High risk of COVID-19 coming to Cayman

| 05/03/2020 | 108 Comments
Cayman News Service
Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee discussing the coronavirus on CIGTV

(CNS): Various parts of the Cayman Islands Government are currently preparing for the likely arrival of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, as the number of cases worldwide is now close to 100,000 and the number of deaths is more than 3,300. However, as rumours run rampant, the Cayman Islands Port Authority has issued a statement refuting a voice message that has been circulating on WhatsApp which claims that government is not allowing any containers to come into the island.

Acting Port Director Joseph Woods said there was no truth in the message whatsoever and reassured the public that there is no cause for concern. He said the Port Authority discharged cargo from a ship Wednesday night and is scheduled to accept cargo from ships on Friday evening, 6 March and Saturday evening, 7 March. Listen to message from Woods below:

Government sources said that the Ministry of Health, Public Health Department and the management of the Health Services Authority (HSA) are in a high state of preparedness for COVID-19, but so far, as of 5 March, there are no cases in the Cayman Islands.

The Ministry of Education, in consultation with the HSA, has issued coronavirus response procedures, and both government and private schools, as well as parents and guardians of students, have received advisories regarding these procedures.

During a CIGTV interview (see full video below) Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee commented on the fact that children appear not to get ill with the COVID-19. He said they do not yet know if it’s because they can’t get the virus or if they don’t show symptoms, but he suspects it’s the latter.

However, he noted that schools are “hotbeds for viruses”, and the Public Health Department is advising schools to notify them if they have a suspected case. The school staff will describe what is happening and the PHD will then decide on whether to close the school or not.

“We will err on the side of caution,” Dr Lee said. If the PHD think there is a suspect case, they will close the school while they investigate and trace the person thought to be infected and everyone around them, “so we can make sure we can contain it as much as possible”.

The Ministry of Education said Thursday that it is working closely with Dr Lee at the HSA, Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI), the Department of Education Services and school leaders to ensure proactive measures are in place, which includes keeping all schools, parents and guardians well informed with up-to-date advisories.

Government authorities said that the opening of the Cayman Islands National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) on Wednesday, 4 March, brought together government and community partners to prepare for the possibility of the virus reaching Cayman. NEOC is coordinating efforts including health, economic continuity, uniformed and support services and utilities. Teams are meeting at least once daily to share information and take key decisions.

While there are no confirmed local cases, the Public Health Department continues to work with international health partners to monitor and prepare for the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Dr Lee noted, “With confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Florida, the Dominican Republic and St. Barts, concerns among local residents are real. As more cases are confirmed worldwide, the overall risk of the coronavirus (COVID-19) coming to the Cayman Islands is high and the situation is evolving rapidly.”

He recommended essential preventative measures such as washing hands regularly and avoiding people with respiratory illnesses. Also highly recommended is to remain at least three feet, and preferably six feet, away from people, and he said that having a family and household plan can also help to slow the spread of the disease.

Dr Lee added, “A review of our plans to protect residents and visitors is an ongoing process. We remain vigilant while working with stakeholders to ensure our borders are protected and that any imported case is managed efficiently to minimise the impact.”

On Sunday, 1 March, Finance Minister Roy McTaggart and other senior government and health officials represented the Cayman Islands Government via video link at a Special Emergency Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government (CARICOM). The meeting was convened to discuss regional preparations and response to COVID-19.

Health Minister Dwayne Seymour said it was important to “separate fact from fiction” about the virus and urged people to monitor the official government sites. He said, “I urge you to continue to look out for each other and to prepare thoroughly, while guarding against stigma and panic.”

Premier Alden McLaughlin assured the public that the Cayman Islands “has world-class structures in place encompassing both public health and hazard management” and he was “confident that we will be able to achieve the best possible outcome when it comes to protecting the Cayman Islands and its people”.

Home Affairs Minister Tara Rivers said, “HMCI is well equipped and stand-ready to coordinate a multi-agency national response. Past experiences have stress-tested our approach and our agencies’ ability to respond.”

