Beaches close until end of current curfew

| 13/04/2020 | 183 Comments
Smith Barcadere

(CNS): Following warnings about the abuse of the COVID-19 curfew exercise exemption by people who are hanging out together at the beach, government has blocked access to all public beaches and areas of the coast below the high water mark. Police Commissioner Derek Byrne said policing the beach is too challenging and the risk to the community of spreading the virus is too high. This means the beaches are now closed to all for exercising and swimming until at least 17 April.

The problems began on Good Friday when, according to Premier Alden McLaughlin, the amount of people drinking and partying in large groups had caused serious concern and was very worrying for government. It coincided with the news that there were eight more positive cases of COVID-19, six of which could not be traced to a specific travel case. The results made it clear that the virus has a grip in the community, meaning more social distancing, not less, is needed to contain it.

Despite the concern about people’s behaviour on Friday, the commissioner confirmed that no one will be prosecuted because, when police officers approached the groups on the beach breaching curfew, the groups began to disperse and walk on the beach, claiming to be exercising, which made it hard for officers to issue the formal prosecution citations.

With the supermarkets and banks already posing a huge public health risk, the difficulties managing the beach has led to that being the next casualty. It has also risked moving Cayman further towards a more stringent lockdown, as government considers how it will manage the next curfew period, when the current ‘shelter in place’ daytime and hard nighttime lockdown order comes to an end on Friday.

Speaking at Monday’s COVID-19 update, McLaughlin warned that government may impose even more restrictions as it continues efforts to contain the community spread.

Answering criticisms that government does not have a plan, the premier explained that the primary aim remained the suppression of the virus with the lockdown. He said the only known successful means of controlling the spread of the virus in any country has been strict social distancing measures to keep people apart. The other element to help us through the pandemic is testing. McLaughlin added that by the end of this week officials would begin aggressive testing across the community.

The only way that the economy can restart here, the premier said, was to stamp out the virus. It was “deeply concerning” so see people arguing for allowing the elderly and vulnerable people to die, he added, and made it clear that was not the approach of government or himself, and whatever measures were required to give everyone here a chance to survive, government would do it.

It was for that reason that the decision was made to close the beaches, McLaughlin said, because people were reckless and apparently blind to the “ravages of this virus”.

Once again, he warned that if people do not follow the social distance restrictions, the virus will continue to creep through the community and it will require government to impose a much harder lockdown. McLaughlin raised the possibility of the imposition of a 21-day full lockdown where only one person was allowed out of a household once a week to get essential supplies.

“We can’t get down to July and August under these restrictive provisions which are constantly being breached by the minority,” the premier added, as he warned it only takes a few people to spread the virus.

Pointing to the breaching of mandatory isolation in the apartment complex in George Town today, McLaughlin described it as a real concern, as he urged people to be on their guard and to stay at home because it is the safest place you can be. He pointed out that no one knows who has it.

The curfew would stretch out interminably and it would only get worse if people do not obey the current curfew rules, he warned. Government was not going to let the virus spread unchecked by relaxing any of the rules and it would employ every possible measure to stop that from happening, the premier warned, as he made it clear what the government’s aim was.

However, he did raise the concept of a potential future exit strategy. While mass testing and then isolating those who are positive will be critical to the lifting of curfew restrictions and reopening businesses, he said that the starting point would be 14 clear days.

He said if the Cayman community can go for a period of two weeks without any positive results, then government could begin to explore lifting certain restrictions step by step. As each restriction was lifted, the premier explained, the authorities would monitor the situation and wait to see if more positive cases emerged. If they did not, then gradually more areas of domestic life could reopen.

However, he warned that opening the schools and allowing large gatherings of people would be the very last things it would allow because of the significant risk they would still pose.

See the full press briefing on CIGTV below, starting with Police Commissioner Derek Byrne’s prepared remarks:


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Category: Health, Medical Health

Comments (183)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Yesterday: “Nothing short of lunacy to open the economy”
    Today: “People will need to go out to get ‘things’ ”

    Consider that progress, folks.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Air pollution is almost certainly the single biggest environmental health threat. Air quality in NYC could be a contributor to higher than average mortality from pneumonia caused by C19.

    If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s this: Our lungs matter. Perhaps when the economy restarts post-pandemic, we’ll take greater care of the air around us. But the Dump’s fires make this wish illusory.

    Someone had said in his comment that sunlight and sea air have no health benefits.
    Frankly, one had to live under a rock his entire life and skip education not to know what every child everywhere else knows: sunlight is germicidal and sea air is healing and prevents diseases.

    The reason sea air is so healthy is that it contains tiny droplets of sea water enriched with salt, iodine, magnesium and trace elements, which are scattered into the air by wind and waves.

    Known as surf-generated aerosols, these stimulate immune reactions by the skin and respiratory organs. A period of inhalation will result in the loosening of the mucus in the respiratory tracts, which makes coughing easier and so helps clear airways.

    Furthermore, the sea air is almost completely free from harmful vapours, exhaust fumes and soot particles, especially on offshore islands.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Interesting and thanks for posting. I also read that during the 1918 pandemic, infected World War I soldiers who were placed outside (there was no more room inside) in the fresh air (no sea close by) and sunshine recuperated better than those kept indoors. The article cited some of what you’re saying. However, that doesn’t mean we need to go to the beaches to get these benefits. A long walk anywhere on Grand Cayman can give us these benefits, along with supporting heart health!

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  3. Harry says:

    CNS do you have the capacity to run a public poll?

    The premier said that he would not be willing to go into a government quarantine facility but what are the views of the people?

    Would people voluntarily choose to go into a state quarantine facility if tested positive for Covid-19 to help stop the spread through the community and to their close contacts?

    Please please, we would love the know, the public keep answering, not because they aren’t listening. We are listening. We don’t agree however.

    CNS: I can do polls. I’ll try to find time to do this.

  4. Anonymous says:

    The measures currently in place will help to slow the spread,(which has been successful) and not to eliminate the virus. The Premier would be naive to think that they can continue to tighten the current restrictions and end up with zero cases for 14 consecutive days.

    We have slowed the spread, we have past the suppression stage. What’s the next phase Mr. Premier?

    *I was with you at the start, I’m just frustrated at the lack of forward movement now.

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    • Anonymous says:

      He just confirmed that he has no plan

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    • Anonymous says:

      What would the next possible stage of restrictions possibly be- have residents be banned from their refrigerators?

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      • Anonymous says:

        We are not asking for more restrictions. We are asking for forward movement. We cannot sit and wait for Italy, Spain and America to act before we move, they are at different stages with an entirely different demographics.

