Masks ‘not political’ claims minister
(CNS): Wearing masks in public is obligatory now, so if people want to enter stores and banks they must have effective face-covering, but accessing them appears to be causing public concerns. Health Minister Dwayne Seymour has said on several occasions that he has handed out government supplies to MLAs in all the constituencies because it is “not political”, but there are allegations in the community that getting these essential supplies is just that.
Most of the supermarkets are selling disposable mask at top dollar prices and charities are both distributing and selling homemade face coverings, but not everyone can afford to buy them. However, making sure that everyone can access a mask, regardless of their ability to pay, is going to be a major factor as Grand Cayman moves towards the next stage of its re-opening phase.
The health minister made a policy decision to distribute the masks acquired by the health authorities via the MLAs. In the larger constituencies the political representatives are believed to have been given around 1,000, but depending on the population of the district and its current economic circumstances, in some cases this has been nowhere near enough for all residents in need.
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Asked by CNS on Thursday why those government-purchased masks could not be handed out at supermarkets, Seymour, who has consistently advocated that everyone wear a mask in public, said supermarkets “should be getting their own”.
The minister added that the supply he had given to MLAs was just “one measure”, and asked, “Who would know their constituency better than the person who has been elected?” Other community leaders were given masks as well, but he said that did become political, though he did not explain why.
“It’s only one effort. There are many other efforts with masks being handed out in the community,” the minister stated.
Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) Director Danielle Coleman also said that community beat officers with the RCIPS, the Red Cross and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) were also handing out free masks to those who need them. She said that officials may work with the supermarkets as a location to hand them out but were concerned about people getting more than one.
Premier Alden McLaughlin also denied that this was about politics.
“This is a public health effort. It doesn’t matter if the person supported you or not,” he said. “What we are trying to do is suppress the transmission of the virus. I don’t think MLAs, whether they’re members of my government or in the opposition, are thinking about whether they should give them only to their supports… We are trying to get masks into as many hands… and on as many faces as we possibly can.”
Speaking on Tuesday last week, Seymour said there was no favoritism on the part of government when it came to giving out masks. He said more were on order but “people were making much about it”, as he claimed there was “no politics here”. But on Thursday the minister said that caucus, not the ministry as might be expected, was evaluating what would be done with the next batch of masks that were expected.
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Category: Health, Medical Health
I live in Bodden Town East where is our Health Minister with our mask. Guess he give to all his friends.
I’m in Red Bay, Masta Aldens district. I’ve not been asked if I need a mask. Odd since they had the resources to leave propaganda about the failed port project on my front door before the failed referendum.
It is very much political and vote buying. They went to a complex and handed out mask to #16 and #18 and skipped #17 because they know who lived there. Do not believe their bullshit.
Believe it, or not, there are people out there that surpasses the “Minista of Health” when it comes to ineptitude. And that’s the people who voted him in. He is just a reflection of the majority in that electoral district.
Community Leaders? Not likely! it was people who plan to join him on his quest to become Premier next election. People who quite frankly have no business in politics and who have very shady backgrounds.
My MLA is a certain “dual-role” public representative who has seemingly gone further underground of late than he’s been as my constituency representative since last election. I believe it may be because of another controversy he’s involved in – something about allegedly assaulting a bar manager while he was allegedly blind drunk.
I guess he’s burrowed in so far that he can’t get out to hand out any masks which may have been provided to be distributed in his constituency. Wonder if he took his MLA-office staff with him?
Where’s my mask Mr. Mole?
Apparently Mr. Mole has distributed masks to a select number of persons in his constituency, those who voted for him. A request was made to his mla office secretary, asking if he would release some of his remaining masks and they would be replaced when the next shipment arrived, as other constituencies in WB had run out of masks. Still without masks as request was refused. But of course no politics at play here.
Scientists test their hypotheses using controlled experiments. A controlled experiment is a scientific test done under controlled conditions.
