1,034 samples turn up 2 COVID-19 positives
(CNS): Governor Martyn Roper said the Cayman Islands is one of the safest places in the world just now because “we have effectively created a safe bubble” from COVID-19. With 1,034 test results on Friday and just two asymptomatic positives samples, the country appears well placed to move towards Suppression Level 2 without causing a surge in the virus, provided people observe social distancing, wear masks and follow hygiene protocols.
The governor said that Cayman should be very proud of how it has handled the pandemic, becoming as one of the safest place in the world compared to other places around the world, such as Miami, which is expected to become the next epicentre in the US for this virus.
“We don’t have that here,” he said, referring to the ongoing surges in the US. “We have created a very safe bubble.”
The UK military assistance team that came here to help found that the government and public health responses has been “evidence based, credible and exceptionally well led”, Roper said, as he thanked everyone who had helped to get Cayman to this point.
But he urged people to develop good habits and discipline regarding social distancing and hygiene protocols, as Cayman moves towards tackling the next problem of reopening the borders. He said such habits would keep us safe from the virus.
Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee said that 20,323 tests have now been completed in Cayman but he revealed that this is no longer a count of individuals. Since the screening began, some people, such as health workers, have been re-tested and the numbers have not been separated out. But he confirmed that multiple samples that may have been taken around the same time are not counted.
Following the release of information from the ESO and border control this week, it is estimated that the population now stands at around 59,000, which suggests that, even if some people have been tested twice, Cayman has still tested around one third of its entire population.
And as of Friday, 19 June, the running tally of positive cases in Cayman is just 195, and of those 143 people have recovered. Just two people have symptoms, one of whom is in hospital in stable condition. Another 47 people are asymptomatic and in isolation at home.
Dr Lee also revealed that, in line with the revised WHO guidelines, people who have tested positive but are asymptomatic and in isolation will now be tested after ten, rather than 14, days and will be released once they have two negative results.
Going forward, people isolating with symptoms will also will be required to remain isolated for ten days but must have three symptom-free days before they are retested and then will be released after two negative tests.
Given the increased interest in antibody testing, Dr Lee said that these tests are still relatively experimental and inconsistent. He warned that we still don’t know the full implications of the results of these test. However, the HSA has already started taking samples from their staff for the tests, which, he said, “were not perfect” but he would begin giving the results shortly.
The CMO explained that while a positive antibody test may imply a person could have immunity, there are still no scientific certainties. But there is likely to be an element of immunity, as we are not seeing high reinfection rates around the world from the virus.
“However, how long that immunity lasts and whether a positive IgG test means you are immune or not, those very basic questions we don’t know the answers to and don’t feel it can be used securely,” he added.
Dr Lee said that the idea of a immunity passport would not be something Cayman could rely on as a way of allowing in visitors.
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Category: Health, Medical Health
A total of 8 cases when we locked down. Unlocked at 195 cases. The lockdown was pointless, but by all means let’s give ourselves an atta boy and pretend we accomplished something other than nuking our economy.
So happy we left when we did. Living an almost normal life, with about the same COVID per capita level all while the bobble heads in Cayman nod at each other’s lies every day. Haha!
Please stay away and don’t forget to vote for Trump!
Something is really strange here, all these asymptomatic cases, people locked in quarantine- some saying there are quarantined for over a month!! Actually that’s the story here, what gives government the right to keep people so long in isolation? Nobody is sick. Everybody afraid. Flights of ‘evacuees’ taking place. What is going on? It’s like a cull.
People are locked up. Nobody is sick. Minorities being urged to leave.
Something isn’t right here.
When one asks logical questions like you, one is branded a conspiracy theorist. Of course, the alternative to branding is that those in the know provide the necessary answers. In a free society the answers should be readily given.
over a month?? CNS – wtf? Are people really in quarantine for over a month? Whats going on? Maybe ask CIG what’s the longest time people have been in and why…maybe the tests are dodgy
Does any one know the exact number or returning residence over the past 100 days that have gone through the Isolation Facilities AND the number of them that tested positive while there?