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        • Anonymous says:

          97% of the US is currently locked down, but you know thta letting us get back to work is best for the Cayman Islands? Thankfully, you’re not in charge.

      • Anonymous says:

        Now that would be a good move.

        Will also bring down the cost of healthcare for all.

        Obesity abounds in these Cayman Islands.

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  5. Dee says:

    Many will suffer for the few once again. The police should come Milton Drive in newlands, the curfew is non existent here, people literally throwing parties, playing dominos. cook outs, grand parent picking up grand kids to babysit. we must be exempt from the rest of the island.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    This government continues to move the goal post which is an insult to the majority of intelligent people on the Island. I for one want to hear the plan to restart the economy. Families and especially children are suffering. The public school system and other charities have reported that they are delivering at least one meal a day to at least 700 children. Some living in homes with no electricity and running water. I would even venture to say that school was a haven for some of them. The government needs to strike a balance here between zero Covid19 and the general well-being of its people and to start to put an end to these restrictions. You may save us all from dying from Covid19 but at what cost?

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  7. Anonymous says:

    For all of you who seem not to have a glue how to manage your time and stay home and instead, prefer to find ways to bend the rules and thus put others in harms way, if for no other reason than entertainment, read the article “A Tale of COVID-19 Transmission: Six Degrees of Separation.” found on CaymanMarlRoad April 13, 2020.

    It is written in such a way that even you guys should be able to understand how careless your actions are.

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    • Anonymous says:

      you lose the argument when you refer to caymanmarlroad.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I agree. First time I found myself crediting ms. Catron for her written work. I found it well written and sheds light on so many here in Cayman.

      Good job Cayman Marl Road.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Cayman Marl Road is a shit show.
      I simply cannot stomach the deceptive shit that goes on there.
      They are not objective, purely emotional.
      They need to get a real job.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    All we need to do is offer a free Whopper or Chicken Sandwich at BK and test everyone as they come through the Drive-Thru window.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    So we went from only being locked down for a little bit to basically all services shut down. We can’t get chemicals delivered for our pool to take care for it ourselves. But infected people are allowed to run all over and we don’t know where they’ve been. Kirks? Cost u less? Esso?! Take a gamble and then possibly get covid and CIG locks us down for even longer.

    What nonsense. They don’t have a plan.

    Mental health is a huge issue. That’s being ignored.

    Parents who have a full-time job also have to take on the role of a homeschool teacher at the same time…. oh, and pay school fees.

    This isn’t going away. We need a new plan.

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    • Anonymous says:

      We don’t need a “new plan”, we need a plan.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Honestly man, either listen to the press briefings or shut up. it’s been stated that if we can go two weeks with zero community transmission, an expanded list of local businesses may get permission to resume operation, in a phased manner. The bullshit rebels that think their liberty’s are being trampled, convince themselves this is “just a flu”, and seem determined to ruin the effort, need to call the number and fly one way back to the mass grave problems that are happening elsewhere. Good riddance.

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        • Anonymous says:

          It’s not going away! But they will kill the economy in the meantime. The CIG haven’t announced any logical scheme to put money into small business or employees hands. The CIG fails to implore the RCIPS to do their jobs. The CIG wants to punish those who are doing as they say. It’s about time to have a rethink about what essential places and services really are.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Yes. We need a man OR woman, with a plan. Juliana. Please help them. Just a tad bit please.

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      • Anonymous says:

        One of the things that separate us from the animals is our ability to adjust. The bottom line is not up to the Gov. or your neighbor but rests on each of us. It is your call and actions that are going to make the best out of a bad situation. This is not going away.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    If we are that worried about saving a handful of people at the end of their days anyway, send everyone on the Brac under the age of 60 to Grand for a month, send the 60+ population from Grand to Brac for the same period and call it a day.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You’re an idiot. Young people can die of this virus, too, especially if the medical services get overwhelmed with under 60 patients because you need to get your party on.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I am 60 but I bet I’m more active than you! I have an important job in the financial services industry. I’m keeping money flowing through cayman & into the government by paying fees. I will not be shipped off away from my home & home office.

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    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      A “handful” of people. Let’s look at that statement in context of the world averages. Let’s say 60,000 people, although it is likely larger. The seasonal flu, with an R0 of between .1 and .5% (at best) infects 5 – 20% of a populace. CV, with an R0 of at least 3.5 infects more like 35 – 70%. Let’s take the safe middle figure of 50%. 50% of that 60,000 is 30,000 infected. With a world average CFR of 5% (and rising), we are looking at a minimum of 1500 people — most from ages 40 and above — that might have had 10 years or more. Dead.

      More than a “handful” mate, and those are very low-end numbers. We can likely mitigate many of those deaths with current measures, if only the selfish people did their part. But no, some people cannot tolerate not fully indulging their lives for a while in exchange of real lives.

      You spoiled, selfish brat. You don’t have the right to risk the lives of even ONE person with your indulgent, self-absorbed behavior. What is your life worth? Good thing for you, somebody just like you isn’t in a position to decide.

      We have a real chance to greatly mitigate this virus. Maybe these measures will fail if people continue to ignore the laws set forth to control this disease. I guess you’ll just have to keep your fingers crossed.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Get a grip. CFR is nowhere near 5%! In Germany where they are testing 100,000 a day it’s 0.37%.If you only test those admitted to hospital of course cfr looks scary.

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        • Anonymous says:

          In Italy it is nearer 13%. UK same.

          So pick an outlier, and while you are at it, why don’t you get a grip on yourself, and keep holding your own, single-handedly. It is the only thing you seem good at.

      • Anonymous says:

        He will be singing a different tune when the first Bush, Ebanks, Thompson, Bodden, Watler, Kirkconnell, McTaggart, McLaughlin, Miller, Foster, Scott, Hurlston, McLean, succumbs.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Does anyone believe that, until there’s a vaccine, we can achieve 14 straight days with no positive cases?

    I’m not criticizing, and generally support the Govt’s actions, but this seems unrealistic. Unless the Premier is telling us we’ll be on lock-down for another year or more (when a vaccine, hopefully, becomes available).

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    • Anonymous says:

      Thats the way I read it.
      And are we leaving the airport closed until a vaccine as well?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Alden has no plan

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        • Anonymous says:

          You are truly a fool if you can’t see that it was Aldens plan that has kept the virus from running away from us here in Grand Cayman. Now it has been derailed by people like you who think only of themselves. Now because of the entitled ones he needs to change his plans to include a lot of people getting infected and dealing with it. Cayman needs to open for business just like the rest of the world but now we will have to do it and deal with lots of cases. You think you have a hardship to deal with now? .

