Premier opposes forced quarantine
(CNS): Government will not be forcing people in the community who test positive for COVID-19 to go into mandatory quarantine because it runs the risk of making things worse as well as dehumanizing people. While the public is fixated on quarantining all positive patients, Premier Alden McLaughlin made it clear at Tuesday’s press briefing that taking such a radical approach discourages people from getting tested when they are sick, making community spread of the virus more, and not less, likely.
McLaughlin said people who test positive must go into full self-isolation under the Public Health Law, adding that the public health team is continuing surveillance of those people who are positive and is able to respond if there is a beach. It is only if people did not comply that they would be placed in a government-run facility.
There are exceptions for those returning to Cayman on past and future airlifts because that has been one of the conditions of being allowed back since the airports closed. But the circumstances of those individuals are very different from those that are already here.
The premier said government must be reasonable towards people who may be sick, adding that a person who has the disease is still human. And he warned that implementing drastic measures, such as a mandated government lockdown, could make things far worse.
McLaughlin asked people to think logically and imagine knowing that if they were to test positive for a disease, they would end up in government enforced lockdown for two weeks. He asked how willing they would be to volunteer to take that test unless they were very ill.
“We have got to be very careful when we insist on such drastic measures that we don’t actually make the situation worse, where we have people who are symptomatic, who are not feeling well but who are afraid to go and get a test because they believe they will essentially be locked down,” the premier warned. “The government is not adopting that approach on the basis of the advice we have.”
Pointing to the existing mandatory self-isolation, he confirmed that was how government would continue to approach those who are positive, as he warned of the problems more radical measures could cause.
Governor Martyn Roper supported the premier’s position and spoke about balancing the risk.
“I think we are getting the balance absolutely right and the numbers of cases where we have had concerns seem to be incredibly… low,” he said, adding that we should also think about those people who are suffering from COVID-19 because for some people it is serious. He said it was “not a nice thing to have” and people should not be stigmatized.
On Monday, one person living in an apartment complex in George Town was taken into government quarantine after she appeared to have breached the self-isolation requirement.
Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee, who has previously made the argument that it is essential that we do not drive people who may be positive underground if we are to curb the spread of the virus, said that in general those in self-isolation are staying in isolation. He confirmed that there had been some misunderstandings over the rules with one other family where members had tested positive but they were now all in full compliance.
He explained that people have mixed up the requirements of self-isolation with the curfew rules, but once the message is understood people have complied.
Since Monday around 40 people have now been tested in the apartment block in Central George Town where the suspected breach occurred. Those tests results are expected in the next few days.
There were no test results on Tuesday. Despite the need for Cayman to begin ramping up testing, the laboratory team appears to be very small. The CMO said the technicians had been given a break today from the lab work, the testing and the prep work for the new test kits.
Dr Lee explained that Cayman’s position in relation to the stages of spread, as defined by the PAHO, was “the cluster phase”, and the goal was to prevent the country from moving into the fourth stage of sustained community transmission.
See Tuesday’s pres briefing on CIGTV below, set to start at Dr Lee’s prepared address:
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Category: Health, Medical Health
Referendum time! Vote yes for a 15-day hard curfew lockdown and then freedom!
That’s not logical. Say someone doesn’t show symptoms for 5 days into it…. they add another 14 days. Then that persons spouse tests positive 5 days later…. another 14. It’s not possible to deny people food and exercise for that long.
I am certain the average person would get better care and attention in a government isolation centre. nd attention in a government isolation centre.
Further, I am not so worried that the sick person would violate isolation. I am worried about the rest of the household.
i) In most Caymanian homes it is not a realistic expectation that it will not spread to other members of the household.
ii) While I know everyone is officially isolated, I am not optimistic that the persons who are not sick will really remain in isolation.
Under the current management of this aspect of containment, my prediction is that our numbers are just going to keep rising. And we will take months to get out of this transmission phase.
