Aircraft sourced to bring 200k test

| 03/04/2020 | 91 Comments
Cayman News Service
Governor Martyn Roper at Friday’s press briefing

(CNS): The 200,000 test kits that the Cayman Islands government has ordered from a South Korean company will be ready for delivery next Wednesday, and Governor Martyn Roper said he believes that a means of getting them here has been identified. He also said that, despite getting so many kits, government will not be forcing every resident to be tested.

Speaking at the press briefing on Friday, the governor said that his office had identified a private aircraft that will be able to collect the kits and get them here before the end of next week.

As he announced what he said was really good news he explained that the government has purchased 200,000 kits because that was the minimum order that it was able to make, given the current global demand for these kits. He explained that a special deal had to be negotiated to even get that size lot, as it was smaller than those ordered by other nations.

“This doesn’t mean we are seeking to test everybody on the island but it does give us the capacity… and we will need to work out the most appropriate policy for testing moving forward,” he said.

Roper said he did not want to reveal the cost of these tests until they were here, but he confirmed that the Cayman government was paying for the kits and not the UK.

However, having so many tests will give Cayman a significant advantage in managing the spread of COVID-19, and if its spread through the community continues to be curtailed and moves at a gradual pace, it could lead to the opening up of the economy much sooner that would be possible without them.

Having enough kits to allow everyone access to testing if they want will help identify the positive but asymptomatic individuals who pose the highest risk to community spread and isolate them until they are in the clear.

It will also help protect healthcare workers and front-line essential workers and allow those who have recovered to confirm they are in the clear, all of which could pave the way for some restrictions to be lifted.

See full press briefing on CIGTV below:


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Category: Health, Medical Health

Comments (91)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    CNS..BA flight 9110 is arriving today April 6 at 3:51pm and not leaving until tomorrow afternoon…Where is the crew being quarantined? Is everything set up to quarantine the passengers?

  2. Anonymous says:

    Even if Dart does own the Ritz property, Dart Corp or Dart Real Estate do not operate the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman – Ritz International does! Dart has nothing to do with lay-offs at the Ritz!

    Gosh, this place is filled with idiots!!

    • Anonymous says:

      I would like to add that we at least know Dart is helping. Aren’t there other massively wealthy families as well? Trust they too are doing their part.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I’m glad to hear the plane will be bringing badly needed supplies, but have some concerns. Maybe CNS has the information.
      Will the passengers be tested for the virus before leaving UK? Were they required to be in isolation in order to qualify for evacuation? How will they maintain social distancing on board? I commend the Government decisions that have helped to contain the spread of the virus but this one makes me anxious.

      Stay home Cayman, and live to tell about it.

  3. Anonymous says:

    CIG should not be naive about the shipping challenges, and very thorough in monitoring progress. BBC reports there are corrupt US interests that have already intercepted PPE in France from an airport tarmac and 200,000 masks paid-for by German police. Delivery conditions are far from normal, and every airport refuel between South Korea and the Cayman Islands offers another criminal opportunity for siphoning, interception or extrajudicial confiscation.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Sigh. Thanks he 200K masks were produced by a US manufacturer and ordered retained of US use under the adherence Production Act. No criminal or extrajudicial diversion – the US government ordering that US manufactured items be retained for US use. How you think that applies to South Korea selling us kits is beyond me.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Hopefully they will land in Canada, and continue onward to Cayman (which is fully in the range of the Gulfstream G-V)

  4. Anonymous says:

    @9:57, please ID yourself so everyone knows not to come around you

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  5. Bonnie Anglin says:

    To SOME of the persons who have posted stupid, selfish, non-scientific, ignorant and political responses STOP IT! You are embarrassing our Country worldwide.. CNS is an online media, meaning everyone with access to internet can read it. You are a disgrace to, and disgracing our Country!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Are you already having cabin-fever? Dr. Lockhart Has offered a free audio recording about coping tips to adapt to this new world we are now living in.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Actually this is the plane that will be used N626JE
    Starts it’s journey today to Seoul.
    https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N626JE

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  7. Nonnie says:

    Those would be the same tests the UK decided not to buy because there was not evidence they worked?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Nope. Those would be the tests used to extremely successful results in S Korea as a global model of how extensive testing coupled with effective public health policies leads to one of the lowest case fatality rates.

  8. Anonymous says:

    There is a sound but going around Whatsapp of some idiot attacking the Governor because apparently his wife is on the plane from England and making it sound the ONLY reason the plane was coming was to deliver the Governors wife. Sir you are a F**king idiot. Do you really thing the Governor has that much authority? No he doesn’t, he has the authority probably to get his wife on the plane with the other people coming home, plus the supplies and the tests but if you seriously believe that the flight was mainly to bring his wife home? I’d hate to live in your ignorant small minded world.

