50 people.

Wakes and receptions are also permitted to a maximum of 50, but masks must be worn.

Indoor dining, bar service and sports and member’s clubs comes with the requirement for a maximum of ten people per table, and tables 6 ft apart.

Seating at bars will be permitted.

Recreational boating is allowed from 5am and 11pm and occupants are allowed to stay overnight but must remain on the boat – which must be moored, berthed or anchored from 11pm to 5am.

Boaters must remain on the boat through night-time curfew, and raft-ups are not allowed.

Commercial boating is allowed and not limited by group size restrictions.

Boat capacity is limited per Marine and Ports licensing for commercial vessels.

Gyms will be able to open with equipment spaced 6ft apart.

Staff, personal trainers and patrons must wear a mask when not working out and must maintain 6ft physical distance.

Outdoor classes should also maintain 6ft physical distance.

Personal services such as barber shops, beauty salons, spas and massage therapists can open and offer services that require face masks to be removed.

But staff must wear masks at all times.

Facilities such as cinemas, libraries and galleries can open with a maximum of 50 people.

The move comes as the Covid-19 outbreak which saw cases soar in March and April continued to dissipate and the number of people vaccinated increased, according to the latest figures.

Kim Wilson, the health minister, said: “Bermuda is slowly and cautiously opening, and we are seeing light at the end of this tunnel.

“But it is critical that all public health guidelines remain to be followed.”

There are now 19 active cases with one person in hospital but not in intensive care.

One person has recovered, and 18 people are under public health monitoring. Full details can be found at https://www.gov.bm/coronavirus-covid19-update

The seven-day average of Bermuda’s real-time reproduction number is 0.27, but the WHO country status remains at “community transmission”.

The Ministry of Health reported 71,114 vaccinations administered by Monday.

Weekend figures show almost 79 per cent of residents over age 65 have had one shot and 73.6 per cent are fully immunised.

To date, 58.3 per cent of the population has had one dose, with 52.1 per cent immunised at two doses.