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        • Anonymous says:

          Sure he has a plan and he is the benefactor.

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      • Anonymous says:

        We will offer vacations- minimum stay 14 days at the Comfort Suites for the pre vac quarantine !

        Whilst opening the airport to locals on the basis that they quarantine each time they re enter might work for some people, I doubt very much that in the absence of tourism there will be enough passenger volume for the airlines to reopen the routes.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    The goal of 14 days without a new case is a complete fantasy which is absolutely impossible without having a total and complete 24hr lockdown that lasts at least 3 weeks. All the curfews and social distancing measures help slow the spread but as long as people can go to the grocery stores, pharmacys, banks, etc there will continue to be a slow spread. The curfews and business closures will stretch on endlessly. CIG needs to come up with a better strategy. Start mass testing asap.

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    • Jotnar says:

      Problem is Alden is going to choose the easier option of the 21 day lockdown then try and organize mass testing. But we will still have cases emerging because there are a small number of people who will continue to break the rules, so we will never get to the magic zero new cases. Rules are followed by law abiding people and last Friday ( and even Sunday – also hard curfew but people saying they were going shopping!) just demonstrates how many people will break the rules.

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      • Anonymous says:

        How do we know that any of those positive cases went to the beach? Have you read about how the virus is more likely to spread indoors, and is highly unlikely to spread in high humidity environments such as the beach? Just have the police do their job at the beach– no gatherings, no sunbathing, keep moving or get a ticket. And new rule– booze is banned on 7mb

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  13. Anonymous says:

    CIG is punishing the entire population for sins of the few and more specifically for the complete failure of the police to enforce some basic rules. The RCIP is by and large completely incompetent. The other day riding my bike 4 police cars drove past me. Not more than 100 yards up the road were a dozen or more people hanging out and swimming on a public dock. Everyone of those cops drove past them and did nothing. A minority of people will continue break the rules if they are not enforced which will lead to more and more people breaking them which is what we are seeing. The CIG’s response, more lockdown for everyone. Great strategy. Keep it up and you’ll see mass revolt before too long and then it really will turn to shit.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Your comment said it all, “4 cops drove past people hanging out and swimming”?

      Under the current rules, they are well within their right to do so and any ticket issued to them will be tossed in the bin in court. How do you prove someone wasn’t exercising? Exercising is a pretty generic term.

      The issue isn’t the police enforcing the rules, it is the definition of the rule itself.

      Closing the beach is really the only thing they can do, as much as it sucks for those of us who have good intentions.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Wrong. Current rules state that 90 minutes of exercise is allowed providing social distancing measures are followed which is no groups larger than 2 people and maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet apart. You should apply to the RCIP. You’ll fit right in.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Not swimming, not anymore.

        • Anonymous says:

          Wow you can read!! Good luck proving any of that in court.

          You missed the point. The cops can’t enforce what you just stated, it is impossible.

          Should they put a chalk mark on everybody’s ankle like a parking attendant?

          People know the social distancing rule so they all park themselves 10 feet apart and hang out.

          You’re an idiot and add nothing.

          If the government thinks the beach is the problem (which it isn’t) then just close it for 2 weeks.

          • Anonymous says:

            But but but they HAVE closed the beach! There is NO water activity allowed. Or I have greatly misunderstood what Alden said…

          • Anonymous says:

            So what you’re saying is, I witness account/testimony from a police officer is useless. So everyone who has ever gotten a ticket for talking on a cell phone while driving or any other driving offence besides speeding should have never even been ticketed because as you put it, it is impossible to prove. That’s how it works? Many thanks for enlightening me with your superior intellect.

    • Anonymous says:

      Not because the sins of few, but because they don’t understand no virus created by nature(or in a lab) could be ERADICATED. And they aim for eradication.

      The virus could be suppressed
      Vaccine could be developed
      People could become immune
      The virus could become less deadly

      But the virus itself would exists for eons.

      The deadly 3: smallpox, diphtheria and polio are not eradicated, people learned, managed to suppress it with vaccines. The same with Tuberculosis.

      In the decade before 1963 when a vaccine became available, nearly all children got measles by the time they were 15 years of age. It is estimated 3 to 4 million people in the United States were infected each year. Also each year, among reported cases, an estimated 400 to 500 people died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and 1,000 suffered encephalitis (swelling of the brain) from measles.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Actually, if it was created in a lab it certainly can be eradicated. Think about that carefully. Versus nature. If it is a natural cause then it could not be eradicated at all. With all things natural, humans adapt and evolve. With all things man made, humans either strive to meet the standard set or fail and/or at times, die.
        The more we think we learn about life the more questions come up.
        All the same, keep striving for the answers.

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  14. Sucka Free Cayman says:

    First I would like to thank the Indian and Filipino and UK community any others who are self organizing themselves to depart from our shores even though many of you are providing essential services in the few businesses that have been authorized by the government to remain open.We the Caymanian people appreciate your contribution and consideration and thoughtfulness at this time and you are most welcome to come back at anytime this situation improves. As for those complaining and refusing to organize your greedy selfish rases to return to your native lands and violating life saving restrictions to save your own lives and that of your host You clearly have demonstrated to us now your true intentions and need to now be put on flights out of here because you now pose a significant threat and danger to all who remain here. Your unwillingness to organize speaks volumes as is your behavior on our beaches supermarkets etc now crying about trivial crap and posting your nastiness online against those whom you deem are merely inconveniencing or cramping your lifestyle. finally to those government councilors /MLA’s who believe that they are going to play both sides of the fence and hand out our money to those sending theirs overseas whilst they pretend or saying something else and removing persons whom they and their bosses deem obstacles to this two faced policy .We know exactly what your doing and will take the necessary steps in the next Election! Ya feel me Bobo ??? It’s time for the government to make it mandatory for non essential people to depart as soon as flights are organized for them We are sick and tired of their inconsiderate and disgraceful behavior it’s time for them to GO Cayman no matter who their employer is.

