More community cases of COVID-19 emerge

| 11/04/2020 | 158 Comments
Cayman News Service
CMO Dr John Lee at Saturday’s press briefing

(CNS): Eight more people have tested positive for COVID-19, six of whom do not appear, in the first instance, to be connected to anyone who previously tested positive or to those who have returned from overseas. Chief Medical Offier Dr John Lee said at Saturday’s press briefing that the patients and their household members have been placed in mandatory isolation at their homes and officials are tracing their contacts. The results were a real concern to the premier, who said it demonstrated a growing level of community spread.

The latest results are from a batch of 57 samples taken between Tuesday and Thursday this week. Another 43 are still being processed. From these eight cases, only two people had direct contact with others who have previously proved to be positive.

Cayman has now recorded 53 positive cases from the 536 samples tested.

Dr Lee confirmed that there are now three people in hospital who have tested positive for COVID-19. One of them was admitted to Health City Cayman Islands for unrelated reasons. Meanwhile, Health Services Authority CEO Lizzette Yearwood confirmed that there had been no significant increase of people going the flu clinic or any increase in calls to the flu-coronavirus hotline.

In addition, the HSA is still not seeing a large number of people with suspected symptoms and most of those with the virus are recovering at home.

Nevertheless, Premier Alden McLaughlin said these results were the most worrying that we have had so far and he was anxious to have the results of the contact tracing.

Dr Lee said that some previous test results that seemed to have no travel connection had, in the end, proved to have a direct contact, meaning that Cayman has largely been able to trace most of the 53 positive cases to a person who had travelled overseas and their direct contacts. But the premier said it is reaching the point where anyone could have the virus.

McLaughlin underscored the critical importance of people adhering to the rules. But following reports from the police commissioner of people congregating and drinking on the beach on Good Friday and claiming they were exercising, he said he was “really, really worried” that people were not taking the community spread seriously.

The premier said he was “gravely concerned” about people congregating on Easter Monday and confirmed that the beaches will now be closed that day. After Cabinet has discussed it, this could become a more long-term closure because of the failure of people to understand the risks. He said the situation at the beaches was “courting disaster”.

The premier urged people not to take these risks, as he warned that the curfew will go on for longer and longer with every positive case spreading through the community. Although he said a complete lockdown was impractical, he repeated the message again and again that people must adhere to the curfew rules to save lives and stay at home.

Governor Martyn Roper also urged people to stay at home because everyone knows how dangerous this virus is, as it killed more than 900 people in the UK overnight Friday-Saturday and another 2,000 in the United States.

“The results today are worrying… We are doing the tracing but we don’t know as of now where this has come from in the community,” he said. “We know how dangerous this virus is, so please, please follow the guidance and avoid human contact to the maximum extent so we can protect everybody, particularly the elderly and vulnerable.”


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Category: Health, Medical Health

Comments (158)

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  1. Cayman News says:

    A comment that we have now deleted stated that First Baptist Church had held gatherings since the curfew was imposed. We have been very credibly told that this is absolutely not true and that First Baptist Church has been closed for more than a month with zero activities on the campus of the church.

    It has been suggested that the commenter saw a video of a previous service.

    Nevertheless, CNS apologises to First Baptist Church and all its members.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I think the poster got the name of the church wrong – it was the XXX where the hundreds of people were congregating at 9am Saturday morning.

      CNS: If you see people congregating in church during curfew, all 911. Virginia pastor who defiantly held church service dies of coronavirus

    • Concerned says:

      I submitted the original post. To the First Baptist Church and its community, please accept my deepest apologies, I mistakenly named your church. The activities referred to were taking place at another nearby church, the name of which I will not state. The police did turn up and appeared to have dealt with the issue.

  2. Anonymous says:

    What is the penalty for someone breaking “isolation?” We know now that there are people breaking their isolation curfew. Surely if we know the Police must know…or is that a stretch to think that way?

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    • Anonymous says:

      What is the number of curfew violations? With so many test kits (thank you!)
      Shouldn’t we test the rule-breaker s first since they clearly are the greatest risk.

      Also- we successfully conduct a census within a month every few years, couldn’t we mobilize the police and medical teams to go door to door between 7-9PM (every sleeps until a bed) and swiftly test our entire population (census a bonus)
      Idea grew from a friend…

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  3. Anonymous says:

    For the few that are applying critical analysis to the government’s actions it should be clear that they have no strategy. Staying at home indefinitely is not a strategy. All these lovely headlines about 200,000 testing kits, what is happening with the kits, how many of said kits have been used? how has testing expanded? Even the sheeple will start asking questions deserving of proper answers soon. How is Starbucks and the liquor stores essential business? I repeat wtf is happening with the testing and when does government plan on doing something other than selectively applying their restrictions. Its business as usual for all their lackeys as they all have exemptions.

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    • What is essential business? says:

      Yes . Something is wrong . What is the criteria for essential services/business. One of my toilets water tank valves stopped working. I can’t fix my toilet because the hardware store is not essential but the liquor store is? Something is wrong. Using the toilet is not essential but having a drink (alcohol ) is?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Heavy drinkers will always be a problem, but please don’t take away that bottle of wine for the mom homeschooling 3 kids!! Most people drink responsibly and are sharing family meals.
        Sorry about your toilet- yes Andro can fix that as an essential…..

