Borders to open before year-end

| 02/06/2020 | 156 Comments
Cayman News Service
Premier Alden McLaughlin at Monday’s press briefing

(CNS): Premier Alden McLaughlin said it was possible Cayman could welcome visitors again before the end of the year as a result of the trends in test results and the spread of COVID-19 across the community. McLaughlin is staying on the virus elimination track and will not follow other regional destinations planning to open in the coming weeks, but he was more confident Tuesday that borders could open sooner than he had once thought.

Speaking at the COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday, the premier said that as things improve regarding the infection rate of the virus, he was optimistic that the borders would open this year rather than next, as he had worried about at some of his “lower points”.

However, the premier’s more optimistic position over borders reopening before the year is out will be cold comfort to many who want the government to take the risk now, as a number of other destinations in the Caribbean have started to do.

But McLaughlin said he was watching very closely the “experiments” around the region and what happens in some of these countries will help the decision-making process here in the coming weeks and months.

He made it clear that his government was not going to risk opening the borders, given the sacrifices made up to now, until there was a way to test people accurately and quickly and put other measures in place to protect the community. He said government was considering many ways it might progress towards safely opening the borders but it was not ready to do that yet.

We are still continuing to find the COVID-19 virus in the community, McLaughlin said, but while the results are not unduly alarming, “we cannot be complacent”.

One of the most recent positive cases has been confirmed as a child, which he said was important as it came against the backdrop of increasing pressure on the government to reopen schools and childcare facilities.

But he pointed out that, as well as generally being asymptomatic vectors of the virus, children are not good at social distancing and pose a significant risk of spreading the coronavirus.

Despite still in the suppression stage, McLaughlin said he was increasingly optimistic that we are, “going to see the end of this virus in relatively short order but we are not there yet.”

The premier stressed his continued position that the economy would be opened slowly with a phased approach, allowing public health to assess the impact of each step on the spread of the virus. McLaughlin repeated the position that government is making decisions based on the medical and public health advice being given by the professionals.

He said, “The strategy that we have employed over the course of these past months has got to be seen to be working” in the face of continued cries from sectors of the business community to open everything up.

“It would be a real mistake… to alter course at this critical point,” the premier said. “We will get there but we need to do so cautiously and safely.”

See Monday’s press briefing on CIGTV below:


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Category: Health, Local News, Medical Health

Comments (156)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    If the airlines would agree to not allow anyone to fly into the Caymans unless their temperature was taken before boarding to the Caymans, it would slow the resurgence of the virus in the islands. I know this would be a lot of trouble but not nearly as much trouble as if a pandemic begins on these small islands because of people flying in.

    • Dan Crooks says:

      i would happily submit to a temperature scan prior to leaving the U.S. bound for Grand Cayman. I would even happily submit to a Covid test and carry the results document with me for review. I was actually on the island when the first “death” occurred related to COVID, but it was my understanding that it was an elderly male with heart problems taken off a cruise ship. We left the following day which was our planned departure date. I usually come at least twice each year. I have booked air travel and accommodations for a 10-day stay in February 2021. Hoping all of this is behind us by then. But again, I think most reasonable people would submit to testing prior to travel – especially International travel.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Wendy, on behalf of many parents and students that have to return to school in the States can you ask the following questions..

    Most schools and universities in the States start early August and we need to get them there late July, early August particularly the new freshmen attending university. Will there be flights even to Miami that we can start trying to book connecting flights, hotels, car rentals etc? We need to plan now and we can’t if there are no flights in place..

    Lastly, we will have to quarantine when we come back from taking our kids? I am willing to do that if I have to to get my child of to college for his first year but obviously hoping they will have some type of testing at the airport in place..

    Please help us get this question answered. I have posted it on the government site but they have consistently avoided asking it..

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Schools and nannies are too risky to be opened up but let’s open the borders? Wow !!! Please do not do this at Sep because all the imported cases will be blamed on schools reopening and schools will be closed forever.