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    • Anon says:

      9.46pm Sadly as you can see from the thumbs down there are a lot more ignorant people living here, in their small minded world.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The same guy whom thankfully was not allowed to run for office in the last election, and unfortunatly one of the faces of the Cruise port referenda .

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    • Anonymous says:

      Describing him as an idiot is being kind! He is uneducated and lacks both common sense and decency. I hope they press charges on him for distributing such a vile and inciting message!

  9. Anonymous says:

    You want faulty reporting? Just read, The Telegraph, Sun, Daily Mail, National Inquirer. All trash and waste if trees.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    #notinmynose

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Many would love to isolate you on South Sound Cay until CVD-19 has settled down in the CIs.

    The more I read your rantings, the more I tend to agree.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Human rights? I want to be tested and everyone else should! If you don’t want to be tested and you infect someone who dies, I hope we can charge you for murder.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    I wish morons among us would stop critisizing Mr. Dart/Dart Corp. That company employs so many Caymanians, among many others and hasn’t laid off a singe person as yet.

    So what if Mr. Dart’s plane is being used to bring the test kits here (then again maybe it’s not), we’re lucky to have that resource.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly!! I wish they would stop !! No one business whose plane bringing in the testing kits. Be thankful we are getting them? Apparently gold bars are easier to source.

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    • Anonymous says:

      But the Ritz Cracker is crumbling

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    • Anonymous says:

      Really? Not laying off, what do you call the redundancies at the hotel then? He’s not immune to this crisis so please don’t paint such pretty pictures. We haven’t even begun to see the full impact yet.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    I am glad to hear that we are getting the testing kits. Some doctors are saying that the virus might resurge in the fall. Better to be prepared if that happens. I don’t need to know the cost, nor whose plane they are coming in on. Some things should not be announced. To quote Ms. Twyla ” everything good fi eat not good fi talk.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    Still not testing me or my family.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Then you won’t be flying anywhere!!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Wont be flying anywhere if the y are tested and they are negative, either. You can catch the disease in a heartbeat. The only people who are going to be free to move in our brave new works will be those have have demonstrated immunity – at least until a vaccine is available.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Wasn’t aware testing is a requirement for flying. As you are in the know, when do flights resume?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Why?

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      • Anonymous says:

        You really think another country will take you if you might be positive? If you are negative they won’t want you either mind you, as you will be a drain in their hospitals (refer to the cruise ships if you don’t know what I’m talking about)

    • Andrew says:

      …Okay? Would you like a cookie?

    • Anonymous says:

      What a moronic statement. I hope you lock yourself and your family away in your home for the duration and come out for nothing.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Wonder if this “private” aircraft will just happen to be Gulfstream G5 ?? One of many that frequents these islands..

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    • Anonymous says:

      Who gives a rat’s you-know-what?! They’re getting here!

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      • Anonymous says:

        A$$. It’s called a ‘Rat’s a$$’. As opposed to the poster who is a Total a$$. Different strain with a far more resilient ignorance gene and a very prominent chip on their sorry shoulder….

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      • Anonymous says:

        Why the haste just to learn your positive ? Listen to the professionals and isolate until further notice. And enjoy living in an island corporatocracy.

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        • Anonymous says:

          “why the haste just to learn your positive?” Besides a lesson grammar? Your gene pool needs chlorination for that comment. It’s so, if you are sick, you know not to spread it moron.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Nope. His question is legit. If one has no symptoms, testing for antibodies is what he heeds. Your insults and superiority attitude speaks volumes about your gene pool.

    • Anonymous says:

      Just say thank you to whoever it is

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  17. Anonymous says:

    Test test and test again

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  18. Anonymous says:

    You know in 2020 you are not going to survive if you isolate yourself from the world.
    Then you might die from starvation but free of coronavirus.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Mr Dart’s plane?

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  20. Anonymous says:

    While I don’t know 100 percent the identity of who is working behind the scenes, Dart is doing some good work locally. Leave it at that.

    Others are quietly helping out. Mr Clive Calder (and the good folks at Northview), who has been funding research and aid in Africa for years in this area through his ELMA platform, is doing good work as well.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    Hope the aircraft doesn’t have to land in the US. Trump is now seizing medical supplies. Germany is accusing the US of modern piracy.
    Trump also asks 3M to stop supplying N95 masks to Canada and Latin America (which presumably includes Cayman?)

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    • Anonymous says:

      Trumps “seizing medical supplies” was reinstating a law to keep essential supplies for the US, with the result that a US manufacturer had to cancel a mask order for Germany and keep them for the US market, which is desperately short. Hardly piracy to keep your own stuff rather than selling it.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Germany is the closest in finding a vaccine, see where this might go?

