Parliamentarians approved the final extension of Covid-19 public health emergency measures.

Public Health (Covid-19) Emergency Extension (No 1) Order 2022, which extends the measures until November 30, was passed in the House last night with no objections.

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, reminded the house that since March 2020, Bermuda recorded 18,220 cases and 148 deaths.

She said: “It is this Government’s intension to bring an end to the public health emergency in Bermuda. The order … before the House today, will extend the current order for 37 days from October 25 to November 30, 2022.

“The coronavirus continues to be a threat to our health and wellbeing but not at the same levels as it was this time last year. Some may ask why not end the public health emergency right now? The consensus among most public health experts is that this upcoming autumn and winter season is important.

“Around the world there is a relaxation of public health measures … with the colder months approaching a new, more infectious or deadlier variant can cause havoc. For this reason, the Government has decided upon a phased road map out of the public health emergency in the coming weeks rather than ending all remaining public health and safety measures at once. This phased approach will allow the continued assessment of the prevalence of infection in the community and most importantly its impact on our health system.”

Ms Wilson said that business operators may continue to impose mask-wearing policies which must be legally adhered to by staff and customers. She said that Covid-19 continues to pose a serious threat to Bermuda.

Scott Pearman, speaking on behalf of Michael Dunkley, the shadow health minister, said the move to end restrictions was overdue and called for the Travel Authorisation to be scrapped.

“The reality is that the collective emergency has passed and I would go on to say it passed some time ago,” he said.

Mr Pearman asked when the contract for resQwest, a sole-sourced contract for Covid-19 services, will come to an end. Ms Wilson said it is due to expire on March 31, 2023 but that there are early-termination clauses.