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      • Anonymous says:

        Same! And we can’t buy pool supplies to sort out our pools.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Try using a bucket of water.

        Unless your outflow valve is “blocked up” (less than 0.01 probability) you should be fine.

    • Anonymous says:

      Starbucks is open?

  4. Anonymous says:

    Can we be told if these individuals visited any shops? Or any public place?

    Are those that work at the shops getting tested?

    Can we get an answer why zero contact business cant continue? We need our pool for exercise and no one can give a response why this is putting anyone at risk other than a car would be on the road. Still don’t see the issue. We have children and we can’t take them to the beach so what must we do?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Problem is they don’t have an issue with someone delivering coffee but apparently they have an issue with a lonely pool maintenance person who has zero contact. And it’s not like we can even get our own chemicals to do it ourselves.

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      • Anonymous says:

        That’s right anon 1246. What they don’t seem to realize, or care to realize, is that they can only do this with the public’s consent. The kind of idiocy you point out about the pool cleaners and coffee services/bottle shops etc just erodes that consent to the point this isn’t going to work for them for much longer.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Coffee is included in the food group. Food delivery is exempted. Perhaps enough of you need to approach your pool supplies guy to approach the Govt for permission to do home deliveries. Then clean your own pool or at least throw some chlorine in it.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I don’t understand why you think “consent” comes into it. The government makes laws. You follow them or get arrested. This can and indeed will go on for long time. If you want to practice civil disobedience and withdraw your “consent” by all means go whead. Enjoy your $3,000 fine and/or a couple months in the clink.

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    • S.C. says:

      I think we all deserve some clarification as to why the methodology being applied to students, etc returning by airplane (as potential carriers of the virus) is different than that being applied to residents who have become symptomatic (and have tested absolutely positive to having the virus). The former are being put into a mandatory quarantine for two weeks, even after testing negative. A bit drastic to keep them in quarantine even if asymptomatic and giving a negative test, but ok, a necessary measure to protect the rest of the population. On the other hand, people who are symptomatic and have tested positive to the virus are being allowed to return home to their families/communities and allowed to “self-isolate”. The rest of the family members (all or most of whom are also surely infected whether presenting symptoms or not) are also advised they should self-quarantine themselves in their own households for two weeks or until all are asymptomatic. We are told that these households are being monitored for compliance but to what degree? We all know it’s human nature to buck the rules, just look at the situation with the beaches. How can you say for sure that the infected individual, or the rest of the family members or housemates are complying with the self-imposed lockdown and not sneaking over to a friends house for a quick beer or chat. Or that one of the individuals in that household who maybe asymptomatic (but still infectious) isn’t sneaking over to Fosters or Kirks for some much needed supplies and shedding virus on everything they touch?? We don’t. Why weren’t these positive cases (and any members of their household) tested and put into immediate mandatory quarantine in one of the hotels along with the the returning visitors (who weren’t nearly as much risk to the public). They should have been isolated from the rest of the community as soon as identified, and then the process of tracing and testing all contacts should have begun. This is what they have been doing and continue to do in Iceland where containment of the viral outbreak is well in hand. The people there understand and go willingly, and they are treated well. Ours will too.
      And one last remark on the process of testing. I wonder whose decision it was to give up 100,000 of those hard-to-procure test kits?? If this infectious disease spirals out of control because of the poor decision making of our leadership, the 100,000 test kits we have left may end up to be woefully inadequate as blanket testing (and retesting) May become necessary. This is a very possible outcome. Be safe Cayman.

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  5. ARE YOU FOR REAL JON JON??? says:

    I just watched Jon Jon’s emotional display at yesterday’s press briefing, and I am completely outraged! Jon Jon and I went to high school together. We grew up in the same Bodden Town community, so we share a bit of the same upbringing, having been raised by the same “village”. The community that raised ME taught me to suck it up, put your big boy pants on, and deal with the task at hand. Period. Work the problem until you fix the problem. Period. Don’t winge. Don’t complain. Don’t point fingers. Don’t make excuses. Work the problem. Move on. That’s it. I am flabbergasted at Jon being moved to tears over a comment left by someone on CNS! Seriously Jon? I mean, bro…YOU are the Minister of Health! People are looking to YOU for guidance and comfort. And you are losing your shit over a CNS comment???

    Since you are clearly easily moved by comments on CNS, please be moved by this one; pull up your socks, man the $&@! up, and get on with the task of leading your nation. We don’t have time for your weak spirit. FFS.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I think the stress of this whole situation is overwhelming for all. I lash out on this forum as a way to vent my anger and disappointment of policies I have no control over. He seems to be genuinely concerned with the situation, I don’t agree that he doesn’t give some comfort to people, not to me, but that’s okay. I think some of these leaders figured out pretty quickly they are in over their depth.
      But I do applaud the Premier for all he as done for Cayman!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Have you never been in a stressful situation and something small just tipped your stress level and you cried?

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        • Anonymous says:

          I feel bad that hs feelings were hurt, but….he adds nothing to this discussion.

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        • Anonymous says:

          When they pay you the big $$$ as a Cabinet Minister you are expected to perform. If you cannot handle the job step down and give up that big salary.

          So many MLA’s being paid big bucks who simply are not performing.

