COVID-19 positive cases in Cayman grow
(CNS): Another eight people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Cayman but only one of this latest group has no travel history. The other seven are people who have returned from overseas recently or are in households with returners who have previously tested positive. At this stage, we have 22 positive cases, three of which are confirmed as community transmissions. One of those who was positive in this latest batch is currently in hospital with respiratory symptoms, Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee has said.
Giving his update at the daily press briefing on Wednesday, Dr Lee said that most people who are known to have contracted the virus are doing well, with minor symptoms, while others have already recovered.
He said that the one outstanding suspected case, which was likely to have been the first community transmission here, had still not been confirmed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). Dr Lee was also unable to give a figure on the pending test samples or the numbers of people waiting to be tested who have symptoms of the virus.
Public health is continuing to trace and track those connected to the latest people to test positive. Dr Lee explained that this means positive cases will continue to climb among these inter-connected individuals. But he said that with the limited number of tests and results, it was too early to say where Cayman is on the potential transmission curve.
He emphasized once again the need to continue with isolation measures for those who are positive, the strict curfews and for people to follow the major protocols of staying home, social distancing and good hygiene as ways to reduce spread in the community.
But the need for testing is critical now that the virus is spreading through the community, though limited by the curfew measures. Dr Lee revealed that an order of reagents, which the HSA had been waiting on for some time, turned up today and it now has the capability to test around 1,000 people.
Governor Martyn Roper said he was still hoping that kits will come from the UK on the air-bridge flight by British Airways. The governor said that efforts by his office to secure more tests from a company in South Korea were still moving forward with contacts at the British Embassy there. He said he would be trying to get those tests on this flight, along with urgent equipment for the HSA and some freight for the supermarkets.
The flight is coming to Cayman on Tuesday next week and will leave in the afternoon. Tickets for the flight cost $500, and so far 109 people have requested seats. There are 200 seats, so people who want to leave are encouraged to call the emergency travel hotline (244-3333) and book a seat.
Despite the chaos and significant issues in the UK with testing and equipment, as the positive cases and death toll rises each day now, the governor sought to reassure Cayman that the British government is still committed to help its overseas territories.
Roper said that he and the premier had spoke to the OT minister, Baroness Sugg, in London that morning about the equipment coming on the BA flight. He said he knew that the UK prime minister was also very much committed to helping the British territories.
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Category: Health, Medical Health
It would be nice if the banks supplying merchant POS machines could update them all to rfid chip/tap payment compatibility, now that the year is 2020 and there is a contagion loose. Thanks – everyone paying by credit card.
It would be nice if the merchants would use the ones they have.
Yeah, great job stopping the flu with your lock down. You will succeed however in stopping the economy and people paying their bills. That will work with 100% effectiveness. You can always count on governments to make things a lot worse than they would be. Let’s see how everyone feels with another two weeks of shutdown and complete cluster F*k it will create. Let see how everyone feel when next months bills are up with no money to pay them. Eventually the question will be asked WHO EXACTLY IS DYING to warrant these sort of extreme hysterics straight out of a zombie movie?? Is everyone REALLY on the verge of death to the point that it is justified to financially wreck just about in Cayman?
Time will tell.
Politicians playing God. Their logic is as long as no one dies within three weeks, we’re good to go. So please, no one die of anything over the next three weeks. Had a phone call from an ex politician this morning saying he doesn’t have to pay rent because the Premier said so. What a useless shameless set of people!
Moron is too kind of a word for you. Even with social distancing and lockdowns, the projected number of deaths in the US is between 100,000 – 200,000. In Italy and Spain, you’re getting 1000 deaths/day; in addition, there are many who died due to Covid and are not included in the official statistics… When doctors around the world tell you that they are completely overwhelmed, that they don’t have enough equipment to save people, and to protect themselves, and that they have to make choices between those who live and those who die, you know that there is a big problem. Apparently you didn’t get the memo or not smart enough to understand what you’re being told. You are the problem!