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    • Anonymous says:

      “As for those complaining and refusing to organize your greedy selfish rases to return to your native lands and violating life saving restrictions to save your own lives and that of your host”
      When Caymanians like you speak, it really exposes the nasty mentality of some of you. Always looking to blame the expats that serve your country. Last time I checked, it’s Caymanians running around on bikes breaking curfews, drunk driving and rapidly increasing domestic violence rates.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    CNS: Can you please ask Dr Lee from a medical perspective — given the 50+ positive cases, and the possibility of 100+ asymptomatic cases in the wider community; does he believe (without a vaccine) it is possible to ever achieve the 0 cases in 14 days that the Premier has set as the goal-line to even consider any re-openings? If he replies yes, my follow-up question would be, given recent case history, is that realistic at any time this year 2020? My understanding of this virus, is that goal is IMPOSSIBLE without a 100% immunized community, which could be 2+ years away; as the virus spreads incredibly easily and even with social distancing measures and increased testing, it will continue to spread in the community. Hence, flatten the curve is the motive of all governments across the world, not eradicate the virus (which only exists in Cayman)

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Does anyone remember how bad the flu was here in December? So many people out from work and school. Is there a chance that COVID was here already and simply spread community wide and many of us had it but just mild? Can Wendy ask the Dr Lee this today? Maybe some deaths were not pneumonia it actually COVID? It would mean we may be immune. We did have a crazy flu season just a few months ago, it’s just a thought as some parts of world are also thinking the same.

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    • Anonymous says:

      No, in December it was just the seasonal flu. Coronavirus is different and generally lasts a lot longer, with high fever for up to 10 days and more serious respiratory symptoms.

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      • Anonymous says:

        And you know this for 100%? How?

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        • Anonymous says:

          The same way I know the Earth is not flat. I have a brain, I read multiple sources, I learn, I think critically. And I don’t fall for lame conspiracy theories.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Umm – then how do you explain asymptomatic people and those with mild cases? If people can catch it and not even know, how do you say that you can distinguish – without a lab test – between those that had mild cases and those with seasonal flu?

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      • M McLaughlin says:

        You dont know that for sure, when some patients are asymptomatic meaning they have the virus without any visible signs. Please put on your thinking cap.

    • Anonymous says:

      It is possible, but noone will ever know.
      Every person flu and C19 positive should have been asked if they had flu vaccine.

      Receiving influenza vaccination may increase the risk of other respiratory viruses, a phenomenon known as virus interference. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31607599/

      Why scientists are not exploring this avenue puzzles me, since they already know about virus interference. Missed opportunity to get to the root of understanding why some are asymptomatic, some got it easy and some develop pneumonia.
      May be flu vaccine has something to do with that, since conclusion in the above mentioned study says:
      “ Vaccine derived virus interference was significantly associated with coronavirus and human metapneumovirus; however, significant protection with vaccination was associated not only with most influenza viruses, but also parainfluenza, RSV, and non-influenza virus coinfections.”

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      • Anonymous says:

        For God’s sake, people, we didn’t have hundreds of cases of mild coronavirus here in December. The virus was just starting to spread in its place of origin – China – in December. And now we have the flu vaccine conspiracy theorists on the prowl, suggesting what? You got it: The flu shot makes us susceptible to coronavirus. And yes, the Earth is flat, too.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Duh. Maybe scientists are not asking because they have the answer and it is probable that your analysis is flawed. You are not a scientist. Let’s leave science with them.

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  17. Anonymous says:

    You can’t just make rules but have to manage compliance. We wouldn’t need a police force if you just made laws and they were complied with. Police need to know who is in self quarantine and have to enforce breaches of curfews…enough with the warnings.

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    • Anonymous says:

      But then the police need to keep their mouths shut and focus on their job. They gossip more than an eastern ave barber shop.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Duh… Police don’t have the power of arrest during soft curfew. But try it under hard curfew- at night or in the day on the beach. You will be arrested.

  18. Just me. says:

    This plan would only work if we were all in this together. There has always been and always will be those amongst us that are not with us in everything. That has never happened and never will. The plan must include this or it is a plan that will ultimately fail. The Premier and health authorities have done a great job and saved Cayman from the worst it could be.They could plan on taking out the “ones” but that would take forever and is not worth the great effort it would take. So we that are together will have to take it on the chin so to speak. You all know what that means. They will spread the virus, many of us will get it and get through it,some will not. We will survive and move on. But the value of those who are not with us will be diminished. On the other side of this is our lives the way we want it. We just have to get through it. What do you think. I think we can do this.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    Check out Italian Mayors Part I & II on YouTube.
    Their message is loud and clear…they’re not mincing words.
    Stay home, don’t mingle and you might save yours’ and other’s lives!
    These Leaders clearly care for their people’s lives and are telling it like it is.
    Should have the same spirit here to get people to listen.
    CNS, could you please post the links. Thanks.

    CNS: If you go to YouTube and search for ‘Italian Mayors’, quite a lot of videos come up.

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    • Anonymous says:

      To the Thumbs Down
      I’d like to know your reasons. Was it;
      Politically incorrect?
      If you were yelled at like that would your feelings be hurt?
      Does the truth hurt?
      Do you know better than the rest of us?
      The questions are endless.
      One fact though is undeniable; arrogance, ignorance & stupidity is far deadlier than the virus itself.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    Some people have a really difficult time following a few simple rules that are for the greater good of the whole community, now this is the price we all have to pay, albeit a small one compared to the one we will pay if the government doesn’t play hard ball, some people have it much harder than we have it here , so we all need to be more appreciative

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  21. Anonymous says:

    I support the Government’s actions to date, however, they are shifting the goalposts at will and are now focused on unrealistic targets, to the detriment of the entire country. Like most others, I am enraged by the closure of the beaches and my view is that a competent police force should have no issues in effectively patrolling the beaches, particularly when the country is locked down. However, my main concern is the total lack of a realistic and achievable plan. The Gov have lost sight of what they are trying to protect and this obsession with trying to defeat this virus will create far more damage and hardship than the country would likely suffer from the implementation of sensible ‘return to life’s protocols.
    We will wait for months before we achieve 14 consecutive days without a positive test. It is entirely irresponsible for Gov to set that as the benchmark for even considering the relaxation of the lockdown. I fully appreciate that steps must be taken to protect our citizens and measures will need to remain in place for a long time, however, total lockdown until an unachievable goal is attained demonstrates a Gov that is willing to sacrifice the wider health of the entire country in the pursuit of the mantle of being the only country to defeat the virus. These actions will cause us all significant hardship.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The only way it would remotely be possible is by a full, rolling testing program whereby the entire population is tested within 7 days, followed by another full testing after 7 days, followed by another. i.e. test the entire population 3 times within a month and take hyper-aggressive steps to isolate positives and their contacts.

      Or we could just sell a bunch of test kits to other countries and blunder around in the dark, endlessly trashing our economy.

