Bermuda: Authorities ease COVID-19-related domestic restrictions while altering some international travel rules as of Nov. 30 /update 34

Event

As of Nov. 30, officials in Bermuda are easing some domestic COVID-19-related restrictions. Groups of up to 50 people may gather in public, including for weddings and funerals. Authorities have removed the spacing requirement for seating at restaurants. Officials will allow students to use a SafeKey quick response (QR) 7-day Pass, issued after a negative COVID-19 test result, to allow students to partake in a variety of activities. All other public health measures are still in force, as listed below.

Domestic Measures
Retail and grocery stores are allowed to operate without capacity limitations. Bars, restaurants, and clubs may open for both indoor and outdoor service. Most such establishments require customers to present a QR code, indicating that the customer is either fully vaccinated or had received a negative COVID-19 PCR test result within the previous 72-hour period.

Religious services (other than funerals and weddings) are exempt from capacity restrictions, but must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Gyms may open so long as masks are worn indoors while not exercising. Personal care businesses may also resume services, including those that require facemasks to be removed. Facemasks are required to be worn in most indoor public settings, except when all individuals present are fully vaccinated.

International Travel Restrictions
All flights from Brazil, India, and South Africa are banned. Travelers who have been to any of these countries within 14 days of arriving in Bermuda must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Requirements for travelers entering from international destinations are as follows:

• All individuals - including residents - wishing to travel to Bermuda must apply for government authorization by completing an online form one to three days before departure.

• All nonresident travelers aged two years and older must produce a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than four days before their arrival in Bermuda. Authorities encourage pre-arrival PCR tests for residents but do not require them.

• All fully vaccinated individuals (those who received the final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine more than 14 days before arriving) must take an additional COVID-19 test upon arrival and will receive a red wristband. Individuals will then need to quarantine at their accommodations while awaiting the test result and can only remove their wristband and end quarantine upon receiving a negative result. They must also take a COVID-19 test on days four and 10 of their stay.

• All fully vaccinated residents aged two years and older arriving without a pre-arrival negative PCR test result will spend their first four days in quarantine at their accommodations. These individuals must wear their wristbands until the receipt of a negative result from their day-four COVID-19 test, at which point the quarantine period will end; an additional test is required on day 10.

• All unvaccinated travelers - including residents - must take a test upon arrival and quarantine for 14 days at their accommodations. Unvaccinated travelers with a pre-travel COVID-19 test will also be required to take a test on their third day of quarantine, while those without a pre-travel test will be required to take a test on their seventh day of quarantine. All unvaccinated travelers may have to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet during their quarantine and will need to take a PCR test on day 14.

• Visitors should also have insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment and hospitalization or be responsible for all health and accommodation costs.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Resources

World Health Organization (WHO)
Government of Bermuda - COVID-19
Travel Authorization Form
SafeKey Guidance