I can’t speak for the bored housewives on this island, but personally I have no interaction with my pool cleaner guy. Please let the pool cleaners go back to working. They are not a risk of covid spreading. Have some common sense in your rule making please Alden.
100% correct. Mandate that only one employee can work at a time and they could still do their jobs with zero contact with people.
I have no issue with locking people down to the extent that it will actually help contain this virus. But many of these blanket restrictions are not well thought-through.
We have to concede that many people are going to lose their jobs and deal with the fall out of that later – but equally many people could still do their jobs, e.g. certain landscapers, pool guys, some limited tradesmen etc.
We seem to think it’s ok to leave liquor stores open. People definitely don’t need that, and there is definitely a chance to transmit the virus there. But nobody talks about it and gets completely sanctimonious when people want to walk their dog or have somebody clean their pool.
What comes next are selfish lawyer and audit partners who will rationalize: if the pool guy is here, why can’t I be in my office suite with the door closed and secretarial support teams? Every big shot thinks they are more essential than the guy next to them.
Depends what the pool guy looks like.
The big shots can work remotely! It’s the people who get paid weekly who are great danger of not being able to meet expenses.
You missed the point completely. Stopping the pool cleaner was not to protect you, it was to protect the other people that they would have to come in contact with in the normal course of their duty.
If it was just you then I would recommend that they go piss in your pool every day.
What people do they come into contact with in the normal course of their duties?
No one! They are just trying to double down on aldens egotistical statement. Apparently he called anyone wanting a pool guy in spoilt. Hmmmm, seems he forgets not all of us leave our house and the exercise my family gets in the pool is necessary.
I’m sorry that nobody can run to open up the plastic hatch and switch out the chlorine tablet in your pool, but it’s to prevent that guy from contracting or giving it to his coworkers or anyone he may come in contact with for the day. Let your grass grow out, don’t take a shit in your pool, you’ll be fine.
Does Cayman follow the latest developments in testing for antibodies? Otherwise they might endup buying too many unnecessary corona tests.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-antibody-blood-test-covid-19-2020-3%3famp
close the dam liquor stores!
This is that bitch Carole Baskin’s fault!
How about the grocery stores that are raking in the money hire more people to DELIVER! Fosters is a joke and doesn’t do it so we won’t shop there. Kirks hasn’t responded to my email. Hurley’s is out 1 week to deliver at best. This is a joke.
Turns out we can’t even place an order online for hurleys and Kirks definitely will not respond. How’s that for trying to get people to stop having contact in a time where community spread is happening? I think everybody should only be out one day a week at shops. Meaning it shouldn’t be two different groups it should be six different groups. You can still go out for walks and such but these lines at the supermarkets are ridiculous.
why don’t you volunteer to pack up groceries and deliver them all over the island yourself? You are the only one smart enough to think it is easy to do. Be happy that the stores are still willing to open and serve you. In case you have forgotten this virus is making it hard on everyone. Not just you.
Government states that the 22 cases at the moment are in line with the expectations.
Could somebody ask them what number they are expecting ?
More. Much more. Only those who really stay home are safe. Everyone that goes out is at risk of getting and spreading it. Look at the traffic. See the problem.
But Cuba and SK are fighting their own battles with the virus. Why do you need help if you only have 22 mild cases. None in hospitals. You have enough ventilators for now.
For now. That’s the problem.
FDA has approved tests that take less than an hour to process. Can we please make getting these a priority so we can maintain the advantage we have in terms of being ahead of the (flattened) curve. We are doing so well but we’re already seeing the number of cases creep up, and these faster tests would be of great help in maintaining our lead and morale.
Please advise everybody to keep a daily list of where they’ve been and who they’ve seen, to aid in contact tracing – it will also make some people think twice about moving around unnecessarily when they see black on white exactly how many people they risk infecting in one day!
Do reiterate a hotline number several times during daily briefings, so the public can report curfew breakers or gatherings! And include it in govt material being sent out.
More roadblocks please! They really make people think twice about leaving home if they run into 8 roadblocks every time they venture out.
Hassle cars with passengers.