As financial services minister, Rivers added that the industry “is following its business continuity plans, in order to ensure that services continue”.

Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell, noted that coronavirus poses unique challenges for the local tourism industry but they were working closely with public health and security officials to protect the well-being of visitors and residents. 

“The Ministry of Tourism is in close contact with cruise line partners and are adhering to established medical protocols with respect to the landing of cruise ships and passengers. Similar measures also apply to stayover visitors.”

See Acting Director Port Authority Cayman Islands Joseph Woods on cruise safety:

See CIGTV’s Donna Bush interview Acting Deputy Governor Gloria McField-Nixon, Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee and HMCI Director Danielle Coleman on how Cayman is preparing for possible cases of coronavirus:

For more information on COVID-19 and for guidance on how to best protect your household, visit the HSA website here or contact the Public Health Department on 244-2621.

Details of the steps that Government is taking to combat the disease are also available here.


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Category: Health, Medical Health

Comments (108)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    How many test kits do we have ready, Dr. Lee?

  2. Anonymous says:

    Q: Siri, show me a 100% nailed on way of getting coronavirus in the Cayman Islands as soon as possible?

    A: Cruise ships – probability of infection within next 7 days (if not already happened): overwhelming.

  3. Anonymous says:

    I am not scared of Corona Virus, I only drink Red Stripe.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    You people should follow the lead of the greatest leader (ever) of the greatest country in the world. Build a new tennis pavilion at the government offices.

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    • Anonymous says:

      True leadership at time of crisis, build a tennis pavilion at the White House so Baron and Ivanka can work on their tennis game. You cannot make this stuff up.

      • Anonymous says:

        We don’t need to make it up. A very delusional TV star in a position of great power (thanks boomers, scared rich twits, and hillbillies!) is living the dream.

  5. Anonymous says:

    I would just say that anyone that collects money from the cruise ship industry should probably not be spending it frivolously, and perhaps learn a new trade.
    If Kirkconnell owes you any money, maybe see if you can get them to pay up.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Catching viruses is a good thing … unless you are sick, old or have a compromised immune system. It will only make you stronger as viruses continue to get worse over time.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    This is just Mother Nature trying to control the human plague that is destroying the Earth.

    It is inevitable Mother Nature always wins.

    Time to change our ways and start respecting the environment !

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Apparently over 600k die annually, (worldwide) of annual flu. Millions die of pneumonia, millions of children infected and many disabled by measles, mumps and rubella. And shamefully thousands die on US streets at the hands of gun toting morons, yet the press keeps a morbid body count of hundreds to justify 24 hour news programming.
    And how many lunatics, the just plain stupid and worse, innocent victims are killed and seriously injured here on Cayman due to appalling driving standards?
    For heaven’s sake people, keep it real, get perspective and stop with the stupidity of panic buying and rumour.

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    • Anonymous says:

      And when 50 million have died in the next 24 months because we failed to contain this in the early stages, what would you say then?

      Do the math and learn about R0 and exponential curves before your doctrine spreads and causes harm.

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      • Anonymous says:

        🙀If 50mil will die in the next 24 months that means there’s nothing nobody could do about it. You can’t isolate and quarantine everyone. It is practically impossible.
        Have coronavirus goodbye party! See you in your next life. 😭

        The virus has been around for who knows how long, just think about it. Millions should already be dead if it was a killer. Yet, flu is the killer, not CIVID_0-19

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        • Anonymous says:

          It is possible to quarantine everyone – as Italy is about to demonstrate. Sub Sarharan Africa and places with dense populations, poor infrastructure, and poor education will act as kindling.

          We have to hold it off until there is a vaccine. It will be a long year.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Vaccine? No thank you. I’d rather take my chances.

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            • Anonymous says:

              Except you will also be risking the rest of us. Vaccines act as not only a barrier to you catching it, but also to others catching it.

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              • Anonymous says:

                If you have the vaccine you wont have to worry about those that didn’t get the vaccine. There’s no risk for you since you’re vaccinated.