So, the “experts” conduct their experiments in a controlled artificial environment- light, humidity, temperature, atmospheric pressure ➔ arrive to conclusions, then pass its results as a scientific proof of whatever that would apply universally- from dry desert of Sahara or Arizona with its scorching heat to humid low lying Florida, from mostly dark, dry, cold and windy Canada or Alaska to high elevations of Colorado, EXPECTING that in natural environments the subject(s) of their study(s) would behave exactly as it did in a sterile lab?
Remember, all labs devoid of sunlight!!!!!!
Don’t you think viruses and bacterias would behave differently in the heights of Himalaya than in London, NYC, Gobi Desert or Amazon River basin and the Cayman Islands?
Don’t you think wearing a protective mask in a dry windy climate would be more beneficial than in an extremely humid hot and sunny Cayman where a virus has very little chance to survive or deactivated to become harmless?
Unless scientific experiments that are being referenced by CIG officials to justify their actions were conducted in Cayman natural environment, they are without scientific merit.
PHD from Facebook……
Common sense
Any face cover you use that is not a medical N95 approved mask is for the protection of others, not yourself. Use your homemade or non-medical devices to protect others. To protect yourself, stay at home.
…or stay 6-15 feet away from potential infection sources.
Apparently, Seymour’s mask is almost finished.
So, according to our wise minister Seymour. Masks are only for his friends? What a crock of shit is that.
He is so dunce. Yesterday he stated that he has been trying to get tested for covid but he cannot get sick. I could not believe this man. Is he telling the public that you have to show signs of sickness before being tested? Has he not been listening? I cant even…….
One, 1, uno, singular, one death. And we allow ego driven, fat pay cheque pols to destroy our lives and our children’s futures? Not today bobo
If I want to take the risk I should be allowed to do so.
CNS: It’s not about you and your risk, it’s about the people you may infect.
Infect with a cold?
Yeah, the whole world has shut down over a common cold. Could you possibly be more stupid than you are?
Then they can wear a dirty mask if they choose. And compromise their values as they see fit to get a clean one. This is not China…or is it.
Shit, sorry people I hit thumbs up on impulse when I read the CNS response. So cancel out one of the thumbs up it’s not for the original poster.
If there are people who do not wish to get infected with a virus (that you have a greater than 50% chance of not even realising you’ve contracted), they are free to continue their self isolation at home for the rest of their days while I, and an increasingly enlightened majority of the population, get on with our lives.
This “what about everyone else you might infect” argument is getting really old. I don’t care if catch Corona virus so it follows that I don’t care if someone gives it to me. Anyone who is worried about catching it can stay away from me and the cohort of the population who hold the same opinion as me.
It’s really, really simple.
Pastor Alfredo
Where do I send you my offerings?
If you choose to not wear a mask you put me at risk not yourself. If I choose not to wear one I put you at risk. You do not have the right to put me at risk.
I put you at risk every time I get behind the wheel of my truck, as do you, every time you get behind the wheel of yours. Everyone puts me at risk when they choose to text while driving. CIG chooses to risk my life every time I go for a swim at the beach and they decide that employing a lifeguard to watch over me is too expensive.
If you wish to live your life risk free then it’s incredibly simple. Lock your front door and nail some planks of wood to the inside so the virus can’t get you. You have no right – none – to dictate to me that I can and can’t do something that YOU don’t like because of some perceived risk that YOU think may exists.
The crux of the argument is that society tends to delegate these decisions to the executive on behalf of everyone. In Cayman, that’s the legislative assembly who currently advocate for almost total lockdown – potentially illegally. The issue that’s continuing to become more problematic every day, is that society is starting to understand that wearing masks made out of socks, closing down businesses for months and locking people in their houses for undefined periods of time is actually worse than catching the virus.
You are entitled to your opinion. I respect it. I just disagree with you and, increasingly, everyone else is starting to disagree with you too.
Pastor Alfredo
Ventured out for the first time with a mask on Saturday, never again absolutely disgusting experience.
In this heat, one will pass out.
Doubt it joker, run 5 miles a day (except Sunday’s) and absolutely fine. Walk into Foster’s looking like Hannibal Lecter and immediately start feeling ill. I’ll just start using my 90 mins to hunt food instead of shopping.
Dont go out then.