By default Android phones keep a log of exactly where you’ve been and where. I wonder if that info could be put to use re contact tracing.
Please can you issue clear instructions on what to do with contaminated (by Covid) masks, tissues, etc!
sell them on ecay?
Lol
Throw out used disposable masks and tissues, clean reusable cloth masks highest heat washer/drier and iron.
Dr Lee said something about storing used tissues etc and bagging separately, disposing AFTER isolation was done???
Burn them.
I believe it would make sense to have a “medium curfew” to reduce the amount of people out and about everyday and help us get rid of this virus.
It would make better sense to continue using the alphabet system during the day for the two groups but on the day when your last name does not apply you will need to revert to the “hard curfew.” This means you will be locked down for 24 hours every other day depending on your last name. This would reduce the traffic and the amount of interaction of the public..
The current soft curfew says we can only go to essential places, ie supermarkets, pharmacies etc so there is no need for the other group to be out and about..
My two cents!
Stay home Cayman! Stay safe!
If they coop us up again, half of us or all of us, we will see the explosion of activity that we saw before. You’d have everyone from A-K going one day and everyone from L-Z going the next day, just because they were locked up on their off-day. This system where people are strongly discouraged and ordered to stay home, but CAN leave for specific reasons, minimises activity and claustrophobia at the same time. We should keep it the way it is.
You can’t stay in your house for 24 hours?? Really now!
Why ban solo exercise? You also obviously must not have kids. What’s wrong with taking them out for a walk or a bike ride. It’s easy to stay far away from other people. Many people don’t have backyards and so no place to take your dog or your kids. For those lucky few with their own pools they aren’t allowed to have them cleaned so soon they will be swampy messes.
Traffic, in and of itself isn’t a problem if people are travelling to places where they don’t interact with people. People could drive up and down the roads all day and it would make zero difference to the infection rates.
Exactly what are the “isolation” measures applied to those who test positive. It seems they are “quarantined” in their own homes, which if this is the case, is like putting up the fox in the henhouse. Surely anyone testing positive should immediately be placed in remote quarantine under 24 hour supervision as with the arriving passengers on the BA flight.
If I am right it is hardly surprising that we have a significant number of new cases and will continue to do so, until immediate remote quarantine is instituted.
Just avoid Fosters at the airport and you’ll be fine. You’d catch something at the best of times, now it’s even worse.
Nonsense. You stay away from there and the rest of us will be fine.
Not to mention west bay.
If the Cayman Islands want to get through this in three weeks as opposed to twelve weeks shut down. People must stay home with only their household. Going out once a week for groceries should be enough unless you don’t have a vehicle and cant carry that much. Visiting friends, having friends over to the house for a drink or kids playing is not acceptable or popping out for unnecessary errands. If we all stick to staying at home we can start to get back to normal in weeks not months. If you want your kids back to school and hanging out with friends then stay home. Going out for daily exercise is important for mental health but should only be done with your household. There seems to be too many people driving around probably due to boredom, well keep it up and this will continue for months and not weeks. Stay home Cayman, Mr Lee made a good visual statement imagine you and your family as an island that nobody should come near, he also made a good point about masks they are helpful but not necessary if you are staying at home. Staying at home is the coat to protect you a mask is just adding a scarf. Stay home and we will be through this in weeks and be able to loosen restrictions on island.
I also thought that was a great visual, thinking of distance from others as a coat around yourself providing the main source of protection. It does drive home that if you are at home, you don’t need any protective equipment AND you won’t catch the virus.
“here seems to be too many people driving around probably due to boredom, well keep it up and this will continue for months and not weeks.”
Explain how driving around in your car spreads the virus? If there is no contact with anyone (other than the cop I guess who pulls you over to ask why you are driving around!) – it just doesnt. The issue is that the police and the Premier have no way of knowing what the people in the are doing and assume that the traffic volume is related to excessive use of the dispensations allowed in soft curfew.
So the draconian measures of our socialist regime actually do nothing to help. Free our people Alden!
CNS: Your grasp of the situation is on a par with your understanding of socialism. About nil. If the government had not adopted the measures it has, things would be very very much worse, lots of people would be very ill and some would be dead.