For all those complaining about beaches, pools, nothing to do and those commenting on age, 107 year young lady survives coronavirus and goes home, 99 year young lady survives coronavirus, 99 year young gentleman does laps walking around his garden with his walker and has raised 8million pounds for the NHS in the UK. Perhaps those with pools and children could make a game of walking aound the pool and encourage the children, donate a dollar for each walk around and donate to children at NCVO or to the Pines, or Humane Society. Try and appreciate what you do have and not what you don’t have.
Maybe you should rethink telling us to have our children walk around a fully avoidable disease-ridden-mosquito-death trap.
Premier McLaughlin has his heart in the right place and as someone who is highly vulnerable I support his efforts.
But he needs to adopt what has been working in the countries that have successfully controlled the spread of this virus.
This means compulsory isolation of the entire household of anyone who tests positive. Not ask them nicely and hope for the best.
It seems rough to penalize people whose only “crime” is getting sick but right now the whole island is under close to house arrest.
Contact tracing and testing is essential. If someone tests positive ask them and their household where have they been? Who have they talked to?
Face masks when out of the home must be mandated by law. Even if only when when in banks, supermarkets etc.
Would you believe that Hong Kong, crowded at it is, has far fewer cases per thousand than we do and they share an open border with China. And Hong Kong restaurants and stores are open, with more space between tables and less people allowed in the stores.
Amen, if he can be tough on the business sector what is wrong with being tough on these people that are breaking their isolation..We are allowing people to infect their entire families and possibly others outside the home..Why? This is not time to talk about human rights..Human rights are no good to a dead man…
Went out…. didn’t see cops on the road. Had about near miss from a guy speeding in a little white car. Wonder where the cops are? Checking ids at cost u less. Can’t the employees do that?
Cops had check up at yc roundabout at 8 am…was going shopping and they checked my ID. Appreciate it but by the sounds of this article I could have had the bubonic plague and they would of let me go shopping.
A word of advice to all. Not everyone can handle stressful situations in like manner, this indeed is what we are living in. However idle crass comments about the Government ain’t helping the situation, neither is the “ I hear” scenario of people doing this or that assisting anything or anyone. If you are directly aware of people breaking the law generally speaking or not being compliant with the existing Pandemic regulations, it is your duty to report it no ifs buts or maybes.
Idle commentary and selfish expressions have no place in this Season that we are all going through. Yes there is a need to restart the economy because companies are beginning to scale down which translates to jobs loss, but, I don’t hear or see any suggestions on how to do this coming from any body myself included. It would help if we all put or heads together in chat groups and come up with ideas that could be passed on to Government. This no doubt would be much more appreciated than the constant deriding and badgering that goes on in some sectors of our community.
Why don’t we just take a deep breath, and let it out slowly and think of the fact that we at this stage of a global pandemic are still able to live though in quarantine at a safer space in time than if you were in some of the countries/ states hard hit by the Corona virus. Let us all be mindful that Unity in thought mind and spirit towards our future existence will help us all to come out of this Season alive.
God Bless every single soul in these three Islands, and May he continue to carry us through.
1.17pmI found one in a truck parked on S Church St, he pulled out just as I was passing and I had to veer across the road, fortunately there was no oncoming traffic.
Well then what the hell is the point of any of this?
The point is, I need maintenance for my pool!
do it yourself
Great idea. Do you know where I can buy the chemicals because all the stores that sell them are shut?
Yes, just one of the things that makes no sense at all… Why can’t you buy sanitary products for a pool, but you can buy liquor. Says a lot about priorities here.
12.02pm None of you people have a clue- where do you get the chemicals, test strips, skimmers etc etc.?
Are you handicapped dearie , oh my don’t want to get your hands dirty is that it? Well as dem say sorry fe magga dog a pool quarantined too. Sene!
Only handicap I see is your grammar. Sit down sheep.
Exactly, people are scrambling to find chlorine and it’s backfiring because now people are socializing and running around trying to find some. We’ve been told chemicals are being held by CIG. Why would they do this in a time when we should be keeping EVERYTHING clean?