Yes, it’s not easy to breath with a mask on, especially as we the general public are not used to wearing one. that’s why I avoid going out, or go only where I will need to wear the mask in public close space for only about 5 to 10 minutes. I commend the healthcare workers who are wearing the masks constantly when at work,
Wow – let me take my baby violin out.
Do you have any clue what sacrifices people have made for the sake of others, or even how many people’s normal lives are pure hell compared to yours and you complain about wearing a mask or having to stay home??
I have been using the same dirty mask for weeks. Forget Covid, what about bacteria? Until we have abundant, free or low cost masks this is a silly, pointless regulation,
Wash it and wear it.
It is paper. If I wash it It will disintegrate.
If its paper, its likely only meant to be used once and thrown away. Probably isn’t offering any protection and likely you are safer without a mask than using a dirty old paper one.
True, it will not help me, nor protect others. It is nor even the right kind of mask. I am wearing it to appease fools.
How many people will be forced to share or borrow disposable masks? If you have no access to masks, and are a criminal if you fail to wear a mask, then you will wear someone else’s .
Mine is paper, I cannot wash it.
True, but you can do what a lot of medical personnel is having to do, with those types that can’t be washed rotate them. Wear a mask then put it down for ideally 3 days and wear a different mask and put that down for 3 days and keep going. But you need several to be able to do this.
Of course cloth masks can be washed.
There are certain kinds that can be santised a variety of different ways other than washing, go online and do search.
I have asthma and find it extremely difficult to breathe in the cloth masks so I had to order online some low grade 80% medical masks which work for me. I was able to get enough to allow me to rotate which is wonderful.
BTW I live in Eastern districts, haven’t voted in at least 20 years and my area received masks for free. Once I received mine I gave them away cause I already have.
you cannot wash those cheap disposable masks. They were intended for one use only. Great plan, CIG. And waste of $$. Does anyone there have a brain?
I would have understood this early on, but now? And where do I get said masks? If they are disposable and I am forced to reuse them, isn’t that riskier than no mask at all? This is just silly.
More garbage for the Dump. Human learned nothing.
Every evening Wayne Panton rides his bicycle around Newlands with a tortuga yellow bag stopping on door steps asking if masks are needed. I personally got from him last week. He was riding cross and stopped casually. We need to get back to living as a community. I notice Raul put up a sign asking who needs a mask also. I haven’t no use Alva anywhere around.
I really hope Cayman wakes up for next election! And just so you know I don’t know Wayne Panton but I’ve seen him more than 5 times now around the community!
you are just plain lying. Alva was out in Newlands as recently as this afternoon handing out masks. If you do not support him that is your business but when you lie you are a danger to all.
Does he have a letter of exemption for that purpose ?
Hes an MLA. They are all exempt. And getting paid.
Under which law are they exempt?
The Covid regulations
Be more specific, bet you can’t. The Entitlement Clause perhaps?
I can attest to this and I am not Caymanian but me and my family live in the North Sound Estates community and this gentle man rode up on a bicycle and asked if we had masks and was everything ok. He didn’t identify himself and i was wondering at first but my neighbor Who is caymanian told us his name and that he lives in the area. He didn’t ask if I was Caymanian or say I am a politician. He just asked did we have masks and is everything ok. That’s true #CaymanKind in my eyes.
For those who know him, this is just Wayne being Wayne.
Wow talk about blatant lies! Alva Suckoo has beren all over Newlands giving out masks. If you are an example of a Wayne Panton supporter, I really do not want to be one. You can keep that title to yourself, Ill stick with Alva.
Where?????? I live in Newlands and I have not seen Alva. I made sure and asked my neighbors if they’ve seen him. We went as far to go to the office THATS ALWAYS CLOSED! Stop this political shit and look at the bigger picture.
yea that sounds believable, I regularly poke my head out the door and yell, “anybody seen Mac?”. SMH
I wish the WB mask was like Wayne’s delivery service. Why couldn’t they just go door to door wearing their own masks and gloves. It’s not like they don’t see houses, apartments etc. But NOOOOO, that wouldn’t leave enough for their buddies!
“Wearing masks in public is obligatory now”
I missed this addition to the regulations
That is why I always wear 2 pairs of underpants.