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  22. Anonymous says:

    The beaches will still be there when this has ended and will be in much better condition than when we left them. I am sure nature is very happy to get a break from human activities, The sooner we all understand and conply with the need for social distancing the sooner we can get back to our lives in paradise,

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    • Anonymous says:

      The flaw with your statement is that is impossible for “all” of us to “understand and comply” as some are incapable of understanding and others are unwilling to comply. Which is why we need the RCIP to actually step up and do their job of enforcing the rules.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    i have lost all confidence in cig and the police. their incompetence is evident at every press conference. constant flip-flopping on curfews and nonsense restriciions….(banning families from the beach?). irrational threats about harder restrictions without acknowledging their own failures….
    and most of all….. their total failure to acknowledge the economic tsunami facing cayman….all aldens says is they are working on a soon-come economic measures.
    what else do you expect from the ppm?…look at their failures regarding the dump, the port fiasco…..etc

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    • Anonymous says:

      I know. Maybe you should catch one of the evacuation flights out to the U.S. It’s leadership has done an outstanding job of managing this unprecedented crisis that has been brought upon us by the hysterical media. Don’t forget to write!

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Re the last part of your post 7.41: it doesn’t matter if it [going to the beach etc.] is people’s only release. We’re in the middle of a pandemic. There is no time right now, for “a release”. That can come later when the danger is over (even if it’s not totally over). This isn’t a reality show – where there’s always someone off camera to save you from the poisonous snake. This is up to us to do what we have to do NOW. It’s not – or doesn’t need to be – forever. For goodness sake – people suffered through World Wars suffering God knows what – for years. There was no going to the beach with coolers for them. Just get on with it, and if we’re lucky, Cayman, if not the rest of the world, could start building up the economy again.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You’re talking to a bunch of spoiled brats. They think only old folks die from this and that it will all go away soon if only the Cayman government will open everything up so that can have fun again. They have no sense of the historic relevance of what is happening, and how this is going to fundamentally change their lives for a long time.

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  25. Anonymous says:

    No one is arguing for the elderly and vulnerable to die. That is quite an offensive statement. What people argue is that based on statistics and how this is being handled death is unfortunately inevitable. One, no matter the underlying illness if one has the virus and dies, the virus is recorded as the cause of death. Two, the longer we hunker down, the more likely someone, who happens to have the virus, will die. We have funeral homes for a reason. And we’ve have them for a long time. Three, our government makes excuses for those who do not adhere to the very laws government put in place to stop the spread of the disease. Why is that? Actions speak louder than words. Perhaps the government should evaluate the effectiveness of their actions, or lack thereof.

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    • Anonymous says:

      100% correct. how alden was let say that people are ok with old people dying was an outrage. pure nonsense again from alden as he struggles to deflect from his own failures.

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      • Anonymous says:

        There was a very ignorant comment a few days ago implying that we should “sacrifice granny” for the greater good, because she was near the end of her life anyway. It was extremely offensive!

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        • Anonymous says:

          Have you asked Granny how she feels about it yet, or are you still selfishly assuming?

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          • Anonymous says:

            Granny says she doesn’t want to die so that you can go back to the good life. She says she worked hard and would now like to enjoy her golden years, even if it means being stuck on lockdown for a few months. She says suck it up and stop whinging like a spoiled brat or she’ll whack you with a cow cod.

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        • Anonymous says:

          So we should lock down even more based on one idiot’s comment? The flaw to everyone having the ability to comment is that everyone has the ability to comment.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Some people have definitely been arguing this. Just browse some of the comments on this website.

  26. Anonymous says:

    People will start to believe that the government does not have a plan because since their immaculate initial response to pandemic, they have done nothing but to continue to tighten the greater public restrictions while ignoring the real loopholes. The premier mentioned that the country is still in the “suppression” stages, and like Woody Foster mentioned some time last week on a Cayman Compass live conference “we are not”. Other countries would love to be in Cayman‘a position now so that they could start moving forward. The government should be looking to combat the virus and start a safe and incremental return to normal.

    The key to reopening the country cannot be “14 consecutive days of no new positive cases” not when the current policy in place continue to send known positive cases back into the community. Over the past two weeks almost all new cases were linked to previously known positive cases. On some occasions, tests were performed and individuals would be sent home to wait days before getting notified of their positive result. Between that time, those individuals awaiting tests results could have visited essential businesses and pass on the virus.

    It’s no surprise that now we begin to see cases which appear untraceable some 14 days after individuals being tested were sent home to await results.

    It’s infuriating, that the response to the 8 new cases is to extend the closure of the beaches and not to attend to the real loopholes. Further locking people down is not the answer to the pandemic, it’s instead a terrible side effect in attempt to slow the spread. Government, stop running to further lockdown as if it is the answer. Think about people that have been following the guidelines strictly for almost a month now, continuously being punished! Think about their mental health.

    The situation today with the George Town apartment further strengthens the above argument regarding sending known positive cases back into the community.

    Why is it so difficult to have a mandatory state quarantine facility for individuals that have tested positive? If it might sway persons from coming forward to get tested, then at least give persons who have tested positive the choice to go back home or stay in government quarantine facility. I am sure most of the positive subjects would choose to be isolated away from their community and families to protect them from inadvertent spread.

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  27. Anonymous says:

    If police officers were to earn a 5% performance bonus of every logged ticket, this would be completely different place. All crime would plummet. Response time would drop from 45 mins to 5.

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  28. Anonymous says:

    Unfortunately with this latest news of either 1. Fourteen days with no positive results which is not possible or 2. Twenty-one days of hard curfew which will still not achieve result #1… I will be making the very difficult decision to lay-off all of my Cayman staff. Why? Government is not taking business seriously, and is setting unrealistic goals of eliminating the mostly highly contagious virus of all time. You cannot eliminate the virus… Even if you were not bamboozled by Carnival, the virus still arrived freely for weeks by airplane, and was spread quickly through our young healthy tourism workers (largely asymptomatic and untested). The toll of this virus will not be measured in COVID deaths. The research is showing humidity helps, and social distancing is important. Even Canada has flattened the curve. Unfortunately, the long term effect will be the mental health of our people. Remember, no jobs, no beach, no spirit … What that leads to will scare the police commissioner. Riots and revolt. Be very careful when you crush the spirit of once free people.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Test and Isolate the positive that’s how South Korea and the likes do it, plus social distancing. We now have 100K of tests so let’s start using them. And order more.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The premier says the only way to restart the economy is to stamp out the virus. That is obviously going to be impossible.

      Why imprison everyone on the basis of a positive test. We are not talking about people dying here.

      If the premier is going to be a tyrant and advocate impossible strategies, then it is time to get rid of the premier.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Fear mongering is dangerous.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I came here to say much the same thing. I was supportive of govt. until this point, but talks of further reducing the freedom of the Caymanian people has left me with little confidence at this point. As far as I know, once significant community spread has happened, there have been no countries able to go 2 weeks 0 additional cases to date. That’s not the point of social distancing; rather we were trying to help push the inevitable infections to the future when hospitals could better cope with a flattened curve.