My thumbs up was for CNS
Thank you CNS for your answer
You are making yourself a target for the virus then you will go out and infect those who are your friends. Hhhmmmm. Sounds like Gods selective kill off is working as planned.
It is helping. This is why there are still so few cases. Don’t be such an ass.
Not sure why support is needed from Cuba or South Korea.
Can someone explain?
6:46 Cuba has some of the best doctors in the world and if cases explode here we could use the extra hands and experience. South Korea was able to contain the spread of the virus with in it’s own country with the help of testing kits they designed. Very efficient at detecting viral load. As early detection is crucial at stopping spread this is a good path to take.
I know that.
But why Cayman needs help from Cuba or South Korea? Should not be Cayman doctors offering help in Italy, Spain and NYC?
You can’t remain virus free and all prepared if the virus is ravaging in a country that is you main exporter.
9:18 if this situation gets worse here we cant risk sending doctors away. HSA is swamped on a good day with regular emergencies and other essential appointments. We cant afford to send any of our doctors away if cases of the virus rise. All hands on deck as they say.
Also what on earth do we export from Italy and Spain other than fancy meats and cheeses in the deli? They aren’t major exporters for Cayman… New York is a major flight connection but as we have no commercial flights this isn’t a problem. What point are you trying to make?
The USA is your main exporter and it’s leading in confirmed positive cases. Italy and Spain was mentioned as an example of hot spots.
HSA is swamped?
“The Health Services Authority has cancelled all elective surgeries and specialist services at the Cayman Islands Hospital and Faith Hospital ”; “Patients will be contacted to reschedule their appointments.”; “All dental clinics, (George Town, Bodden Town, West Bay and Merren) and the eye clinic will be open for emergencies only.”
We can’t afford to send our doctors away….
Yet you think Cuba an SK can send their doctors to “save” Cayman
The point I was trying to make is that you don’t need help as of now and should be helping others.
But you seem to be unable to comprehend that bringing into your comment meats and cheese and flights. Expand your thought process. Literal thinkers focus on the exact meaning of words and often find it difficult to interpret a less factual or more metaphoric meaning.
Sending medical care away when the situation could get worse here isn’t literal thinking. it’s daft! We are seeing an increase in cases. If this trend continues we will need all our doctors on board. Please bandage the bleeding heart of yours. Sometimes we need to put ourselves first. In this case we are putting Cayman first. I repeat once we eradicate it locally then we can send our doctors.
We might not need the doctors from Cuba if we can stop the spread of the virus but in order to do so we need to be testing people. And for that we need testing kits. If you think this is unnecessary you dont understand how S Korea was able to stem the flow of its own viral spread.
Sounds like you should live there and enjoy the abundance of world class healthcare services.
The several times that I went there and visited a health facility, it looked like a scene of a zombie apocalypse.
Cuba (which is a global leader in healthcare) has sent 140+ doctors to assist Jamaica, and they’re doing much better than many countries right now. South Korea is producing equipment that we desperately need and at record rates as well. I rest my case.
The question is not that simple as it seems.
You do not desperately need anything yet.
Kind of selfish when there are true hot spots desperate to get an assistance.
Sending Cayman doctors to gain experience seem to be the right thing to do.
9:24 it isn’t selfish. We need to eradicate this on our shores before we can think of helping others. If we get it under control then by all means send are doctors to help but until then dont be daft. Also we DO need the kits. Mass testing is why S Korea have been one of the best countries to control the virus. If we can do that here we will eradicate it faster. Its not selfish. It’s common sense.
Duh!!
Does it really matter?
Yes. You have few mild cases while in some countries the situation is grave.
Why would you want help and resources from Cuba and SK when it is not needed?
Just in case? You do already have resources and doctors.
Err did you not hear about the shortage of test kits?
I’m gonna keep posting this comment until somebody raises it with Government. Close EcayTrade down, people are commuting unnecessarily to buy crap off.
Why do you hate people so much? Why do you assume people commuting unnecessary to buy crap ?