I do that when I’m playing golf. Just in case I get a hole in one.
Perhaps the Minister fairly meant to say “I didn’t make a political decision when I distributed them to other politicians”.
Sadly, good intentions, etc. As soon as you give anything to a politician by definition it is politicised. Even if the district rep. had chosen to run a random distribution based on anonymised ESO data, it would still have been a political decision by definition. (And of course someone would have objected for some reason, and castigated the random distribution as a politically motivated decision.)
Why is caucus deciding the distribution of the next tranche? (Assuming that rumour is true.) Because almost any Govt. action requires a policy direction – like the Minister’s direction to make sure he wasn’t accused of politically motivated distribution by giving all of the (sitting) politicians masks to distribute. And almost any policy decision requires a caucus decision. Now, we can argue about the invidious role of caucus in Government, but its not a conspiracy why caucus is (rumoured to be) involved.
A day late and a dollar short.
I’ve seen all kinds of contraptions around peoples faces and It just shows the lack of research people do and B/S spread that people don’t understand that half of these ”home made masks” dont even protect you from dust nevermind microscopic viruses.
These home made masks are washable while disposable mask is not washable and only use once. I have made nearly 500 masks that are hospital approved masks that comes 3 layers of cloth. I have made 200 for the hospital frontline crew. It will stop all droplets from your mouth that may have the viruses.
Do you have any masks for sale? If so please post the contact information!
CNS: See the ad in the top right column for ads from the Food Bank. Buy a mask for $10 and help feed the hungry.
It’s hard to eat wearing a mask.
Grow up.
Make me.
I’d like to know which laboratory tested your home made masks and what evidence you have that supports your claim of them stopping viruses.
Jeez, make sure there is scientific evidence that supports the air you breathe is suitable for your body’s needs.
So, I buy that mask, which I did, for $10 ci. Is it sterile? No. Does it meet any protocols? No. Will help stop the spread of Covid-19? No. Will it possible give me Covid-19? Yes. Will I be forced to both purchase and wear it? Yes. Is this the stupidest idea ever? Yes!
Please stay home if you can’t be a grownup.
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/4/e006577
n this randomized control trial from 2015, investigators examined the efficacy of cloth masks versus surgical masks.
Study design
The study included 1,607 hospital staff working in high-risk wards at 14 secondary-level/tertiary-level hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam. They were randomized to medical masks, cloth masks or a control group (usual practice, which included mask wearing). Participants used the assigned mask on every shift for 4 consecutive weeks. Cloth masks were washed with soap and water every day after finishing the shifts. Outcome measurements included clinical respiratory illness, influenza-like illness (ILI) and laboratory-confirmed respiratory virus infection.
Outcomes
The cloth mask group had the highest rate of all infections. In addition, cloth masks had statistically higher rates of ILI than the medical arm (RR 13) and the control arm. Particle penetration was 97% with cloth masks and 44% with medical masks.
Limitations
The control group was not ideal, as investigators could not withhold use of masks. But the outcomes showed that cloth masks were inferior even to control arm (usual practice).
Clinical significance
This study shows we should caution against use of cloth masks in health care settings, especially in high risk situations. It is important in the era of PPE shortage and COVID-19 that health care workers receive medical masks, not cloth masks.
The mask is not meant to protect the wearer. It is meant to protect the people around them. If you sneeze or cough the mask reduces the distance your “spray” goes. If you want to protect yourself you should stay home. If we all wear the mask we can help to limit the spread of the virus. it is not the be all end all solution, but it does help. Dee, you might want to go online and find out what the intention is in wearing the homemade masks.
Keeping a personal buffer of 6 feet or more from all non-household people is still priority #1, and we still fail on that. Mask or material doesn’t matter if we can’t abide the legal minimum separation.
Do your research! and FFS it’s to protect others from you more than protecting you.
Try to think of others instead of just yourself. Thank you.