      I have been swimming every day except the hard curfews. I have seen people on the beach ignoring the rules, and asked myself the same question that was put to the commissioner today: why weren’t they fined / arrested? If the police can warn for prosecution someone riding a bike alone with no chance to spread the virus, why is this more difficult? Simply take a few of the 6 constables standing shoulder to shoulder at the grocery store chatting away and put them on the beach. Take a drone for pictures if you can’t sort it out fast enough.

      But I turned the corner here from supportive to rather angry when I heard they made no arrests and instead the answer is apparently to take away one of the few advantages Cayman has to fight this – stay healthy with the salt water and exercise.

      Is there really no intelligent plan for my future ability to put food on the table? I’m very much in the risk group for this virus, but having lost my primary income for what sounds like an impossibly lengthening time, I am far more worried about my ability to fight off the bill for all of this. That bill includes meals, but who knows what Other medical expenses that I no longer have support to pay for.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Why just the Cayman staff?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Because the US, Canada and Europe are all discussing reopening their businesses within the next 30-45 days. It is only Cayman that is planning to block us from our offices until we eliminate the virus (which will not happen until a vaccine is discovered, manufactured, and given to every person on the island — probably 3+ years to coordinate that)

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    • M McLaughlin says:

      Agree the virus is not going anywhere soon, the sooner the government can source a reliable testing kit for the antibodies, the sooner we’ll be able to go about our lives.

      A point of caution though these antibodies test maybe months away for Cayman as the larger developed nations manufacturing these tests will have to take care of their domestic needs first, this includes the UK.

      Large scale testing without the antibodies test wouldn’t make sense, as there is no way to confirm if persons being tested has already caught the virus and acquired an immunity. A negative result without an antibodies test will likely mean you will have to take Bill Gates vaccine.

      I’m only speculating but eventually most governments may have to resort to testing segments of their populations after a while, as administering the two tests on everybody may not be fanacially feasible. Just saying.

      Please continue to pray for the Cayman Islands and the millions of poor people in the third world who will die from hunger with the Global Economic Collapse.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Yo! You had better call up Trump and the rest of the world leaders and tell them what to do because even if Alden listened to every stupid word you write, it ain’t gonna stop the global economic crisis without those other leaders, who are in desperate need of your infinite wisdom.

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        • M McLaughlin says:

          You dont want to die from the virus, but 10s millions will now die of starvation. Nice dickhe**

          • Anonymous says:

            Tens of millions will die of starvation based on what evidence? The number you just pulled out is your ignorant a$$?

            • McCarron McLaughlin says:

              The WHO estimated 25,000 people die everyday globally as a result of hunger and malnutrition, that over 9 million annually.

              So you believe with a Global collapse and the disruption in the Global supply chains these numbers will magically go down?

              Smh

        • Anonymous says:

          Why ask global leaders who are not the healthiest of the bunch. Ask the wealthiest families of the world. None of which are in the cayman islands, and ask them to donate a portion of their wealth to cease world hunger, poverty and disease and famine. After which those same families would still be the wealthiest.
          Food for thought.
          And don’t ask me for names, run along and do your homework!

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  29. Anonymous says:

    How Will I fish to eat because I am certainly not entering the corona virus supermarkets.

    So I’ll be fishing most likely not on the beach but anywhere fish and conchs are I am deh..

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    • Anonymous says:

      Good luck in jail!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Live off rice. You cannot accept the risk of you going to a store, we cannot accept the risk of you and your buddies depleting what little natural resources we have left, and spreading the virus.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Fishermen know how to social distance…. The sport calls for it… We don’t have the need to drink wine and eat ribs.

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      • Anonymous says:

        No rice grow in cayman

      • Anonymous says:

        My buddies… No I don’t go with buddies obviously… Its you and your ilk at the supermarket swapping corona like used cars once a week that is the cause of all this.. You see thosse airhandlers with the returns on them.. You see the clerk and all staff that gather in staff.money counting room. With he infected money…. You get the point… Your lifestyle is the vector

    • Southsounder says:

      You are an idiot!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Online shopping? Through the supermarkets direct (collect from them for nominal fee), or using one of the authorised delivery companies. I’m alone with a disabled mother & I have managed this way for 5 weeks.

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  30. Anonymous says:

    Remember the story of how to boil a frog? This is exactly what the authorities are doing to us. Everyone in the community needs to be very aware of the personal freedoms that are being chipped away, one bit at a time. Alden went from saying at the press conference on Saturday that people wouldn’t be stopped from entering the water away from beaches and suddenly the whole coast line is closed! The police have a very expensive helicopter with state of the art surveillance equipment and they are seriously expecting us to believe it couldn’t be used to identify, stop and charge a relatively small number of people socializing on the beach! There are alternatives but they refuse to discuss or consider them before these types of draconian restrictions are mandated. What like? How about stopping specific items like coolers, alcoholic beverages, furniture, bbq’s, ball games, etc. Fine anyone with one of these $500 on the spot. Use the helicopter to identify people in groups of more than 2 and fine them $500 on the spot. Fine anyone sunbathing $200 on the spot. The word would soon get round……… When they introduce the 21 day hard curfew, remember how the frog got boiled. They turned the heat up slowly, one bit at a time, until it was too late for the frog.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah, I get it. It’s the threat of the New World Order, right? Are you better suited for other kinds of internet blogs?

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    • Anonymous says:

      It’s easier for the police to say it’s too hard to manage and have the government agree with them. They (politicians and the police) operate on a ‘this is what we want, tell us what you need/if you can do it’ basis and the police respond ‘we would need/we can/we cannot’ etc. A lot of the decisions people query are made because the rules put in place are actually expected to be followed – and enforced by the police. The police won’t recommend or sign up to something they can’t do. Make a list of items banned on the beach – now officers have to walk up to people to see what they have? What stops people doing what they did regarding gathering – abandoning their property a few feet away and saying ‘oh that’s not my cooler, I’m just walking’. How many officers would you need to enforce ever more detailed rules? Much easier just to close the beaches. Then there is zero risk of community transmission through beach use. Decisions that bring transmission risks down to zero are looking very attractive to government right now because the numbers of positives creep up even though we are already under quite restrictive conditions that we are all supposed to be following.