        • Anonymous says:

          All responsible experts in the field of epidemiology are of the opinion that we can very effectively flatten the curve of Covid-19 and mitigate the spread until a vaccine is available. I am sure they are now apologetic and repentful that their learned opinions run counter to your Supreme Wisdom.

      • BeaumontZodecloun says:

        You are right to be concerned about the R0. It matters, and is probably exponential.

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        • Anonymous says:

          A disease’s R0 value only applies when everyone in a population is completely vulnerable to the disease.

          The virus was introduced to the world and freely circulated with travelers, based on the available information, since November -December.

          Around the world testing has not really started until March. The US is still practically not testing.

          It is safe to assume that many of December-February flu cases were actually COVID 19.

          The same applies to Pneumonia cases and flu deaths, unless flu was confirmed by testing.

          Unusually high number of flu cases could be explained by introduction of yet unknown COVID19.

          Many COVID19 hosts remain symptom free (theoretically), otherwise you would have noticed that nearly all people around you got sick.

          If 10% of the world’s population is infected, which is reasonable to assume since the virus is active for at least 120 days, but got mild symptoms or remainssymptoms free, and number of dead in under 5k, or even 50k (assuming dead misdiagnosed with flu), then

          7.8 bil. x 10% = 780,000,000 already infected (cant practically test them all)
          50k /780 mil. = 0.006% death rate

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          • Anonymous says:

            A death is still a death. Do you want to be one of teh statistics? I doubt it and I for sure don’t want to be either. Remember there is a flu vaccine. There is no vaccine for this.

          • Anonymous says:

            Except the death rate appears to be between 1 and 3% where modern medicine is available. Run that through your equations, and then factor in that modern medicine is not available everywhere, and may be be stretched to breaking even where it is.

            • Anonymous says:

              If you look into the detailed figures, the mortality rate at the beginning of February in Wuhan was around 40% of identified cases (which is why the Chinese took such draconian measures, they were probably terrified).

              As we’ve got better at identifying those who’ve been exposed to the virus (and also identified two different strains, one mild, the other aggressive), it’s become clearer that the death rate (derived by dividing total “resolved” (i.e discharged or died) cases by the number of fatalities, is much lower. At the moment that ratio is around 5.6% of identified cases. Unresolved cases are those that have it, but we don’t know the outcome yet (currently around 45000 cases, with just under 6000 people in serious or critical condition)

              The 1-3% stated by the WHO is their “educated guess” as to the overall fatality rate, based on modelling how the disease should have spread, allowing them to estimate how many have had very mild and unreported symptoms. Seasonal flu, by contrast has a mortality rate of around 0.1%

              There is also a lot of misinformation about how many “die from flu”. As an example, the usual figure given for the UK is that 12000 people “die of the flu” each winter. The reality is that only around 30 people “die of the flu” (i.e. it’s the only thing that could have caused their death), while the rest of the 12000 cases may have caught the flu, but it’s not the primary cause of death (often it’s pneumonia or cardio-vascular disease).

          • Anonymous says:

            If you apply your math and reasoning to the seasonal flu using well-tested common assumptions of that illness, you will see the utter fallacy of your reasoning. Just wondering: where did you get the data on which you based your assumptions? Or did you reason this out of thin air? Do you have any hard documented evidence that your assumptions are not total malarkey?

  9. Elvis says:

    sounds like panic stations already. calm down folks.
    Elvis has left the building. thank you and good night ………

  10. Anonymous says:

    The best thing to do is don’t wash you hands, rub your eyes and lick your fingers daily so you catch Coronavirus.

    It will build your immune system and save your life ten years from now as the viruses continue to grow and get worse.

    If you don’t get it you will probably die when the next big one comes.

    Just sayin…

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    • Anonymous says:

      Thanks for that, Scientist.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Chances are many people COVID-19 hosts already.
      If I hear one more time Wash your hands, I’d go nuts. We are not designed to be immortal.