It started off well but I suspect he was put under a lot of pressure. Now we are in a half-hearted, no-man’s land situation which won’t work in my opinion.
Its obvious the isolation rules are being ignored by some and a large number of people are simply doing what they want. This is going to continue for a long time at this rate.
I’d say either 2 to 3 weeks hard curfew or just let us get on with it.
Get on with it at ya own risk not mine bobo.
Then you cool with 2-3 week hard curfew- no shopping, no exercise, no goin’ outside you yard?
Yep, once a week shopping for the last names just like we are doing now..get it done and over with..
Let’s do it bobo!
http://www.msn.com/en-xl/sport/football/mexico-manager-martino-willing-to-take-pay-cut-during-coronavirus-crisis/ar-BB12jTa9?ocid=spartandhp. Maybe this is something that the Civil Service can adopt to help the less fortunate.
What about the civil servant who only earns $2600 p/m and has kids? Do you want them to get a lucrative football contract to take a pay cut to help with the crisis?
See this quote from your article: “We are lucky we get paid high amount of money and that is why we need to be supportive.”
Maybe all the rich partners of and highly paid “skilled” workers in the private sector can follow his lead and take pay cuts and donate to the crisis. What are you guys doing with all that money now? What are you buying? Toilet paper?
The crisis shows us who are the people who really hold up our society. Civil Servants are a part of that group. Police, NAU, Medical Staff, The Premier, DoEH. There are ALOT of civil servants putting their lives at risk for your undeserving A$$.
What are you going to adopt to help? Another comment? Thanks.
Pompous stupidity is the luxury of the ignorant privileged.
That civil servant’s income is the same as before and now he saves gas money.
Pity the poor dive instructor, waiter, shop assistant and hotel maid who may now have ZERO income.
I forgot, they’re mostly expats so we don’t care about them. They can just leave… except they can’t.
Thousands of people here are out of a job, no income, no way to pay their rent, their medical bills, their utilities. The Civil Service, and most Govt related entities all have jobs for life, pensions, gold plated free medical treatment . Partners in the private sector are propping up the economy and working, how many civil servants are sitting at home out of the thousands employed?. Do you not consider a civil servant in this society privileged?.
There are also a lot of Government entities with employees doing F’all and still receiving full pay! Post office, Planning, Customs, CIAA just to name a few
Thank you all. great proactive decisions. can we look at a 7,14, or 21 day total lockdown to put us in a stronger position island wide sir?
Yes please. We should have done that from three weeks ago and we’d have zero cases of community transmission
Where are the rest of government you ask 7:03pm there home my dear, peeking through their peep holes in their front doors which is barricaded looking at their locked gates and blocking all numbers of non essential phone numbers of those needy Con stituents who are all infected with the I need help virus now holding hands with Mr Corona.No worries they are online however checking bank balances to make sure that all important outrageous salary deposit they have never worked a full day for, has been injected by our collective punishment & isolationist Gowerment Not complaining dear because you are right their silence and absence is some what refreshing ! The positive side the environment has never been this cheerful and all that needs to happen now is the burden on our infrastructure needs to be lift to make these islands light and fluffy again. Well done to our Covid 19 team keep up the good work get those flights going !
A good one! Smack on!
Opposes forced quarantine is a misleading title. He supports forcing the entire community into hard curfew – but not the individuals who actually have the disease.
I understand the point about discouraging people from coming forward who have symptoms, but he must surely understand the difficulty in maintaining public support for hard lock down unless he can demonstrate its necessary and fair. He needs to deal with the popular perception that we have infected individuals and their high at risk contacts going out into the community. If he doesn’t want to implement a blanket quarantine for anyone coming forward who is infected, he need to give more details on why the public should believe that the stay at home policy is enforced for those who are infected.