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          • Anonymous says:

            I hope he thinks twice before making jokes in the LA at other people’s expense….not so funny when the shoe is on the other foot..

        • Anonymous says:

          I’m sure gay Caymanians this time last year felt the same during gaypril. Hmmm… see how it works? Two way street.

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        • Anonymous says:

          No actually. Never at work during a meeting in front of staff.

    • Anonymous says:

      Well said 8:54, just proves what everyone is saying and thinking he is not fit for the job. Period!!!!!

  6. Anonymous says:

    It sucks that unlike Israel and Sweden, Cayman took these draconian and unproven approaches based on nothing more than media driven fear and lack of leadership. All it is doing is delaying the inventible peak that was to come regardless. Interestingly enough the only ones immune against the next wave of the virus (which will come) are those who’ve been exposed to it this time around. A vaccine won’t solve this problem, just like it hasn’t solved the flu problem we have every year worldwide in which half a million people die from it in developed countries.

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    • Anonymous says:

      This makes no sense. You have no basis for claiming having had CV19 provides any lasting immunity. If we are lucky it will but other coronaviruses do not.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Here is a recommendation you can take to the Premier: why don’t you and MMcLaughlin and everyone else who proposed that everything return to normal ASAP volunteer to be exposed to the Coruna virus? By having a large group of people who have been infected and recovered completely, your blood can be used as a source of antibodies to protect the rest of us.

      Are you willing to make this small sacrifice for your country? I bet Dart would be willing to put you all up at the Kimpton for the duration.

      Calling all volunteers, please put your name down to be infected for the good of the country.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You may be surprised how many “volunteers” would go back to work if the restrictions were lifted. How about we play the opposite game and you volunteer to stay home if you are worried. I’m guessing the later would be the minority.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Of course you would, as long as the odds are in your favour. Maybe you would even “volunteer” a couple of cousins and your wife’s brother to be infected, but not you.

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          • Anonymous says:

            With stupid answers like this void of any critical thinking whatsoever it’s no wonder we continue on an illogical path.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Anonymous at 3:23 am: you must have been asleep when you wrote this.

      Today’s World Meter statistic shows the number of deaths per million population to be 89.

      Higher than Canada (18 per million), China (2), Germany (35), even USA (65).

      As a result, Sweden has taken an about-face since early March when the results of not taking early action began to gather critical mass.

      You only have to visit Wikipedia to be informed on the on the latest status of the Swedish Government response:

      Swedish Public Health Recommendations and govt response:

      -on 16 March, people over 70 were told to limit close contact with other people.

      -17 March, secondary school and universities told to opt for online learning. Schools followed suit all over Sweden.

      – 11March: govt passed a law, limiting freedom of assembly by banning all gatherings larger than 500, with threat of fine and imprisonment.

      – 24 March: new restrictions on bars and restaurants, such as spacing between tables. Venues that do not adhere could be shut down.

      – 7 April, advises against all non-essential travel abroad into 15 June; approx 40,000 and 60,000 Swedes were stranded abroad as at late March.

      -same for health care as elsewhere globally: shortage of PPE, medics, and treatment facilities. The Stockholm International Fairs are being converted into field hospitals.

      Swedish National exams are being cancelled, so is the traditional May Day demonstrations; the biggest and most important forum in Sweden; athletic events, etc., etc.

      Check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020-Coronavirus-pandemic-in-Sweden.

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    • Anonymous says:

      DUDE, keep in mind the deaths have only been for a few months, not a full year yet!

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    • Anonymous says:

      As of today in Sweden, nearly 1,000 deaths from the virus and half of those are people over 65 years old. However, on a per capita basis per 100,000 of population Sweden is #2 in Europe. In 3 weeks we will know for certain if their strategy is correct.

      If I was a betting man, I would put money on the strategy being wrong which will prove disastrous for the Swedish hospitals.

  7. Anonymous says:

    we are now #5 in north america ‘league’ table on a cases/per captia basis….please keep us updated alden!
    forget your world stats report….it means nothing to nobody.
    btw forbes are drafting their next cayman update…..(p.s….won’t be as good as the first.)

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    • Anonymous says:

      Have you considered that the reason we have more cases than other countries is that we have the capacity to detect them? If you don’t look you don’t find.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Have you considered that just because we have the capacity to test doesn’t mean people feel ill. It is mostly cases are rising due to patient confidentiality and those patients, among others, doing as they please while others stay home. It’s a small community, it should have been policed much, much, better than it has been. All talk, not action.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Alden, you will have to take another hard stance and let these people know that they and their immediate family must go into quarantine facilities at the hotels.

    If you don’t take this tough stance now, you will regret it and everything you have done up until now will be a waste of time.

    Stopping people from going to the beach will help to some degree but they will continue to find other ways to get out and get around..

    DO IT NOW PLEASE!!!!!!

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Dr. Lee.

    1.Please give us an idea as to which front line people re going to be tested and when we are going to start using all of these test kits we just bought? I thought you said you could test 500 a day. Why are we only still testing a minuscule amount each day?

    2. What is happening with CTMH doing testing? Do they have any testing kits or will CIG have to share with them? How many will they be able to test a day? Apparently their machine is better than the one at the HSA. Is that correct?