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      • BeaumontZodecloun says:

        Wash your hands. Use hand cleaner after every store or contact with people. If you get sick, stay home and arrange for someone to bring you goodies, if you live alone. If you are sick (with anything) be responsible and don’t spread it. It’s not so hard.

        • Anonymous says:

          But I don’t have paid sick leave. I live alone. Who will buy me groceries and pay for it? Who will pay my rent?
          Should I disinfect my door knobs, light switches, groceries that I bought since many people touched it?
          What about money in my wallet? Should I soak it with bleach?
          How about bottled water, should i wash it with soap before opening?
          What about my mail? Spray with lysol before opening?

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          • Anonymous says:

            Sick leave paid is mandatory.

          • BeaumontZodecloun says:

            Nobody will buy you groceries. If you don’t have paid sick leave, contact the Labour Board right now. It is required by law.

            Allow me to simplify it for you:

            Before touching your head or neck, wash your hands and/or use a hand cleaner. If you get sick, stay at home. If you are sick at home, monitor your temperature, and if your fever rises to what is a dangerous level for you, call your doctor or the hospital. Tell whomever you talk to on the phone or in person that you are sick, and don’t know which virus you have contracted.

            You live in a hurricane-prone area, and should already have water, food and other supplies set aside. As a matter of course, you should be buying just a little extra each week — extra of everything you need to sustain your life in the way you have become accustomed — and putting it aside. It is like budgeting your money, only you are budgeting your supplies.

            Although you were being flippant, you bring up a good point about the bottled water. It’s probably not a bad idea to clean the cap before you open it and drink from it.

            Clean your hands before you touch your head or neck. Avoid people who are obviously sick. Enjoy your life. These efforts are being made primarily for the immunity-compromised and the elderly. It’s worth the extra effort, imo.

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            • Anonymous says:

              Big Beau, you are so naive. Where do you live? Allow me to simply it for you, if I take sick leave my work permit will be pulled. Get real Bobo and get your head out of the sand.

    • Anonymous says:

      Who? Dat you?

  11. Anonymous says:

    When we talk to people we need to follow the rules.
    1) We want the news not the weather
    2) Say it don’t spray it
    2) We want information not irrigation
    3) we want to here it not to wear it

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  12. Anonymous says:

    The sooner the virus gets here the better. It is certain to arrive but its biggest threat is the hysteria it will create before its arrival. Don’t waste money trying to prevent its arrival. Use any available funding to strengthen our capacity to deal with the very few cases that will develop serious symptoms. Make sure we are in a position to provide the best medical care available to the few unfortunates that develop life threatening symptoms. Most people will not even realize they have it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Say what

      Ignore prevention?

      Man, stop repeating foolishness, please.

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      • Anonymous says:

        We can spend millions trying to prevent its arrival but what happens when it arrives; all that money has been wasted. Use the money made available to ensure we have facilities to treat the few serious cases that result. Quarantine and travel bans will not work. The Chicken Little hysteria and panic buying of hand-sanitizers is not going to help anyone.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Better use of money: come up with a new income stream after the sudden death of the cruise industry.

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s already here. It’s everywhere.

  13. Anonymous says:

    It would be really great if the grocery stores could put in place a purchase LIMIT on items!! Its not fair that one or two people can go in and buy the entire stock of an item!!! I’m not just speaking of masks and lysol etc., it is other items too that one person goes in and purchases the entire stock!

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    • Anonymous says:

      According to the Compass they have. My question would be, ‘Why are people panic buying things like Lysol?’ I always keep enough stock of things like that in my condo to meet all future needs and possible hurricane season shortages. This doesn’t say much for the mentality of the local population does it?

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      • Anonymous says:

        People panic. Nothing about ‘local population’ or not.