CNS – do you know these two true numbers?
I think you can knock off at least 3,000 from official figure for repeat tests:
1. Health care workers
2. Hospital out-patients having recent multiple in-hospital procedures. I had two within three weeks.
3. What about other front line workers?
I think that in the interest of accuracy the reference to official testing figures needs to be re-named “tests” and not “number of people”.
We really need some international deliveries that have been stuck in Customs for almost a month, and have had no international mail since March. That kind of performance wasn’t acceptable even in war time with circling U boats. Our pharmacist is waiting on medicine that Customs deemed not as essential as other (connected persons) goods. It’s a disgrace.
I’ve been told that Customs is only working half days. CNS: Can you find out if this is true?
Nothing new there they have always only worked half the time
Been waiting for the release of my stuff for almost a month. Cayman Islands are back to third world rating.
Lock it down Again Cayman too many foreign expats violating the laws !
Right always the Expats!
Especially the “foreign expats” as opposed to local ones.
#expatlivesmatter
When will anyone of you lockdown people actually do some scientific research on mass testing where the infection is below 1% …. amd the PCR testing will give us 2% false positives…. No one has the XXX virus…Lets move on with life in the bubble
Everyone should focus on what the XXXX we are going to do Sept. 1
There is not threat here. We need a plan when they actually let the threat fly back on island.
If we could just get rid of the Caymanians that live off of the Government welfare system and do not contribute their fair share (thousands of them)The Cayman islands would be a rich island. All expats contribute when they work and through their permits, the pension scheme,and the healthcare scheme. And they have to put up with the anti expat crap.
O doubt we will soon receive some infections from uncle Donald who has no shame in flying off infections to other islands it’s plain to see. Why would any country let anyone fly off without being tested and cleared? When we get it here trust me we gonna get it hard
Jamaica has already reported Covid cases imported by American tourists.
FAKE.
They where repatriated residence to the home.
BUT it proves that testing on arrival worked!
They also have a bobsled team
Sure!
That big number of 0.39% of the USA that is currently infected!
The USA now has 25% of the worlds coronavirus deaths and 25% of the world’s coronavirus cases. That is the real BIG NUMBER. That big number is going up in leaps and bounds every day.
You a big joker with your 0.39% number.
The EU is going to ban Americans traveling there. Just think.
2.56 million people died from pneumonia in 2017. Almost a third of all victims were children younger than 5 years, it is the leading cause of death for children under 5.
Too bad the media doesn’t report deaths daily on pneumonia. Probably too cruel given so many children. Would sure give some perspective though.
And, tell me again, what does Trump have to do with any of this? Mind your own country’s business, not somewhere else.
There are 3 types of people:
1. Those that have the Corona virus
2. Those that have had the Corona virus
3. Those that will get the Corona virus
You forgot, know-it-all idiots – like you.
Exactly lol
Looking at the bar photos being posted in realtime, there only two types here:
1. Those that understand what 6 feet means
2. Adolescent-minded socially-pliable that will never give a $#it, not even when it immediately applies to themselves and others
Add to that there only two types of drivers in Cayman. Asleep at the wheel and hair on fire. Can no one drive the speed limit on this Island? I need to get to work from lower valley. It is either people driving 20 or 80 mph. Jeez, where are the cops when you need them.
and 4. Those that are ignorant and have the corona virus
5. Those that are ignorant and have had the corona virus
6. Those that are ignorant that will get the corona virus.
Bubbles tend to pop.
May I suggest a hazmat suit for you?
And boy was this a big one.
Oh but bonus now, more than a person allowed to take a pension every month! So full salary + pension + health now bonus? Is this to cover for the civil servants offering to donate voluntarily from their salaries, where this money now coming from? Are all employees not on a contract? Work hours – anything over is overtime at a rate of…. What is the bonus? Working home or not? Bonus for what? Explain?
