The Chamber of Commerce has committed to check Harbour Nights attendees for SafeKeys at all likely points of entry on Front Street and Reid Street.

Harbour Nights is due to resume on July 14 and will be a SafeKey event, raising questions of how it will be monitored.

Kendaree Burgess, the chief executive of the Chamber, said a detailed communications brief was planned to educate potential visitors to Harbour Nights about the new Covid Safe rules.

She said: “Given the Covid-19 pandemic is fluid, our plans will have to be flexible – in the event the regulations need to change.

“In a nutshell, we will have persons checking the attendees for compliance at the likely points of entry. HN already uses barriers to secure the area. The same barriers will be in place.”

Asked if consideration had been given to having Harbour Nights on a night when the Viking Orion – currently the only cruise ship serving Bermuda – was in Hamilton, Ms Burgess said: “Harbour Nights is an event that is attractive to, and attended by, locals and visitors alike.

“It has historically been held on a Wednesday, and this year is no different. When considering the cruise schedule, the Chamber had talks with the Ministry and concluded that Wednesday is still the better day.”

Ms Burgess said cruise passengers who did visit the event were required to be immunised so a cruise ID “may serve as an acceptable option for entry”.

She noted that all air visitors will receive SafeKeys after a day one negative test so they would also be unhampered if they wish to attend the event.

She said all persons attending Harbour Nights will be required to present a SafeKey, including long stay visitors and residents as well as vendors, contracted entertainment and staff paid by the Chamber.

However, she said employees of street level shops, offices surrounding the area and restaurants could adhere to their own company rules and would not be required to have a SafeKey.