        But, you are right that this is a good opportunity to do some pre-hurricane-season checks of our emergency supplies and plans. A good emergency stock will include (after this at least) sanitizing chemicals, be that hand sanitiser for when there’s limited water after the hurricane, and sanitizing chemicals (your Lysol; Clorox, Dettol, etc.) which can be used to maintain sanitation if you have to ‘home quarantine’ an ill family member, plus water, food, toilet-paper, etc. Not that you need that stuff right now, but it does mean that you can wait out others panic buying until the shelves restock and any demand-fueled price fluctuations flatten out.

        I found out that hand sanitiser starts to liquefy after a while in my supply cupboard. So one more thing (along with the food, and batteries) that needs to be rotated every so often to keep it fresh.

        So, take a look at your emergency supplies this week. You never know when there will be an earthquake and you need to pop open the bottle of drinking water and hand sanitiser to give the Water Authority a day to restore the city water supply.

        • BeaumontZodecloun says:

          Well said. We should already be doing this in advance of the impending Hurricane Season. Stock up on things that you need, things that the barge might not bring. Just like every year. If a hurricane hits us, we can’t count on the government to fiss us up, because the government is us. Right? Let’s take care of ourselves, and mostly our elders, who have already paid their dues.

          • Anonymous says:

            Yes Big Beau, I have so much money on my minimum wage job that I can afford to stockpile. You don’t live in the real Cayman world.

      • Anonymous says:

        Please keep your unfair remarks to yourself. The average Caymanian cant stockpile like you so i am hoping money can buy you life

  14. Anonymous says:

    Stop all cruise ships from coming in until this is over. They are floating Petrie dishes! The resulting loss of revenue is small in comparison to what the cost in human life and medical cost will be with this hits our shores!

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  15. Anonymous says:

    Make your own sanitizer: 2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol, 1/3 cup aloe, optional: a few drops essential oil for fragrance. That’s it.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    As part of the plan why not temporarily vacate Little Cayman which our least populated island, for the good of our country. And set up quarantine facilities there so as not to contaminate our general population.

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  17. SOS says:

    Is the good ship Cayman waiting or is Capn Moses and his Chief mate inviting Coronavirus to come here. I think we should quarantine all people at the Aston Rutty centre to contain it For obvious reasons because of Cayman Brac location and small population excellent suggestion is it not?

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    • Anonymous says:

      How about we contain them in your house? You all always want to send your criminals and cast offs to Cayman Brac.

  18. Blacklisted says:

    Premier Alden McLaughlin assured the public that the Cayman Islands “has world-class structures in place encompassing both public health and hazard management” and he was “confident that we will be able to achieve the best possible outcome when it comes to protecting the Cayman Islands and its people”.

    Is he referring to our world class text broadcasting system that was so useful after the last earthquake and HSA? /: (sarcasm)

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  19. SafetyFirstLastAlways says:

    Lot’s of high-level Bingo talk. There needs to be a plan of action for each phase which is communicated to the public. Why can’t we learn from China’s failures?
    Didn’t we see China build a separate Hospital to deal with this thing?
    Don’t we see them close down cities?
    Don’t we see them spraying EVERYTHING?

    Only WASH HANDS? RIDICUOUS!! The person who contaminated the surfaces you just touched, is the same person you were just talking to 2 feet away!!!. When people speak they “spray”.

    “THE BEST OFFENCE IS A STRONG AND ACTIVE DEFENCE”.

    People should be building a Strong Immune System DEFENCE.

    Quarantine/isolation cannot be at HSA in a room with common A/C System. Isolate means isolate.

    Needs a Plan if parts of the Islands are to be shutdown. Food, Security, Emergency travel etc.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Feeling superior to China? Don’t. You are not even remotely have knowledge, discipline and abilities to react as swiftly as they did to contain virus spreading in a country with population near 2 billions.

      What China did to contain the virus is exemplary.

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      • Anonymous says:

        4:20 You clearly believe communist propaganda.

        What did China do to contain the virus? They did a ‘Chernobyl-style’ cover up until the international media found out then made a big show of responding, got WHO officials in the country to pretend everything was hunky-dory and in the process killed 1000s of people. Right now they have temporary detention centres full of people ‘suspected’ of being infected. They are in direct contact with people who are infected and living in places that lack basic hygiene, heating and medical needs. The staff apparently can’t even get the basics to keep themselves safe.