    3.We are now the Overseas Territory with the most positive cases. We have seemed to have lost the ability to trace these new cases. Would it not be better now to implement some procedure to ensure these do not come in contact with another 8. It is quite obvious that asking someone to politely self isolate does not work.

    4.How many of the positive cases have fully recovered and have they been retested?

    5. We are giving away many of these test kits to other countries. Even though we have an abundance of these, don’t we have to do 3 checks for someone that comes up positive the first time? Are we ensuring that we are keeping enough just in case this thing blows up on us.

    Mr. Premier and Governor,

    1.When is the Legislative Assembly going to meet to decide on Pensions? We have been promised this for about two weeks now with only an excuse each time we ask? Are we waiting until crime breaks out before we start giving them the financial help they need?

    2.Why are we not contacting the countries that have their nationals here to send aircraft to pick them up. Many of these countries are already doing this. Pierre Trudeau and Trump asked their people to come home and in many cases sent airplanes around the world to pick up their people. Why are we wasting time trying to figure out who wants to go home rather than having those countries send an airplane to pick up their citizens. Cayman Airways at our Country’s expense should not be the only vehicle used.

    3.Fuel prices are still extremely high despite world prices being rock bottom. In essence, what is happening here with the gas companies is price gouging and the government needs to alert the gas companies that they are subject to that law and enforce it. When this happens, CUC needs to lower the cost to align with the reduction in fuel cost. Reducing these prices will bring the cost of everything down to where we can afford them.

    4.Why are the rules of the curfew not being enforced by the Police? We have only heard of one arrest. It seems that the tickets, which by the way are too low to be a deterrent, are still at the printers. Could we not just use the regular traffic tickets that we have now to get this going? Have there been any re-offenders and if so are they being locked up or just warned again for prosecution?

    5.Has anyone been arrested for breaking isolation? Cayman is small and there is knowledge of people in an isolation household seen grocery shopping. These people don’t understand that an a-symptomatic person can transfer the virus just the same as the other person in their household that has tested positive can. What is the penalty if these people are caught? Obviously, we can’t lock them up as they will spread it to other prisoners. Wouldn’t it make more sense to ask these people and their immediate family to go into quarantine at one of the hotels that way we isolate them from the public until they are better and re-tested? We should do this now as the cases are on a smaller scale. Waiting until we have a hundred or more will be costly and will only allow more cases to happen while we wait. There is no difference, in my opinion, of asking students or people that just came back from the UK to stay in a hotel for 2 weeks. It is for their own good.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yes. We need to see isolation-breakers be prosecuted just like curfew breakers! Throw the book at a few and see the rest toe the line.

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    • Anonymous says:

      We should not be giving away so many of our test kits..If this thing continues to go the way it is going we are going to need them and I sure as hell don’t see anybody giving them to us for free..

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  10. Anonymous says:

    As individuals we could stop this virus cold. Most of us. As a large group we can’t. We can’t all trust everyone to be socially moral. Never could and never will. Like it or not we have to deal with the few to survive. We got this. They are going to make it harder but we will still come out on top some day.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Good morning, Cayman: while I am totally in favour of the lockdown, everything has consequences. For me, it has two specific health consequences:

      1. I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea before the lockdown. Since then, no CPAP Machine;
      2. My consultation with the surgeon in advance of a colonoscopy was cancelled. Those symptoms continue.

      How many people like me are out there and what might the full extent of those consequences be? And not to mention the obvious financial co sequences.

      Stay home Cayman and keep everyone safe—including yourself and your family.

      The more we cooperate, the sooner government can start the return to a more normal way of life.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Most people believe in there hearts, ” Covid might kill you but it won’t kill me”. So I am willing to take the chance that you will die.

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  11. Anonymous says:

    We are all.familiar of how Cayman likes to talk too much. Not very Caymankind at all. So, for those that are tested positive, why not ankle bracelet them. No one will see, they can’t be descriminated against as they ate meant to be home anyway. I would gladly do it if I was a threat. No foul. Quite simple.

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    • Anonymous says:

      7:59 pm: if students coming home were put in isolation (and I do agree with that), it does not make sense that newly identified cases are not separated from rest of family and placed in government controlled isolation.

      Dr Lee seems to feel that this will inhibit reporting. Personally, I don’t believe that. It is not as if we are living in communist China, and our government is bending over backward to show itself generous in protecting, safeguarding and satisfying so many sectors of the community.

      Perhaps govt should repurpose a suitable accommodation as a sort of convalescent centre where people could be well taken care of and with adequate Internet for communication with family.

      But something has to be done. The current model is not working.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Tagging is a great idea, but I feel like the main weakness is other family members/friends of positive cases sharing households but perhaps not truly isolating. We can’t tag them all but if we have capacity we could isolate them.

    • Anonymous says:

      The First Baptist Church was not only irresponsible in organizing a gathering of people at a time like this but they were also flouting the law.

      And in the process they were directly disobeying biblical instruction, as the Bible directs followers to obey the government:

      Romans 13:1-2 says: “Obey the government, for God is the One who has put it there…. So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God….”

      CNS: Subsequent comments have made it clear that First Baptist Church did not gather and that people were watching a video of a previous service. Apologies to the church and its members. It was a mistake to post the comment.

