The Department of Health and Wellness notes the increased number of cases of COVID-19 over the past two weeks and the several cases of transmission of COVID-19 identified at a property on island.

During the period Nov. 23, 2020 to Jan. 13, 2021 a total of 60 cases were documented including the COVID-19 related death of a 52-year-old UK national.

The Department of Health and Wellness has instituted additional stringent and immediate measures to halt the situation, while also conducting extensive contact tracing and testing of guests and employees. The initial decisions include the restriction of new guests at the property effective Jan. 14, 2021 and that current guests will remain only on property. Employees for quarantine and isolation to be facilitated at the property to reduce community transmission.

The Department of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Tourism take this matter extremely seriously and have met with the management of the property to identify and correct breaches, remedy the situation and increase surveillance to ensure compliance to the existing and new protocols.

The management of the property has reiterated its commitment and has pledged its co-operation to safeguard the health and safety of guests, staff and the general public.

The Department of Health and Wellness is calling on the entire tourism sector and all other establishments to abide by the protocols to safeguard lives and livelihoods.