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      • Anonymous says:

        In latest news – a hotel being used as a temporary isolation unit in China has collapsed trapping at least 70 people suffering from the virus.

      • Anonymous says:

        All praise to the Communist Party of China. Amazing what totalitarian governments can do.

  20. Anonymous says:

    Why don’t we get this level of health advice during the annual flu and norovirus seasons? Every year people get sick and spread these diseases around because they’re not taking basic precautions but nobody seems to bother about it.

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  21. Anon. says:

    Too many uninformed, underinformed, and misinformed voices in government are speaking to the public, giving the public the impression that they know what they are talking about when in fact they don’t. Arden was on Radio Cayman this morning talking about how the Caribbean version of the Centers for Disease Control will be “doing our testing for us” and that they can “turn tests around in two days”. It is ridiculous to think that this testing facility will have the capacity to do so, as there is currently a global shortage of testing kits. We need more informed voices giving us the facts, and less government hogwash.

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  22. Anonymous says:

    Questions to Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee:

    Were all people with flu like symptoms who came to flu clinic tested positive flu?

    If not all people were tested, how many were, and what are the chances that those not tested had coronavirus, not flu?

    200 flu cases a day indicates either highly contagious flu strain or something else. Coronavirus perhaps?

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  23. Anonymous says:

    Another, ugly side of coronavirus: when market is driven by fear.

    The US Federal Reserve, not waiting for the scheduled meeting, cuts rates immediately by half a percentage point – this has not happened for ten years. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell explained: this is a preventive measure to support the economy and protect against the effects of the spread of coronavirus. The stock market responded with a sharp collapse. Why investors did not appreciate the decisiveness of the American Central Bank?

    Until the end of February, everything was relatively calm in the United States. But when the coronavirus reached Europe and crossed the ocean, the market panicked.

    On February 27, the country recorded the first infection from an unknown source. A woman living in northern California did not go abroad, did not contact the sick, but a coronavirus was found in her blood.

    The market reacted to this news with the largest drop in nine years. So, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones blue chip index (includes shares of the 30 largest companies) decreased by 4.4%, while the high-tech Nasdaq lost 4.61%.
    The key US stock index S&P 500 in just six days fell by 12% – such a rate was only in the Great Depression.

    Since March 3, there have been signs of recovery. S&P 500 grew by 39 points, the Dow Jones blue chip index – by 270, Nasdaq – by 89. Against this background, the Federal Reserve gave the market a surprise. On Tuesday, for the first time since 2008, the regulator held an unscheduled meeting and lowered rates from 1.5-1.75% to 1-1.25%.

    The sharp easing of monetary policy was explained by the need to “use all available tools” to support an economy undermined by the coronavirus epidemic.

    According to estimates by one of the leading American banks, JPMorgan Chase, in the first half of the year, GDP growth rates will not exceed 1.25% – this is almost half of that of 2019.
    The virus disrupts global supply chains due to production shutdown at Chinese plants. People are losing their jobs, consumer demand is falling, bank analysts said in their review.

    White house has pushed on Fed Reserve. As Bloomberg reported, Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow and Finance Minister Stephen Mnuchin called for a cut in rates before the scheduled meeting on March 18. Donald Trump demanded to do this as soon as possible.

    And it’s clear why. High stock indexes demonstrate the strength of the American economy.
    An emergency rate cut was to convince the market that the American authorities were ready to provide the economy with all the necessary support in the context of the spread of coronavirus.
    But the effect was just the opposite – the market plummeted. At the March 4 auction, the S&P index lost 2.91% – almost all the growth shown the day before. Dow Jones, combining the shares of the top 30 largest US companies, missed 2.94%, and Nasdaq – 2.99%.

    According to analysts, the Fed’s determination instead of instilling confidence in investors scared them: it seems that the problems in the economy are much more serious than it seemed.
    “The Fed’s lower interest rates have confirmed investors’ worst fears, ”said Michael Arone, chief investment strategist at State Street Global Advisors.