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      • Anonymous says:

        This was an absolute disgrace .
        The church elders and organizers should be prosecuted. But they won’t be of course seeing as who they are…
        Begs the question as to why the police – who seem to have cars driving around everywhere aimlessly- didn’t see and stop this gathering.

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        • anon says:

          4;51pm, what gathering are you talking about? If you were also watching that concert, that took place 3 years ago. That is a video you were watching, but it is good you were watching. At least you were exposed to the gospel.

      • who cares? I do! says:

        What in heaven’s name are you talking about, 10pm? The church has not met since the govt said we should not. If you are watching the video of the choir, that concert happened years ago. check your facts before you make incorrect statements. And CNS ought to know better than publishing lies and insinuations.

      • who cares? Ido! says:

        10:00pm,that was a video you were watching. That concert took place years ago, but thank God you were watching. the gospel exposure was good for you.

  12. Anonymous says:

    I thought all the beach was the ‘Queen’s Bottom’. Not being rude at all, this is infact the term used. No one owns the beach fm that level of the Q’s B. I think our Premier has to address this. There is a footage. Not a whole spance!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Splitting hairs. Just stay home. That’s the core of the Premier’s message. Stop fretting about square feet between Crown land and property owners. If you’re lucky enough to own beachfront, you can be on it if you don’t congregate more than two people. Don’t try to work some way around this, or game the system.

      Choose to not be a cog in the spread of the virus.

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    • Anonymous says:

      “Queen’s bottom” refers to land under the sea…Ie the Seabed, not beach land.

      • Anonymous says:

        No- it extends to beach land – the difference between the edge of the sea and the seaward boundary of land parcel…

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  13. Anon says:

    8 positive out of 57 and another 43 to be tested, which will likely give us 14 this weekend and a total of 59. Jamaica with a population of 3 million has 63 confirmed cases.
    With 6 of the 8 community related and more to come by Monday how are we to cope with tracing all the contacts and self isolating 8+ more positives when it seems we are unable to monitor the movements of the existing clusters. The situation is rapidly worsening and in addition to the curfews and social distancing we need to be a lot more proactive in policing the existing confirmed cases.

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    • Anonymous says:

      comparing stats from country to country is a waste of time….nobody is following the same testing guidelines.
      judge this situation on the number of deaths or seriously ill people you have.

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    • Anonymous says:

      If Jamaica tested the percentage of their population that we have tested more than likely it would be a lot more.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Ban drinking alcohol in public places during the soft curfew this will stop people drinking on the beach. Parents dropping kids to beach or allowing them to meet their friends and mix houses needs to stop too, they are so stupid they even post it on Snapchat as if it’s cool! Walking on the beach in the same household is fine keeping your distance from everyone else, walking and drinking is hardly exercise so should be banned during these times. If you all start adhering to the rules we can all start to go back to some form of normal.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    Sun exposure and breathing sea air must be mandatory, not banned, unless one intentionally wants to weaken immune system of the entire population.
    Mental state of people in lockdowns seem to be completely disregarded.
    Nobody seem to be thinking that children are experiencing emotional traumas that would affect their physical and mental health for the rest of their lives.
    No measures is offered to mitigate negative consequences of lockdowns and fear. Walks in nature, on the beach are essential at this time to maintain sanity and health. In lockdowns children spent their time in front of blue screens and deprived of physical activities. That could have disastrous consequences on their psyche and brains development.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Go outside your house or take a walk. You can get the same sun and since we live on a small island, you’re always breathing sea air if you’re outside. And if you’re going stir crazy, read a book or take an online course or something. There are still ways to be productive without leaving your home. Stop whining and suck it up buttercup!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, but that would mean that we would have to believe proven science.
      These globalist maniacs won’t stop until they’ve got us all sleeping in separate beds and lining up for their Bill Gates approved vaccine.
      Am I right Dr. Lee?

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    • Anonymous says:

      I agree with you, but please take your kids outside for 20 min every few hours and btw, you’re the parent so don’t let them be in front of screen for that long. I Kno easier said than done, but you are the parent.

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    • TDS is real! says:

      It will be a disaster of epic proportions. The CI government is unwittingly following the blueprint for depopulation.

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    • Anonymous says:

      yes, well, guess what. Adults are definitely experiencing emotional traumas – Children are resilient and will bounce back. Adults – nots so much. My business has gone down the can. Kids spent time in front of their blue screens whatever….

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    • Anonymous says:

      Some of us have a small yard and the pool is most of the yard. My kids can’t go to the beach to play and get sunlight so let a no contact pool maintenance worker come and treat! We confine them to the house because we do not want to risk them catching and infecting us or anyone else. Why are we being punished? People get more contact at the petrol pump then a pool guy in my backyard who doesn’t even have contact with us!

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      • Anonymous says:

        AGAIN! Think about the poor fella that has to go to work and congregate with other co-workers therefore risking his health so you can take a dip in a pool that you should know how to take care of yourself.
        Your Frick’n kids will survive. If you don’t like to be with your kids or if they’re a pain in the arse take a look in the mirror you gotta whole lotta other issues!

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        • john says:

          Great idea to take care of pool oneself. But the stores that sell the chemicals are CLOSED!
          Ask the pool maintenance workers how much safer they feel with no paycheck.

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        • Anonymous says:

          WHY ARE THEY CONGREGATING? That’s their problem. My guy works alone.