GT Post office open from 12 til. 1 on Wednesday only. Found out by passing by n notice on door!
Drove by Cotton Club on Friday early evening. Did not see much physical distancing happening amoungst the patrons in the exterior area. Guess some folks are just too cool.
Who cares. At this point. Let free will reign.
#BringFreeWillBack
“Since the screening began, some people, such as health workers, have been re-tested and the numbers have not been separated out.” So our testing number is useless? It could have been 10,000 people who got tested twice lol
Some workers, including healthcare have been tested every 2 weeks… So 6 times already. This casts some serious doubt on our testing numbers. We’ve been misled.
When will the G.T. Post Office be opened, the staff have no excuse for still sitting at home on full pay even if they are civil servants. They certainly can’t sell stamps from home.
After they count their bonuses.
#mailmatters
#andpackages
Lock it back down!
20,000 tests is very impressive. Al lot of people are not wearing masks in public, also not social distancing. As we open up it is imperative that all persons wear masks or else get fined or arrested. This must be aggressively enforced by the authorities. Having a mask below your nose is improper use. Come on Cayman we can do this, then let’s open in up with rapid testing kits at the airport, all visitors should be tested and quarantined for 24 to 48 hours at their location that they are staying. There are a number of reliable rapid test out there. So how many PCR tests do we have left from the batch we received? I gather that these tests will expire at the end of the year, so lets ramp it up get all doctors offices collecting and get an even higher rate of testing before the tests expire. Why can’t medical field officers come and collect samples at the frontline workers workplace. test the every week. Personally I would have liked to have all of my frontline pharmacy staff tested once a week. It was a fiasco to get scheduled to be tested.
We got this, please be responsible with compulsory use of mask and social distancing. Simply my thoughts.
“We care about your health”
Mask are not compulsory. They are also a waste of time but those in the business of selling them are not going to admit it.
They are compulsory if you want to go in any store. Maybe they are a waste of time, maybe not. I am not a virologist. But they are indeed required. So just suck it up and wear your mask in indoor commercial venues. It might help those who are vulnerable, and it is the law. You can get free masks from CIG. So no excuse really.
Don’t masks stop you giving other people germs? At least thats what the medical advice says but you must know better? Pray tell
Mask are there to show if you have the ability to think of others or just yourself. Are you part of society or on your own? Can you give or just take?
Masks work if worn correctly, if you pull them down so your nose pokes over the top, not effective, keep touching and readjusting them, not effective, keep putting them on and taking them off to talk on the phone, not effective, taking them off and touching the outside without washing your hands, not effective. Just spend 10 minutes in any shop and you will find many examples, and more, why wearing a mask for some doesn’t work.
It’s the distancing that really matters, the mask is an extra nicety.
Extra profit you mean.
Well, I guess there are many of us that will get fined and arrested for not wearing masks. Why don’t you all respect us that choose not to wear masks or cannot do so because of a medical reason? I choose to limit my trips out in public and will continue to social distance myself but, I will not be forced to wear a mask because I have a right to say no!!
So you’re saying you don’t care about anyone else. We wear masks to protect each other. If you have the virus and don’t know it, and selfishly choose not to wear a mask, you are putting my life and others at great risk. Grow a heart. The only excuse for not wearing a mask is a certified medical reason, such as emphysema or other chronic breathing problems.
This comment shows why we need to be more open and understanding to others needs, there are many more reasons why people can’t wear a mask, take for example PTSD, have you also considered how people who lip read are supposed to understand you through a mask? This example is not even limited to completely deaf people, lots of people lip read.
You have the right not to wear them but every place you try to go to also has the right to NOT let you in.
Its quite simple.
Inside yes, wear a mask. Outside social distance. No way I am wearing a mask in my car by myself.
STFU.