      Also I do not think your frog analogy is appropriate. The point of that is someone else is turning the heat up on the frog too slowly for it to notice until it is too late. In this case no one turned up the heat on us. We did it to ourselves. We proved repeatedly we could not be trusted. If there is a full 21-day lockdown imposed, it will not be because we did not get chances. It will not be because the vast majority are not complying. It will not be because the government had a scheme to slowly take our liberties away for the sake of it (they did it in a structured way that is designed to stop the spread of infection within a specific area). It will be because it is what proves necessary to stop the transmission of the virus in this cramped island full of people who don’t respect the law, don’t care about others or themselves, and frankly aren’t intelligent, educated and informed enough to understand the situation we’re in.

      “Yo bro let’s go drink on the beach, they said we can go on the beach”

      “I thought I read on Facebook we could only exercise, not hang out”

      “It’s cool bro, if we see police we’ll just walk a few feet away from each other and our stuff till they leave”

      “Ok cool, still got the cooler from last time in my truck. I’ll get the ice and beer”

      This conversation and however many versions of it took place is why we are where we are now.

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  31. Anonymous says:

    Unfortunately with this virus you will never get 14 days clear. It spreads too easily, and too many people are asymptomatic. The point of social distancing is to flatten the curve, but you cannot eliminate the virus. Until the premier understands this point, we will all suffer. We have flattened the curve, but now, we must unfortunately begin to allow activity amongst the least vulnerable people. Do not confuse yourself into thinking we can go 14 days with no cases — that goal became unachievable when we allowed cruise ships and airplanes to enter our country in February and March. Now we are just trying to flatten (not eliminate!) the curve. Open the beach and let your citizens be healthy, social-distanced humans. Punish the violators. Quarantine the vulnerable.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Spot On!
      14 Days is crazy but lets say we did it what happens when a case pops up at day 21.
      Do we lock down again?
      What happens in 6 months or next year when we open the boarders and a case pops up? Do we lock down again?
      This virus is here for the long haul and we need to flatten the curve to keep our health system from overloading. While it would be great to rid the island of the virus unless we rid the world of it how could we ever open up?

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      • M McLaughlin says:

        Good forbid the virus mutates, then the vaccine being developed will not work. We will be in an neverending situation.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I read yesterday that scientists in India have identified a mutated strain of this coronavirus. If that is accurate, then the endgame is finding effective therapies.

  32. Sick and Tired says:

    Why were the Police not patrolling the beaches? They were all warning us not to do this. It was obvious that this needed to monitored. They have those ATVs and the shops were closed on Friday. There is no excuse for the Police not to be on patrol. This is just the plan to keep us all locked up. To take away the few freedoms those of us have left because they can. I am getting tired of the attitude of some of the Police who stop me when I have the right to be on the road. I am not a criminal, nor will I be treated like one. I am a responsible citizen who has self isolated and obeyed the rules. I have the right to go to the supermarket, the bank, the gas station, the doctor on my days and I have a right to exercise. I don’t understand why Sunday is a total lockdown day, why can’t we go for a walk on Sunday?

    I believe it was a criminal offence for the police not to carry out their duties and arrest those breaking the rules. The excuse given by the Commissioners when asked how many arrests were made was pathetic. We are not stupid sheep. Most of us do not have the means to buy groceries for a lock down for 21 days seeing as though many of us are without jobs and income. What are you going to do, make us starve? Just like the person who has the virus in GT who has not been self-isolating is “probably” the only one not following the rules. PROBABLY, really what kind of answer is that. I realize we are all in a new situation and there are no guidelines but many of the people who are locked up all day are not working now. They are used to being active and busy. One of the few releases for many was to go the beach, to swim, to walk on the sand, to fish to just sit and look at the beauty all around and forget the stress, the fear, the worry many of us are going though. Stop treating all of us like we did something wrong and start doing your job and arresting those people breaking the rules, fine their backsides, lock them up, whatever – send them a strong message not the majority of us who have done nothing wrong.

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    • anon says:

      This not the time to question our leaders or disagree. We are in an crisis and everyone needs to comply or else the problem will get worse.

      Criticism of the RCIPS is counter productive. Just follow orders and everything will be alright!

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      • Anonymous says:

        You should always question positions of authority; it’s what keeps them from abusing it, which history proves there is a strong record of.

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      • Anonymous says:

        this is not a time to question our leaders????
        we do not have leaders…we have a bunch of poorly educated clowns….

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  33. Anonymous says:

    And another week to review pension monies release. WTF?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Don’t expect there to be much there for you to draw on. Depending on how much you made and how long you’ve been contributing, it could be hardly enough to cover your grocery bill if it’s anything like mine.

    • Anonymous says:

      I’m sure the sticking point is how much of our money we should get. Giving businesses a break paying in doesn’t even need discussion. They’re businesses, we’re just people.

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    • TDS is real! says:

      If the pension matters were benefiting the Pension Administrators and Insurance companies that own them the government would have acted a long time ago.

    • Anonymous says:

      don’t pin your hopes on this.
      and stupidity of raiding a pension fund…leaves the obvious question…what happens when people retire.
      cayman already is facing a pension and healthcare timebomb.

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    • Anonymous says:

      It needs the pensions law changed, which requires LA to convene somehow. Can it lawfully convene without a Deputy Speaker or Speaker on “indeterminate medical leave”/“criminal review”? Which should remind media to ask the follow-on questions that dare not be asked. Assuming the LA can actually sit, the law should also be amended at that time to cease loophole where senior citizens collect pension and salary benefits concurrently. The gov’t employees don’t even contribute to the (vastly underfunded) pot they now hope to draw from. So much deliberately bad policy and wasted money that might have been useful right about now.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The CS pay their 6% every month, taken out of their paycheques. Stop spreading disinformation you hater.

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  34. Jacob says:

    Good! But it’s not enough we need to lock down for as long as needed 14 days, 28 days…Hard Curfew! The time for debate is over.

    We must support any decision by government to rid these islands of this virus at all costs as long as another person doesn’t die from COVID. That’s ALL that matters right now!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Jacob, it’s not governments job to save everyone here, whatever the cost to society. It’s governments job to create reasonable protections for the whole population. How much of an increase in domestic violence, child abuse, alcohol and drug abuse, depression and future suicides are you willing to create to satisfy “all costs”? If government has to save every single life are you proposing to ban all cars and driving? Are you proposing to ban all snorkeling and similar activities? Are you proposing to ban all boats in Cayman. In each of these people have been killed in the last year and no one seriously suggested that we stop them! Above all government has to find a balance between allowing people to live their lives and protecting the vulnerable. You cannot be perfect in either but the cost of saving every life will lead to unimagined problems and tragedies in the future.