          Maybe because the few who can’t seem to understand social distancing KEEP ruining it for all.

        • Anonymous says:

          You assume I don’t like my kids. What a twat.

  16. Anonymous says:

    Who came back from March 18 to 21? Why was no one quarantined from those flights? The future safety of this jurisdiction was sacrificed. I for one would like to know why. Was it just stupidity? Was it poor public policy? Or, was it something else.

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    • Anonymous says:

      It was just humans acting like humans. Every nation. Every group has the ones who are not part of the whole. Can’t change it. Must live with it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      and who let the banned italian cruise ship dock here.
      yep…we have a problem of cig’s making….

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      • Anonymous says:

        The Minister from the most impacted industry in all of this who does not show up at any of the briefings, probably too scared.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Maritime law , Samaritan requirement to save the life of heart patient.

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      • Anonymous says:

        That was a cock-up for sure. They knew he was Italian ( a country with one of the highest infection rates) and that he had arrived for the cruise only 5 days before. What were CBC and public health thinking letting him in or even not testing him beforehand ??
        But in truth things have moved on since then- fault being with infected persons and returning persons (and their families) not self isolating or staying in quarantine. Public health have not been monitoring them properly.

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    • Anonymous says:

      As someone who has a medical background and studied public health the virus was already here well before the 18th of March. As someone who flew in due impending airport closures I took the utmost precaution during the flight. 4 days later got sick and reported it to the flu hotline and was told that they wouldn’t test me because although they thought I did have COVId-19 they didn’t have enough tests and would only then contact and trace people on the flight or airport workers once a positive test was confirmed. It was a no win situation! Knowing how this virus as all viruses spread this was unbelievably concerning. Although I adhered to the strictest isolation standards for 14 days at home post flight I know for a fact that others did not and other people I had come in contact with were never contacted.

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  17. Anonymous says:

    May be it is time to understand that virus could be spread by many ways, not necessarily only
    by those who are positive and out and about. Many simply don’t know they’re carriers.

    Iceland has randomly tested healthy individuals to find many were positive. Maybe that is what needs to be done here to see the bigger picture and readjust the strategy accordingly.

    COVID-19 would not magically disappear after lockdowns. We have to figure out how to continue our lives with the virus being around.

    Another thing to keep in mind that symptoms could differ significantly from what is considered typical for COVID19. Read this young woman’ story. She was repeatedly told she doesn’t have the virus. https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Juneau-resident-grateful-to-be-alive-after-recovering-from-COVID-19-569563071.html

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    • M McLaughlin says:

      Herd Immunity is the only solution to defeat any virus, the CI government health officials must be aware of this?

      CNS, can you bring this point up at the next briefing and ask if Dr. LEE has any formal training in epidemiology, Im not questioning his credentials, just concerned with his background in pain medicine, he may not be best placed on advising on matters of epidemiology?

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      • BeaumontZodecloun says:

        Herd Immunity only works if the virus provokes an immune response in the infected human body. There is a fair amount of evidence to suggest that Covid-19 does not provoke that response, and thus it can either remain dormant, or people can get reinfected, neither of which is a good choice. Just yesterday, 91 “recovered” South Koreans tested positive after being tested negative.

        http://www.msn.com/en-xl/asia/asia-top-stories/recovered-coronavirus-patients-test-positive-again-in-blow-to-immunity-hopes/ar-BB12sslV?ocid=spartandhp

        It just isn’t known at this time; CV might be a shifting antigen like the common cold. A vaccine may not be possible or it may take years. Yes, I understand that human trials are going on as we speak. We’ll see. This is a NEW virus. It will require a novel solution.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Big Beau, a good job of checkmating Big Mac. 👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾

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          • Anonymous says:

            So Mac has not gone for good,? He may reappear, ?

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          • Anonymous says:

            I’d hardly call that a checkmate considering the only option then becomes isolation in perpetuity. If anything Big Beau strenghthens Big Mac’s argument.

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        • M McLaughlin says:

          Please go back and read the article that you linked in the comments. I read that an expert said they may have “relapsed” and not “reinfected”, and that they have to test negative 2 times in 24 hours, to be virus free, the article doesn’t offer much insight if either occured, go back and try to understand what the article is actually saying.

          Anyway getting to some good news for a change, if TRUE, a phlebotomist working at Roseland Community Hospital, a public Hospital in Chicago said Thursday that 30% to 50% of patients tested so far for the coronavirus already have ANTIBODIES while only around 10% to 20% of those tested have the active virus.

          They are testing between 400 and 600 patients on an average day, its a small sample, keep your fingers crossed!

          One last thing, you may recall the governor of California said just three weeks ago, they were expecting 26million infections, its all over the net? Here is California numbers as of yesterday:

          40 million population
          21,700 Cases
          670 deaths

          What are chances that a high percentage Californians may have already unknowingly acquired immunity to the virus, being that California has a warmer climate than Illinois and had a higher number of travelers from China months leading up to the admission by China or were these numbers over sensationalize by the governor?

          To be continued, the Science doesn’t lie!

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          • Anonymous says:

            What did the Governor of California do before everybody else in America? He imposed social distancing before everyone else in other states and the majority of Californians complied. That is why you are now seeing better results.