Well at least Chris and Alva sent out messages asking who needed masks in their areas. I saw that Chris and Alva said that they only had 1000 each and it was for those who really need them. A few days later Alva send a message that he had run out and would be buying some himself to give out. Today he dropped off a pack of 10 masks for me. I am not registerd to vote, but I am a single mother and was let go from my job a few days ago. He said he would help me register with the Work deparment and said that if I needed to apply to Nau he would ask his assistant to help me with the forms and paperwork. He never mention election, voting, or anything like that.
Guessing you’re not openly gay.
get over it! they dont support gay marriage
Cut up an old tshirt and tie it around your face. It’s better than nothing.
Google it its really easy and just put a coffee filter in between 2 layers of the t shirt. It’s also way more comfortable than elastic around your ears and you wash it and use it over and over again.
Coffee filters don’t wash very well I don’t think
No but you can change them?
If you are a Civil “Servant “ maybe.
Why? Do you have any evidence this benefits anyone? You have to have the virus to spread it. Yes, front line employees should absolutely be required to wear masks, which should be proper masks, provided by their employers. They, not us are likely to carry the virus. Is there no logic at all amongst our so called leaders? This isn’t rocket science, just common sense.
“Who would know their constituency better than the person who has been elected?” – LOL you obviously don’t know Joey Hew.
Joey Who?
Sky ‘not blue’ claims Minister
People believe him.
it is political, end of story, no matter how you spin it. If it wasn’t political it would be public health officials handing them out.
Where is the PLAN?????
Plan??? LOL!!!
“other community leaders were given masks as well” says the Minister – this stinks to high heaven.
That means clergymen to give to their flocks. If you aren’t a PPM/Unity supporter or a member of a church, forget it. I’ll bet he clergy have cases and cases and cases of these things and I’ll start selling them “for charity.”
Not everyone can breathe through a mask. Some people experience near fainting episodes.
Those who have a chronic respiratory condition such as asthma or COPD, covering mouth and nose can be especially challenging. The physical barrier of the mask makes it harder to take in air; it also traps some carbon dioxide as you exhale, which means you end up breathing in air that is warmer and moister. Add a compromised respiratory system to the equation and a mask can feel downright suffocating.
That sensation of having trouble breathing in a mask might feel worse in hot and humid climate.
My glasses get fogged when inside an air conditioned store and I take it immediately off once I am outside in order not to faint. I don’t have a respiratory condition, but cardiovascular instability that comes with shortness of breath.
Then why are you even going out? The guidance is clear that anyone with any sort of underlying condition should be staying home. You only have yourself to blame here
should one with disabilities just get in a coffin?
Unlike you, some have no choice?
Try sliding your glasses down your nose when wearing a mask in an airconditioned building to reduce the fogging.
LOL. I did, my glasses are small and if it have to sit on my nose I won’t be able to see. Besides, it have prism lenses to help with binocular dysfunction that contributes to dizziness and must be worn correctly.
Nothing to see here. Move along …..
Oh dear!, the moment they decided to control the supplying of masks to the public they made it political. Why didn’t they passed them on to Public Health to hand out ? Also I am sure that the supermarkets provided ttheir workers with masks but the customers are ” all of us” . Does the Minister really expect the supermarkets to hand out mask to all the customers?
Actually in Germany and Austria, store clerks stand at the door with tongs and a tray of masks and hand out disposable masks to everyone who enters. This is presumably to ensure that everyone who goes into the store has an effective mask and not a dirty old one that’s been reused 100 times.
Germany and Austria? The last war?
Shame that all they achieve is the further spreading of viruses
The distribution of a few single-use disposable masks is already being abused into a constituent-need-driven PPM re-election data collection exercise.
That masquerade with bandanas, scarves, panties and socks is an utter joke and just shows how scared, misinformed and easily misled most people are
Ticks the box to get into the supermarket.
Soon it is “vaccinated’ that you must have ticked off to get in. We get it served in small pieces like the curfew that was to stay for 2 weeks only, remember? Wake up
I tried using my wife’s drawers but it was more like a balaclava than a face mask.
I can’t unsee that now. Thanks.
🧕🤣
Better than washing your skid marked tighty whiteys.
when were laws passed to make it obligatory to wear masks in public ???
They weren’t.