The approach to the apartment complex is a helpful example. If he can demonstrate that if you are quarantined that it is properly monitored and if you break that you WILL be forcibly quarantined in a facility that might help restore confidence in the policy. Otherwise people are going to be tempted to ignore or break the curfew restrictions because they think there’s no point or its unfair to lock them down when those who are definitely infected are free to use the soft curfew to infect others. Putting everyone on hard curfew to remove that temptation for those who are infected or family contacts of infected is not only disproportionate but undermines public support for the inconvenience and hardship consequent on a general hard curfew lock down.
but not the individuals have been confirmed to have the disease*
I tell you and all others of like minds if you or anyone of you because of your attitude contracts the virus and by extension passes it on and Heaven forbid to one of my family and it is so tracedd; there will be no rock that you can hide under that I won’t find you, there will be no place on the face of the earth that you can hide that I won’t locate you and woe betide ya hide for you will never forget Corona or me. So support the Governments initiatives, be latkent and above all STAY your Asguaresus HOME .
Dread, I’ll be there right beside you!
The two lead articles on CNS are in direct conflict with each other. There is no way to eliminate the virus without a complete lockdown of everyone and everything, and that obviously is not possible. Alden is either dreaming or stupid if he thinks he can accomplish one without the other.
No plan. Punish those whom have followed all the laws in place and let the ones who dgaf run wild. I’m sick of this. My family is sick of this. Our mental health is starting to crumble. We can’t continue to keep our children inside, we can’t continue to pay school fees while we are working full time and having to be the teachers. Even the time outside is hard now as our pool is most of our yard and so we can’t go there for fear our children will jump in and get some nasty disease because we can’t buy chemicals.
We can’t do home repairs. We can’t plant veggies. We can’t do things we should be able to. Most of this is done with less contact then liquor stores.
Slow clap for CIG. You need to revisit what you’re trying to accomplish. It’s failing.
I know a lot of people are panic driven, especially the ones that think its only old people are at risk. But it’s anyone at any age that can get this virus. There is a growing problem in China going on that many people don’t seem to understand. Watch the video in China: https://youtu.be/9wcdm-55Xg4 We have to stay home for a short amount of time to get past this pandemic. Two weeks? This is no more than a vacation with the family. If we fail what is the outcome? Close all businesses beside what is open now? Let us be adults and be good fathers and mothers and stay home with your children.
And after we open our country again it will return. We are accomplishing nothing.
Get real. There is no external reopening on the horizon. Global tourism is suspended for prob next 18 mos. By then there will be unprecedented measures to ensure travelers are safe to fly, let alone be admitted to their intended destination.
If we don’t enforce quarantine measures we will never get his desired 14 days without new cases as it has been proven that people aren’t self isolating properly.
Well then we are just gonna have a lot more “misunderstandings”
Thanks.
I get my money, Civil Service, better than the Florida Lottery
stopped listening to no-plan-alden many weeks ago. he can’t go 2 days without contradicting himself and we are still waiting on his economic response.
for him to say he is going through the same difficulities as the rest of the population goes to show how out of touch he is.
why do we expect different from somebody who is guaranteed a CI$15k cheque every month for the rest of his life…irrespective of how many jobs and livelyhoods are lost under his watch.
Listen to Trump instead. He is more up your alley.
The balance is not right when you have reports of people not self isolating when positive, delivery food drivers going all over the place handing over plastic bags of food, reports of parties and houses mixing and socializing in newlands and Bodden town and probably every other district. And yet your answer is to close the beach and stop swimmers exercising the majority of whom were self isolating and exercising alone. The balance struck is not right.
Question because I don’t know… What did Korea do? We should do whatever they did. One thing I’d be in favor of is tracking devices… Maybe not ankle bracelets (unless high risk) but maybe cell phone tracking?
Where and what are the rest of the gov doing? Shouldn’t they be out and about in their community helping??? WTF is wrong with them? And yet they still get PAID. SHAMEFUL!
By “helping” do you mean handing out $25 bills like there was an election coming up?
Where can I get my brownie? I am a woter, too!
What exactly you want them to do out in the community?
are you serious?