            Remember the Science does not lie. Pay attention to Dr. Fauci. He speaks truth to power (Trump) and Trump sycophants have big problems with that. Trump apparently spent Easter contacting his real estate and casino friends getting their views on whether he should fire Dr. Fauci and replace him with celebrity Doctor, Dr. Oz.

            We are in a nightmare that is not going to end soon.

            • M McLaughlin says:

              Dr Fauci the Vaccine man? I suggest you do some deep research on the fellow, before running off at the mouth.

              • Anonymous says:

                I used to work with Dr, Fauci in Washington. The man is brilliant. I don’t have to do any research.

            • Anonymous says:

              New York and California locked down 2 days apart. The math doesn’t add up. In both states, people were encouraged to attend certain festivals. I’m inclined to believe we don’t know much or Mclaughlin is on to something.

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              • M McLaughlin says:

                The high numbers in NYC, probably was due the Subway and public transportation not shutting down. Logical right?

                • Anonymous says:

                  I don’t know. LA has public rail, so does Japan and they are still using it without a lockdown. The point is, California’s result cannot be reasonably explained because they locked down 2 days ahead of New York.

                  • M McLaughlin says:

                    True, but the Japanese predominantly wore face masks pre-caronavirus. Update on California, the governor had to admit today that the modelers screwed up the models by 25 million infections. I’m still convinced alot of Californians already caught the virus.

      • Anonymous says:

        Herd immunity is only an answer if you don’t mind losing 20% of our seniors. That’s a pretty big price to pay. I believe Government has got it right but shame on those who are abusing the rules.

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        • M McLaughlin says:

          Lose 20% of Seniors, where did you pull that one from? You don’t have information that supports we would lose 20% of seniors, come on your winging it now and making it up.

          All I’m saying is the more healthy people that are naturally immuned to virus, the better. If 80% of the population hypothetical has acquired a herd immunity, this doesn’t mean 20% of Seniors will die.

          The Herd Immunity in simple terms only means there would be less chance of elderly persons contracting the virus if more people are immune going forward, just natures way of lowering the risks for Seniors, alternatively you can enjoy your quarantine until a vaccine comes.👍

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          • Anonymous says:

            Well when the food supply from America no longer comes in the quarantine will no longer be enjoyable. Meat processing plants are beginning to shut down throughout America as immigrant undocumented workers are too sick to work.

            Better start enjoying your turtle stew soon. The Turtle Farm us going to be busy. Hope the workers there are prepared to work real hard. Our survival may be at stake.

      • Anonymous says:

        Quoting Boris and his herd immunity line Big Mac? Too bad he didn’t listen to the dozens of doctors and epidemiologists who gave him advice in January and February. Obviously Boris should not have been advising on herd immunity. Certainly not best placed to be advising the British public on matters of herd immunity. Funny, just like you.

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        • Anonymous says:

          In the fullness of time, we’ll likely find out that ol’ Boris was right especially if you think past next week/month. There’s a logical black hole in the current strategy.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Yeah, just like Trump said in January that “the flu” will be gone in April with the warm weather. “we have it under control”. Boris and Trump have not be right so far with anything they have predicted so far with the coronavirus, so I have no faith in them. If you were logical and rational you would not have faith either.

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        • M McLaughlin says:

          Your alternative to be locked away for 18 months isnt feasible either. I’ll take nature over a vaccine any day of the week.

          Fyi no vaccine manufacturer shall be liable in a civil action for damages arising from a vaccine-related injury or death associated with the administration of a vaccine, so enjoy your vaccine when it comes.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Please Big Mac, go down to the hospital ASAP, find a person with the virus and say you want to give the person a big hug. You will then get the virus and herd immunity if you survive. I will thank you for your good deed.

        Take one for the people of the Cayman Islands.

        • M McLaughlin says:

          It funny that you would make that comment and I’m by the Healthcity Hospital here in East End right now 5:00pm, April 13th on the APHERESIS machine donating blood platelets that my save a life shortly, got an emergency request. You see unlike you I havent and refuse to buy into the hysteria and live my life in fear. Smh

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  18. Concerned says:

    I posted this in an older article so posting here so this hopefully gets answered..

    Can someone explain (or can the Govt be asked at the press conference) why First Baptist Church was allowing hundreds of people to congregate on Saturday morning.. people were queuing 2ft apart, speaking in groups, and elbow bumping (not been acceptable for weeks). What is the point of putting all this effort in if a group of people are going to ignore the restrictions and ruin it for the rest of us…

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  19. Anonymous says:

    this is ridiculous….so on monday you can go to any liquor store(as many times as you like)….. but you can’t walk with your child on the beach????
    welcome to a deeply dark and twisted wonderland….

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    • Anonymous says:

      No, in fact we have been asked to go to the stores once per day. Just stay home and in a few short weeks, you and your child can do whatever you want.

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      • Anonymous says:

        sorry…not accepting the ‘few short weeks’ nonsense any more…..

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        • Anonymous says:

          Waiting for the vaccine which cannot come soon enough. Next year we will get the vaccine. Just hang in there and bunker down. That’s all we can do.

      • Anonymous says:

        What people don’t seem to realize is this could go on for years until there is a cure.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I have a familial relationship with a CDC higher up. I was told a year is unlikely, and that I should expect two.

