(CMR) Several Bermudians expressed shock on various social media platforms on Tuesday after learning the US had issued a travel advisory warning Americans to avoid the country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Bermuda due to COVID-19. Level 4 represents countries with the highest risk assessment.
On its website, the CDC advised that travelers should avoid all travel to Bermuda because it may increase their chance of getting and spreading COVID-19.
For many residents, this notice came as a surprise as Bermuda has had only nine (9) COVID-19 related deaths and less than 600 confirmed cases since the first case of the virus was recorded in the country.
One person described the ratings as “ridiculous.”
As of Tuesday, Bermuda had 553 confirmed positive cases. Of that number, 287 people had recovered; only four were hospitalized, and none were critical.
Of the cases, 148 were imported, 302 were local transmission with known contact or source, and 22 were local transmissions with unknown sources, while 81 cases were under investigation.
On Tuesday, Minister of Health Kim Wilson called on citizens to be more responsible in their behavior as everyone had a role to play in preventing the spread of the virus.
She said the majority of cases in recent weeks have occurred in recreational environments. She said:
“The spread of COVID_19 throughout Bermuda is on all of us. We cannot simply blame the traveler. We must take ownership for the health of our island as it is our own individual actions as residents which make the difference and break the chain of the spread.”
She pointed out that over one weekend in November, three gatherings of people at two venues resulted in more than 80 positive cases.
Ms. Wilson advised residents to avoid closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact setting during the Christmas holidays.
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