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Visitor on BA flight tests positive

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

A visitor who arrived on the British Airways flight from London last Friday has tested positive for Covid-19, it was revealed last night.Kim Wilson, the health minister, said the traveller, who showed the virus on their Day 4 test, had been isolated and contact tracing was under way.It was the only positive result from 818 tests that came back to health officials yesterday. The case brought the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus to 178, with five people under public health monitoring, but none in hospital.Ms Wilson warned that test locations and schedules may change with the approach of Hurricane Teddy.But Walter Roban, the Deputy Premier, emphasised that any change to the timing of the General Election because of storms lay with the Parliamentary Registrar and the Governor, not the Bermuda Government.He confirmed public buses would resume service today in the wake of Hurricane Paulette’s impact on Monday.School buses will also run today as pupils at public schools return to the classroom.Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, said that public schools would welcome pupils back this morning.He said that assessments showed schools “fared well” during Hurricane Paulette.But some schools were affected by a loss of power, water seepage and debris in the grounds. Mr Rabain appealed to road users to take extra care and exercise patience in school zones at the start and end of school days.He said: “The public needs to be aware that all schools will open at 8.30am and we will be advising additional caution in the areas that have two schools.”Mr Roban added that Belco had reported at 5pm that only 702 customers remained without power after this week’s storm.Jason Hayward, the Minister of Labour, has advised that supplementary unemployment benefit payments would be made by the end of this week.Mr Roban said: “I know this will be welcome news to many families and persons in need.”Pension payments to some seniors were delayed this week after government buildings were closed.Mr Roban added: “There are right now very uncertain times that we are dealing with and that are faced by this community. We are deeply aware of the impact that this period has had on mental health and wellbeing when people’s finances are in jeopardy, their home and food are threatened, or appear to be threatened.“Accordingly, I wish to provide clarity over the recent confusion surrounding the administration and disbursement of pension payments.“Ordinarily, payments that are paid out by a government cheque are delivered in the mail on the 15th of the month.“However, during this month, Government was closed, obviously, on the 14th and most of the 15th, meaning cheques were not delivered in the mail as usual.”Mr Roban apologised for any worry caused by the delay, but added that anyone who received their pension online was paid on Tuesday.Mr Roban highlighted that 14,632 pension payments were made each month and only about 170 were by cheque.