    • Anonymous says:

      Blame the cretins who spoiled it for the rest of us.

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    • Anonymous says:

      5:54 pm: invalid analogy—comparing two distinctly different things.

      But in any case, you can thank your fellow abusers if this privilege (walking on the beach) is withdrawn by govt.

      When some people seem incapable of exercising proper discretion, then government has to step in for the greater good.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    the beach closure is an outrage and will not be accepted.
    again alden is too happy to punish everybody for the actions of the few.
    free tip…get the police to their job and enforce the social distancing policies instead of taking away the beach for children and their parents.
    nobody should be drinking on the beach or sunabthing or congregating in groups of more than 2.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Or having people over for dominos on Ithmar Circle.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I don’t like it one bit but if these morons can’t behave what choice do govt really have? Infections can get out of hand really quickly. If we want to be a tourist destination again or be allowed to travel off island any time in the next few years we can’t afford to become a CV hotspot!

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    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      This is a hardship on all of us. It doesn’t matter as much how we got here, as what our collective response will be. IF — BIG if — we are able to contain this thing, we can relax the constraints upon us all. I am willing to take steps that I consider excessive in order to ensure that I’m not part of the transfer of virus.

      I bet you are willing to also, at least for a while. That’s what we’re talking about. I’m willing to go through a hell of a lot of impositions if it saves lives.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    if anybody thinks the local or jamaican communities here are practising social isolation…you are living cloud cuckoo land.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yep. Drove through bodden town last week and despite the efforts of the heavy police presence you’d think it was a regular Saturday.

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    • Anonymous says:

      correct! The large families here are having ‘small’ family gatherings for Easter of 30+

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  22. Anonymous says:

    where were the police today at royal palms

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  23. Anonymous says:

    Please be considerate people. The people “courting disaster” on the beaches is getting in the way of the governments determination to create financial disaster.

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  24. Anonymous says:

    People who are drinking on the beach are clearly violating the terms of the 90-minute exercise allowance.

    The police should have breathalyzers and issue warnings for prosecution to anyone over the limit. After all, if they are using the time to drink on the beach they are clearly not in compliance with the exercise limits.

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  25. Anonymous says:

    Ah duh Cabinet close the beaches period, end of story. And the police commissioner needs to quit threatening the public with tickets, as day after day people are being warned, so it would seems that his word has no backbone to it.

    CNS: ‘Warned for prosecution’ means that they will be prosecuted, not that they have been warned that they might be prosecuted.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Thumbs up to CNS.

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    • Anonymous says:

      It certainly isn’t clear is it to say warned when in fact they will be ticketed. We are not in the 18th century, say what it actually means!

      CNS: I agree, the language should be updated.

    • Anonymous says:

      Actually warned for prosecution means that the police will definitely pass a file to the DPP, who MAY decide to prosecute after applying the evidential and public interest tests to the case (which in layman’s terms are ‘can we win in court?’ and ‘even if we can win in court, should we do this?’ and there is a list probably 30-40+ long of factors going into that assessment). “Warned for prosecution” is the same thing as “arrested on suspicion of”, just without the arrest. The police have no authority to decide who is prosecuted. There may be a policy between RCIPS and DPP that all curfew breakers where the evidence is clear will in fact be prosecuted but that does not mean the police can tell you for sure what is going to happen after they submit their file. All they can do is promise you the DPP will get a file.

  26. Anonymous says:

    I am wondering if the problem is that the asymptomatic members of identified Covid-19 positive cases may be going out into the community and spreading it.

    Is it time for govt to be taking a firmer line with households with positive cases?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Idiots like you make the situation worse. Get some exercise and go out in the sun for God’s sake.

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      • BeaumontZodecloun says:

        They had a very valid point, and you call them an idiot. What’s the matter? You feeling a little inconvenienced?

        Can you imagine the lockdown that might occur if we allow things thing to spread? It’s a well -documented fact that some asymptomatic infected can spread the virus. Rigorous testing is needed and right now.

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      • Anonymous says:

        no no no – there’s a 5 – 20 window when you’ve no idea – stop focusing on the households with cases; JUST DO YOUR BIT AND stay the away from people

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  27. Anonymous says:

    We have too many covidiots wondering around now ruining it for the rest of us following the stay at home guidelines. For goodness sake, this isn’t hard!

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  28. Anonymous says:

    This is really getting discouraging. I am no expert but I dont understand why when someone tests positive they are not put in isolation. Whats good for the students should be good for all. It is getting obvious that this strategy may be slowing down the spread but it will not eliminate the virus. Most people will accept what we are going thru now for a time if they think it is working but I am afraid the time is soon approaching when people are going to rebel. Why expose whole families to the virus and expand the circle? I expect you will soon hear about more people on the Brac having it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Why aren’t they made to wear ankle bracelets so they can be tracked?

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      • Anonymous says:

        5:59 pm: that might be the whole household. Which would be fine with me. I think that is a great idea. As Dr Lee said in some households there are up to 11 people. I doubt very much all 10 are staying home all the time. That is quite likely where the problem is.

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    • Anonymous says:

      MOVE ALONG FROM THIS – please please please – there are 5 -20 days when a person has no idea about their covid-19 status. Please just forget about these isolation cases – it’s too late; it’s out there – STAY HOME

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