    “It seems that the Feds, firing from its bazooka, knows how badly the pandemic will hit,” says Donald Ellenberger, senior portfolio manager at Federated Investors Inc. “So now the market is only driven by fear.”
    Experts point out that now the Federal Reserve has no other options but to continue cutting rates. Moreover, Donald Trump insists on this.
    The Fed is cutting the rate, but it must be continued and, most importantly, be in line with other competing countries, he wrote. According to him,” the game is not on an equal footing, “which is” dishonest for the United States. “Finally, it came to “Fed time” to take a leading position. More concessions! ”The American president urged.

    The problem is that due to supply difficulties in many markets, there is already a shortage. So, this week Apple warned service centers about the lack of iPhones to replace broken ones. Technical support staff also complain about the lack of spare parts for repairing gadgets.
    A deficit will inevitably accelerate inflation, as a result of which investments in dollar assets will be frankly unprofitable. A logical step for investors in this situation is the sale of American stocks and government bonds, which threatens the collapse of the stock bubble and a widespread crisis – such as the United States has not seen since the Great Depression.

    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      I am probably the only person who actually read your treatise.

      I don’t think the ‘stock bubble’ is such an impending doom as you imply, however, I was really fascinated by your overall characterization of the American economy. I personally appreciate the time you took to put your thoughts down. You see into the future. That’s a good thing.

      I don’t think CoVid will influence the growth rates much more than they have already, however, I’ve been wrong before, and it is easy for me to defer to your profound experience.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Good summation. Whats your point?

    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      The little tête-à-tête between Russia and OPEC has a strong possibility of tanking the stock market tomorrow. We will have to wait and see. One undercutting, the other playing the long game. This sort of plays into what you were talking about. I think.

  24. Anonymous says:

    February 19 headline: Up to 200 flu cases reported per week.

    Unless all were tested for flu, who can cay it is flu, not COVID-19?

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    • Anonymous says:

      The coronavirus does not respond to the antiviral treatments and medication for the regular flu virus so I imagine patients who may have been misdiagnosed with flu but actually have COVID-19 would return with worse or untreated symptoms.

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      • Anonymous says:

        There’s no treatment for flu. It is a myth that you can treat flu. As any viral infection it runs its course. You can lower fever and headache with medication, but this doesn’t constitute flu treatment. Tamiflu is not treating flu. It is another myth.

        Nobody knows what coronavirus responds to, if anything.
        Coronavirus symptoms are mild while flu can kill young or old indiscriminately, its symptoms are so severe that you wish you were dead.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Tamiflu – “Tamiflu, is an antiviral medication used to treat and prevent influenza A and influenza B.” Source: Wikipedia, because I couldn’t be bothered to search further for information on retrofiral drugs, i.e., medication to treat viruses, like the flu. – What you don’t want is antibiotics for a flu. So don’t self-medicate if you feel significantly sick, get the right treatment from a doctor.

  25. Anonymous says:

    There’s no point in panicking about this virus. No point in stock piling goods or you will create a shortage yourselves. Just keep washing your hands constantly as per instruction. Keep a distance from people that are coughing and sneezing as you would with the flu or any common cold. You can contract this virus within 6ft of an infected person. Keep your hands as much as possible away from your face, nose and eyes….very difficult! You can be infected a month and not know it or can be a carrier. The elderly are the most vulnerable or people with underlying health issues. You cannot lock down any country totally. Are we going to stop grocery shopping? Because we are handling items that numerous people have handled before us. Are we not going to receive postal letters/packages? How many people have handled those all over the world. What about money? How many have handled that ask yourself. It will never be possible to do this. We can not isolate us completely from anything.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Even if you wash your hands, you can’t sanitize all the time everything you touch: light switches, door handles, steering wheel in your car, your phone, etc. That is simply impossible.