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  35. Anonymous says:

    The imposition of a 21-day full lockdown would be very stressful for many within our community. We really need to get going with the large scale testing if we are going to have any chance of getting this virus under control.

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    • Anonymous says:

      No, we need to get on with a full lockdown, and eliminate the risk of transmission.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I largely agree with what the government is doing, particularly in its overarching decision to place lives over the economy. But…If they were going to lock us down for 21 days, they should have done it the day after the airports closed, with at least four days warning. There should have been no exercising that required you to get there by vehicle – only where you could go from home. There should have been none of this going to pick up food at the drive thru any day you want except Sunday. A once a week shopping/pharmacy run could have been arranged with the alphabet spread over 6 days, limiting the number of people in the store even more than now – which should have been mandated at one per household instead of recommended. In fact, except for essential workers, vehicles should have been limited to the driver only at all times. Social distancing could have also been mandated by law, and shop owners instructed to tell all shoppers coming in the door. If all that had been done, there would be a high probability that cases that have cropped up since the airport shutdown would have identified and contained, with little chance for community spread. And we could be returning to businesses now, with much less risk. Unfortunately, the government underestimated the way the populace would take advantage of the less stringent curfew measures. Of course, hindsight is 20-20 so it’s easy to second guess now, but it’s still a valid critique.

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    • M McLaughlin says:

      Large scale testing isn’t that simple without the antibodies test which we dont have yet.

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      • Anonymous says:

        …or confirmation that immune system antibodies apply to this virus when recovered negatives subsequently retest as resurgent positives again weeks later, per South Korean CDC (Bloomberg News). It doesn’t seem to be following prevailing medical assumptions if that’s the situation.

  36. Anonymous says:

    the obvious question for byrne that was not asked:
    why not fine/arrest those breaking the law instead of punishing innocent 95% of people who use the beach responsibly?

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    • John Smith says:

      Folks will not follow restrictions…
      Police will not arrest those who violate law…

      Cayman reality…

      Very disappointing – this will cost lives.

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    • Anonymous says:

      the obvious question to you is Why are you not able to understand what the commish has stated over and over again? warned for prosecution means they will be charged FFS listen! SMH

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      • Anonymous says:

        you miss the point of the op.
        btw the commisioner confirmed there have been no beach offences recorded by the police.

      • Anonymous says:

        No. The people on the beach scattered into group if 2’s as they police arrived. They were no longer illegal & police had no proof of their playing football, standing in large groups. Those of you who have posted photos on social media & know who they were should share the pics & names with the commissioner.

  37. Anonymous says:

    this needs to be challenged legally by the people.
    the incompetence of the police is now beyond question. the fact they have brought this measure in without and any recorded beach offences has been confirmed.
    as usual the the police will take the lazy option of banning everybody instead of doing their job of law enforcement and actually prosecuting the offenders.

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    • Cayman Mon says:

      Like I said “The Beach Is Mine”; shut dem all down. Stay home Cayman.
      The MoH Seymour was in fine form today and, no doubt, giving his detractors beans. GOD BLESS YOU SIRand thanks for your service.

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    • Anon says:

      7.09pm The Police Commissioner was acting under orders. For several weeks he has been saying there were no problems encountered on the beaches. This Easter weekend naturally they were much busier, but you could see the Premier working himself up into a lather about the numbers in yesterday’s briefing and announcing today’s closure before the cabinet met.. He has now overreached himself by extending the ban for a further 4 days and using Mr Byrne as his mouthpiece and laying the blame on him.
      As many have said just ticket the offenders and don’t make the remaining 99% of the population suffer on their account.
      I’m afraid the Premier in his eagerness to show he alone can lay down the law, has badly miscalculated on this one and hopefully he will come to his senses by Friday.

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    • Anonymous says:

      #resist
      #power grab

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      • Cayman Mon says:

        Anon @7:54pm, resist at your own peril. The Government needs the revenue.

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      • Anonymous says:

        All they had to do was ban drinking alcohol in public places, have some police officers on the beach and it’s absolute nonsense of course you can tell who is exercising and who is not. 98% of the population are staying at home, working from home and taking 1.5hrs exercise a day. My usual form of exercise swimming along the coastline not even on a beach means I encounter no one , just my household they swim too. We self isolate and exercise alone away from everyone. Today I walked instead on the road for exercise and had to pass about 25 people and we were not able to safely distance ourselves. You have made a bad situation worse.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Even easier:
          – swimming is allowed
          – walking on the beach is allowed
          – stopping and talking on the beach is a $1000 fine
          – sunbathing $1000 fine
          – stopping and talking in the water $1000 fine
          – drinking alcohol on the beach or in the water $2000 fine
          – all people on the beach require photo ID on them at all times
          Then send out your top 10 ticket writers to public beach, Royal Palms, and around on their ATVs and the top 3 ticket writers get a $1000 bonus per day.
          People will get the message real quick.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Please keep in mind the police enforce the laws set by the government. The decision to close the beaches was made by government (cabinet) not by the RCIPS. If you all would just do what you are supposed to do we would not have this problem. Stay home. Do not push the limits of the laws and regulation. Stop thinking you are beyond getting or giving this disease. Stop blaming the police, blame the idiots not following the rules. mostly don’t be one of those idiots.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The decision/order was made by the COP in consultation with the governor pursuant to the powers under section 49 of the Police Law. However, section 49(6) only permits a curfew under this section to have a duration of 48hrs…….not sure how he has exercised this power to extend the curfew until Friday!

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      • Anon says:

        8.00pm The cabinet are the Premier’s poodles.

    • Anonymous says:

      7:09 That is unfair. Our police officers have been doing a fantastic job of policing this. They cant be everywhere at once and need to split their duties up into multiple sections. I hear the helicopter go over regularly and have been asked for ID every time I go to the supermarket. I see many vehicles out and about and have been stopped many times in order for them to ascertain what i am doing. They cant all be policing the beaches. Stop with the negativity. If you think you can do better than do something about it. Stop blaming the police for the stupidity of the stupid, selfish people who have forced government to lock down the beaches.

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      • Anonymous says:

        I understand that being locked down & having basic freedoms curtailed is hard to accept, but it’s better than widespread suffering in our small community… that being said, Thanks to the minority that can’t understand the gravity of the situation, or apply common sense, the rest of us now don’t even have the benefit of a relaxing beach walk or swim….

        this post is addressed to Caymanians, (how that designation was acquired makes no difference to me) , Residents, & WP holding Expats…. all groups have inconsiderate members.

        By the way, I’ve been a Caymanian for all of my 48+ years….. would certianly enjoy a few more….. apply some logic people!

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    • Anonymous says:

      You want some whine with that cheese?

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