Help police the curfew, assist farmers, make masks. work at HSA, paint government buildings in isolation. Anything other than nothing.
They could spread the word??!! Your people are not comprehending what is being stated in the press briefings!!!
Do you comprehend the words STAY HOME? thatis all everyone needs to comprehend..that’s bull that people don’t know what to do or don’t understand..
Clean my pool and work for that dolla.
7.56pm Clean my pool.
Mac, Bryan, Seymour get out to your people and explain in simple language that they need to stay home and be a part of the solution and not add to the problem.
Run out of Doritos?
7:04. They are keeping the Island safe and operating at the highest level. What wrong with you? Stop being Jealous.
keeping the Island safe and operating at the highest level? How? From here it looks like they are doing squat. Not even doing what the NZ government have done and taken a pay cut to free up resources for helping others. I guess if you are an MLA and used to being paid for doing jack then sitting at home doing jack and still getting paid is actually not of a change. Perhaps they will say they need the money more than ever because they cant run their other businesses that they normally do whilst being paid as a full time MLA? Sucks to be them then.
10.50pm Are you talking about civil servants, their “highest level” is some way below the private sector which is why they are in the Civil Service.
7:04. What is shameful is your lack of knowledge. The majority of the civil service is working from home. The rest are manning the isolation facilities, helping other departments that are overworked. CBC is working with Police, fire is helping 911 the list goes on. Shame on you!!
11.16pm Re the Civil Service, you mean of course housework, garden maintenance, washing the car etc.
Maybe the Premier could provide us with some statistics to reassure people that all of the civil service are actually working. The front line ones we see. All the others working in departments which are closed and which don’t exactly lend themselves to remote working, not so much. Hardly surprising people think they are on a paid holiday. But easy enough to disprove – with facts rather than speculation (either that they are working, or are not).
11.16pm This is intriguing, please explain exactly what “manning the isolation facilities” entails. Which ones are you talking about, presumably not the hospital cases. If it is the cases in self quarantine I would like to know what this entails as we have never been given this information despite numerous requests.
Just because they are not parading around the papers and media with their works doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. For some, charity is still anonymous.
What is the Minister of Education doing? Is she planning for some type of virtual education for September? Schools will not re-open.
Start earning your big salaries Ministers.
We really do need direct rule from London as the Ministers are incapable of doing anything in a crisis.
Certainly thankful for the Governor because without him we would not even have testing kits.
Clearly, you have not read the article in the Compass chronicling how the testing kits were acquired. The acquisition of the kits was a remarkable Caymanian success story and it is a crime that this story was never told and celebrated by the press briefing panel and instead the Governor and his staff were allowed to
take all the credit. Unbelievable. Yes the Governor did thank the people involved but until the Compass article came out people had no idea that it was, once again, the pluck of our people that got us what we needed. The Governor’s Office and UK diplomatic network played their parts as you would expect but that’s all they did. Have a read:
https://www.caymancompass.com/2020/04/13/a-wing-and-a-prayer-the-inside-story-of-caymans-korea-deal/
Note the part about how the Head of the Governor’s Office had been pulling late nights for weeks and (clearly) couldn’t get us much of anything except what the UK put on the BA air-bridge flight.
In short, your gratitude, and your pride, are misplaced.
So we acquired testing kits. Now what? Selling to the highest bidders it appears…
10:16, You have absolutely no idea.
7.04pm They are staying home and social distancing, but some claim they are all working from home, which is somewhat fanciful as a lot of them didn’t work when they were at the office, unless you count running their own personal business.
Thank you Mr. Premier, Minister for Health, His Excellency Gov Roper, and the indomitable Dr. Lee. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to keeping our communities safe.
Thanks also to the Commissioner. Please continue to enforce the law without fear or favor.
Hard work? What do they do? Are you a lackey in real life?
commissioner failed when he closed the beach for everybody instead of practising law enforcement.
10.08am Not so he was acting under instructions from the Premier.