Law of the jungle
What am I supposed to do? Break curfew and go knock on the door of the MLA in my district. He certainly has not contacted me to see if I need masks. I m sure his strong supporters were contacted. I am surprised that The minister can actually say with a straight face that it is “not political.” Anytime you give an MLA something to distribute it becomes political. Anyone who believes differently has their head buried in the sand. (which probably means they are breaking the rules on staying off the beaches.)
You mean Austin Harris isn’t going around door-to-door handing them out? Shocking!
Except he is, I was surprised myself.
I’m not a voter. I live in a strata with lots of non voters. Incidentally, I am a human that can catch and spread the virus. What’s the chances of my local MLA dropping off a care package of masks on my doorstep?
Buy one yourself….they are not expensive.
I don’t think that’s the point.
I don’t think that’s the point being made.
Guess you were not let go with NO notice, trapped in a foreign country with no income for the last 7 weeks, evicted from your home, and facing living on the street? So for you a totally useless, clinically ineffective mask for $10 is a deal! Maybe you should by two, to match your faces.
Just out of interest where is your home country?
Who is in charge of picking up the 1000’s strewn along the roadsides already? The distributing politicians?
I have noticed that too, it is disgusting and says a lot about our people and lack of respect for environmental health.
Obviously they think they can pray the garbage away.
Well they think they can pray the virus away so it’s not a stretch.
Wonder if those are the stupid people that both Deewayne and Alden are talking about?
I have washed loads of them. See the ad at the top of the page.
I don’t care if its political or not. Where do we find masks? We have so much to worry about already. Now this. Another source of anxiety if we don’t comply. Yes, this is an important COVID precaution, but the free paper masks handed out are meant for one-time use! Not worn for weeks on end! If CIG dictates that everyone must wear a face mask in public, then it must find a way to make them available. People need reusable, washable masks. There are enough seamstresses with the experience to make masks this in this community…and an opportunity exists to make a little money. So far it has been impossible for many to find masks as the few reusable ones sold here have sold quickly.
I really wish people would not use the term “seamstress”. Honestly. It’s 2020. How about “tailor” or even “seamster”.
I prefer the term seamist
I know it’s hard with Covid and all, but get a life.
I made mine out of some old socks.. How to do it is on YouTube, all you need is scissors and a sock. Easy. Not perfect, but it will do.
Maybe I don’t have any socks. I shouldn’t be required to fabricate a mask to buy flipping groceries. I am not Martha Stewart, I do not have a sewing machine, nor excess socks.
Then reach out, my friend. Lots of nice people on this island to help. I have extra I can spare you. If the government won’t take care of us, we need to stand together, not split apart.
My sock masks aren’t pretty, but does what it needs to do, I guess.
Sounds like you just like complaining..
Do you have to kneel and kiss the ring first?
It’s a good place to start.
If it was nearer election time we would all get a mask personally delivered to us by the politician.
Those of you with the vote would. The rest of us humans, not so much
I’m in Aldens district & a voting senior, but no one has asked me if I need a mask.
Same, but they sure like to leave port propaganda on our door step!!!
Cheaper than a refrigerator.
Or a driveway!
Can I get one for my Personal Trainer then?
Nope! Your trainer will need a full on balaclava. Like the one in the video.
LOL!
EPIC
Horseshit.
The few (supporting influencers and non-supporting outraged) that are part of our PPM-affiliated MLA’s invite-only Whatapp group, received a message to register for the district constituent database via their non-public MLA aggregated email address. We have to provide the full names of everyone in household, full street address, ages, citizenships, tel and email details, along with a case about how many of the district’s scant 1000 disposable one-time masks we might think we deserve over other more needy people in the district. Not exactly the equitable and orderly distribution we might have hoped for, and most definitely political by virtue of the pre-election database fleshing-out request. Gross.
Well we live in Red Bay and the Premier is our MLA, so where are our masks?
Exactly! And I’m a senior, so would have thought that his ethos demands that I be protected.
Not ethos, egos
He has no interest in reelection, he was appointed by God.
If Lucifer is God, then yes you would be right. He’d better be right or Seven Mile Beach in July will seem like the Arctic.