      • Anonymous says:

        But the Germans had already paid for the masks from 3M.

      • Anonymous says:

        USA will never get a fair shake from Canadiens or Western European Liberals. Look for USA to go back to isolationism, pre-WW2. And fair play to them, it’s been a long time coming after giving the highest amount per year of humanitarian aid to the plant, year after year. All her critics should stop shopping in Miami.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Trump is so stupid that he does not realise that all of the specialized pulp that 3M uses to make the masks around the world comes from British Columbia in Canada.

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  22. Anonymous says:

    According the Ritz the airport here will be closed for several months, perhaps to Christmas. If this is true, doesn’t our government have a responsibility to inform us?

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    • Anonymous says:

      I think you “should” be brought enough to understand this without anyone telling you… Come on now… Smh

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  23. Chris says:

    So we have a surplus of over 100,000 kits. These could be shared with the Turks and Caicos Islands. The plane could easily travel to both countries. May I assume our leaders have thought of that.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Sorry chris don’t agree with you here.

      With what is being sent we will need them all based on the mere fact they sometimes have to use 2 kits on one person to confirm.

      So we can’t afford to share with Turks they need to paddle their own boat.

      We should be ever so grateful to South Korea for helping us!

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      • Anonymous says:

        There help came at a price – appreciate the fact that they allowed us to put in a small order, but its still double digit millions $ “help”.

    • Anonymous says:

      10:22 You do know that the tests sometimes bring back inconclusive results and people need to be tested twice anyway.. once to see if they have the virus and if they do they are also tested again to check if all the viral load has left their bodies (if this is found then they can be released from quarantine). There’s a reason they have bought 200k of them. Lets help our own people before we do anything else. Dr Lee has explained all of this many times.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The reason, as stated, was that it was the minimum order #. We won’t be testing everyone on the island three times. Get that in to your thick skull.

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        • Anonymous says:

          They also stated that we would have enough tests to test everyone if needed. They haven’t ruled that out dumb ass.

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          • Anon says:

            11.34am and 11.57am A true Caymanian (Isuspect) response – hurling insults, that’s quite unnecessary and only reveals ignorance.

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Test everyone and isolate the positives so we can get rid of this disease.

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    • Anonymous says:

      And that’s how you think the virus will be disappear?

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      • Anonymous says:

        From Cayman yes and we can then resume much of our daily lives until the world gets a hold on it and we reopen our borders.

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        • Anonymous says:

          The bigger picture is that Cayman depends on TOURISM. There will be no jobs for thousands of people and it will not be possible to resume daily lives if there are no visitors to the island. It is not feasible to test and quarantine millions of visitors and every person that leaves the island and returns. There will never be an effective vaccination that prevents the flu, as there are millions of strains that are constantly mutating. On the other hand, shutting down the economy every year for months during flu season is guaranteed to eviscerate everyone’s savings and bankrupt the nation. The fatality rate for people under fifty is close to zero – let those people go back to work and develop an immunity. It is the only possible solution.

          It is probably useless pointing this out as everyone is hysterical. However, when a good many businesses are bankrupt, people’s savings are gone, and government’s revenue starts to drop like a rock it will become obvious that going back to work is the only solution, unless you want to starve.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Hate to break it to you but there aren’t going to be any tourists this year regardless of what we do.

        • Anonymous says:

          Great plan BUT……. are you going to lock the island to everyone coming and going for 18 months or 2 years????

          Get a grip people. You need to move on.

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  25. Anonymous says:

    FFS test everyone

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  26. Anonymous says:

    That is great! Test everybody twice two weeks apart and you will still have 70,000 spare tests. Quarantine people that test positive and Cayman is able to go back to normal while to borders remain closed.

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  27. Anonymous says:

    Great news. And so long as it’s not CAL they will arrive on time!

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  28. Anonymous says:

    Good news if we get them i guess but 200,000? Really?

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    • Anonymous says:

      9:07 Sigh.. there is a reason they have bought that many. Tests sometimes come back inconclusive and anyone with a positive test needs to be tested twice. A second test is need to check if the virus has left the patients body so they can be released. Is nobody listening to Dr lee during the press release!?

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      • Anonymous says:

        You are not listening apparently. That is not the stated reason.

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        • Jotnar says:

          Stated reason was that was the minimum number the manufacturer would sell. Do the math. By your reasoning everyone on the island would have to be tested 3 times to use 200K masks. Still, I bet we can sell the surplus no problem at all.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Clearly you are not. The reason is 200k is the minimum purchase allowed.

    • Anonymous says:

      Nothing wrong in having extra testing kits, what’s wrong with u idiot’s,?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Calm down genius. The poster said good news but questioned the amount. All you had to say was it was the minimum order size.

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  29. Edgar Poe says:

    Wonderful news !

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