      I believe many already «lived through» the virus infection. On a small island with thousands daily visitors it is highly probable the virus already here but, but mistaken for flu.

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  26. Greed Kills says:

    So. They got little puppet to do a video for the Port saying that the cruise ships are one of the safest ways to travel and less of a chance to get the virus……..

    Meanwhile in REAL NEWS, ANOTHER cruise ship is quarantined off California because people on board have the virus and in fact someone on board died from it.

    HMMMMM WONDER WHO I BELIEVE…….

    Stop the Cruise Ships

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    • Anonymous says:

      Article just in:
      The United States is considering ways to discourage US travelers from taking cruises as part of a broader Trump administration effort to limit the spread of coronavirus, according to four officials familiar with the situation, Reuters reports.
      The administration could advise some or all US travelers to avoid taking cruises in the face of a growing number of coronavirus cases on cruise ships, officials said.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Cruise ship stocks down as US officials try to discourage trips
        Shares of cruise ship operators tumbled Friday on a report that U.S. officials are looking for ways to discourage travelers from vacationing at sea. Citing four officials familiar with the situation, Reuters reported that no decision has been made yet. Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines all took hits following the report.

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  27. Anonymous says:

    But CAN WE TEST here? If not what is the point of preparing to contain something we have no hope of detecting?

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    • Anonymous says:

      The temporary flu clinic was opened at the George Town General Practice Clinic at the beginning of February after Public Health reported a higher-than-usual number of patients presenting with flu-like symptoms.

      Are you sure it’s all flu?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Let’s hope so, otherwise inviting Coronavirus patients to attend that facility and cough on others would only spread the virus and be criminally negligent.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Since I was little I have heard everyone refer to any cold-like symptoms as being the flu… you have the sniffles it’s the flu, you’re sneezing it’s the flu, you have a cough it’s the flu, you have a fever it’s the flu… most people who end up at the flu clinic don’t even have the regular flu let alone the new flu

    • Anonymous says:

      Florida health providers have been advised to order tests only for people who fit a narrow criteria: a history of travel to a high-risk area, or close contact with a confirmed coronavirus patient within 14 days of showing symptoms…. because officials are concerned the state’s three labs, in Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa, will be overwhelmed by the number of tests, slowing the entire process.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Let’s start with getting our hands on globally scarce test kits, oxygen bottles, IVs, and precautionary gear supply for frontline health workers. We don’t need an entire hazmat facility. This is not Ebola.

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  28. Anonymous says:

    Procrastination is key here.
    Review the ‘insignificance’ of the coronavirus versus the Flu every year, and not made up statistics before you pander panic.
    FYI no one in China wore a Hazmat suit when the virus was released AND the Rioting against Communism stopped abruptly.

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  29. Anonymous says:

    Hazard Management is in charge?
    Like the earthquake?

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  30. The only sane one left says:

    Well duhh. More can be done to prevent it but, money money money money!.

    Also for the people saying oh the flu kills more ppl. Well Duh! This has only been circulating for 4 months. Wait until it becomes seasonal and the chances of re-catching the virus is also highly likely. Who wants Influenza and coronavirus the same year? The virus has already mutated into two strains and there is no telling what will happen next so, trying to downplay this virus by comparing it to the flu is utter ignorance at it’s finest.

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  31. Anonymous says:

    It’s already here muhahahahahaha!!!

    And in other news the common flu has killed more people than Coronavirus this year … and every year …

    Zzz

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    • Anonymous says:

      It hasn’t if you use statistics properly. Good luck

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      • Rachel says:

        The symptoms are fever and dry cough, not runny nose … if you have these symptoms or anyone in your family does, stay home and call your doctor to report suspected COVID 19. Tests can then be arranged. Wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and wipe down frequently touched surfaces, keys, phones, door handles etc with disinfectant/alcohol wipes.

    • Smh says:

      The Governments and Media’s obsession is unbelievable.

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      • Anonymous says:

        If you cannot properly test cruise ship visitors for the virus it does make you wonder if our government is putting money ahead of their own people.

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