People who are leaving the island for good need to sell their stuff.
Please hurry up and go
When they do, and they will, you will regret that stupid comment. The money will dry up, your businesses will go bust and Even if they don’t, you’ll have no one to run them when this nitemare ends.
Let’s see what happens when those hated foreigners can’t pay their rent. Caymanian landlords will pay for their greed and inhumanity.
#rentstrikecayman
And there’s some rich people posting stuff because they are bored.
Have you ever thought that rich people are posting because some lost their jobs and need the money?
Then they not rich. They’re irresponsible!
I don’t hate people, just don’t see Ecay as essential as it just encourages people to be out for no life risking purposes whatsoever.
In The Green Mile (1999) (movie), there is a character- Percy Wetmore, the little prison guy.
I don’t know why but after reading your comment(s) about Ecay and people who needlessly drive to buy useless crap, I saw Percy’s face behind it.
How are they leaving? Boat?
Nope. Not even boating or any marine activity of any kind is allowed even. Everything is standstill.
6:31Spot on! My mum is concerned about the same thing. People going to each others houses to buy stuff is not essential and is just going to spread the virus further.
Totally agree! I had stuff listed on there for a while and yesterday someone contacted me wanting to buy one of my items. Huh? I told them I’d get in touch when the curfew was lifted to see if they are still interested. Running out to buy something from some unknown person on ecay is not only not essential, it is downright negligent!
And you know this how? How is this different than going to buy groceries? I am not advocating it, but one persons useless item may be an essential for another.
I cant believe some people here on the comments are defending people selling things on Ecay. I’m sorry but selling your second hand items is not an essential! The grocery stores are. You getting a good deal on a second had TV inst. We are supposed to be isolating from anyone who isn’t our immediate family or housemate. People going to each others houses to buy things is frankly idiotic and irresponsible and risks spreading the virus further. Stop bringing up the argument about the supermarkets. Until there is a reliable grocery delivery service we have to go out and get food. Wait till this dies down to sell things on Ecaytrade. We all have to do our part.
Obviously YOU have cash on hand.
Dr Lee, thank you for all that you do for us all!
Respectfully, to whoever is putting forward your releases, please can you standardise the way you present your data, instead of the journalists having to pull it out of you every day?
If, like the Grim Reaper, you were to begin with data in this fashion, every day, it would be very useful, thank you! Take a look at the questions that have been asked for the last five days or so, and you’ll get an idea of what is missing from your communiques.
# of cases previously posted, # of NEW cases = total xx
# of deaths previously, # now – total xx
# of community transmissions previously, # now
# of tests previously and now
# of tests unconfirmed yet, reason
etc. etc.
here is how it is done daily in FL
STATEWIDE NUMBERS
Total number of cases: 7,773 (up from 6,995)
Deaths: 102 (up from 87)
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NUMBERS
Total in SWFL: 433 (up from 400)
Deaths: 14
Lee County: 235 (up from 212)
Collier County: 158 (up from 150)
Charlotte County: 26 (up from 24)
DeSoto County: 7 (no change)
Glades County: 3 (no change)
Hendry County: 4 (no change)
Click HERE for a SWFL case-by-case breakdown – updated daily.
Maybe something like the T&C would be nice – https://www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus/news/64-ministry-of-health-s-covid-19-update-22
Also can we please know when some one has recovered e.g so we know number of active cases on Island.
Can you please ask what is the average period of time between taking a sample and receiving confirmation of results?
Household quarantine is absolutely ridiculous when there are thousands of hotel rooms available for returnee isolation.
5:51 People returning to the island on this BA flight have to stay in a hotel for quarantine. It is a requirement and they wont be able to come back if they refuse to do so. They’ve mentioned this many times in the last 2 days worth of press briefings..
It doesn’t matter what district the positive cases are from… some of those people likely have traveled all over the island in the past few weeks. Every person should just assume that he/she is positive and that all other persons on the island are positive. Hopefully that will cut down on the number of people who need to make essential trips. Wash your hands carefully and often, and stay home!