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  4. Let me back says:

    Would be nice if they would at least let residents and caymanians back rather than just pretending that this is an option

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    • Anonymous says:

      Absolutely agree. Furthermore…while TESTING TESTING TESTING and following all the social distancing rules are important… what about PLANNING PLANNING PLANNING? How can we hope to move forward without a plan and this vague, uncertain reopening date? Businesses could have all summer to get ready for a September 1 opening date. But this pretend “September 1 if CIG feels like it” nonsense is crippling our economy.

      The rest of the Caribbean and the world are coming up with reopening plans. We will end up Islands Time Forgot again, back to the 1950’s in travelers’ minds, because those willing and financially able to travel also need to plan especially with all the new restrictions for air travel. Many social media posts and news stories online indicate they have already written Cayman off. The Miami Herald ran a story yesterday about tourisms slowly returning to the Caribbean. Cayman was the only country not mentioned.. But those with comfortable homes and guaranteed 6 figure CIG salaries don’t have to worry about the future, do they?

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      • Colleen Streetman says:

        Hoping they make a firm decision so people can prepare for folks to return. We rescheduled our two weeks in May for mid-September. Fingers crossed that we can come back to our favorite island

      • Marvin says:

        To me this man don’t know what he is doing everywhere else a pull up an this man a talk bout September kmt

  5. Anonymous says:

    Bahamas plan below.
    Why can Cayman government not come up with a similar plan?
    Why must we follow behind like sheep?

    The Bahamas’ tourism dependent economy will gradually come back online, following a strategic, phased approach that ensures critical health and safety protocols are being adhered to, and that the Health sector remains well equipped and ready to respond as necessary.
    • Phase 1, beginning on June 15, will allow for international boaters, yachters and private aviation to return to the destination.
    o These smaller special interest groups will allow a
    more controlled segment to test the country’s new measures.

    Also, during this phase, commercial airlines will be allowed to bring in Bahamian citizens, legal residents, home-owners qualifying for economic permanent residency, or the immediate family members or significant others of any of these groups. o All returning persons will continue to have to register at a Bahamas embassy or consulate
    and obtain a COVID-19 test with a negative result.

    o It is anticipated that during this period of time there will be a reduced flight schedule as airlines begin adding The Bahamas to their schedules
    once again.

    Additionally, during Phase 1 hotels will re-open for staff to return to work and put in place all the measures required to ensure they are ready to welcome guests at the onset of Phase 2.
    • Phase 2, beginning July 1, allows for the resumption of international travel, including: o Commercial airlines, both international and domestic o Hotels and vacation rentals, inclusive of Airbnb and HomeAway o Transportation ranging from taxis to jitneys and buses

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    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly right. I don’t understand why they couldn’t have extended the closure over 60 day periods to be reviewed and instead arbitrarily pushed it out to September. That said, there is no realistic chance the government will walk back their decision regarding September 1 opening.

      We should be planning a phased opening from July allowing limited people to come and go and work with the airlines to get a schedule in place so that travel can actually resume on September 1.

      Of course to allow this will require that they drop the requirement for forced quarantine in a hotel. We might as well start working on this and implement it from July – this gives us time to work out the kinks before a wider opening. We can’t just sit on our hands for the whole summer.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    10:55 the high end cooks have gone!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Don’t worry about the high end cooks being gone. They will be back for that high end money as soon as it’s offered.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Alden will get a plan, when the World get one!

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  8. Anonymous says:

    4:38 Who’s Plan should we follow!

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Two words:

    “Mango Tree”

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    • Anonymous says:

      explain to me according to cases in cayman they may open borders sooner. shouldn’t it be cases in the US and Europe

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Most importantly are you gonna be ok until then Alden? Enough money in Cayman coffers to keep paying your FAT FACED salary?

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Quick question CNS safe to assume if our borders open residents can move freely in and out of the country. Will we still need to be isolated when coming back?

    CNS: This has not been said yet, and most probably not decided.

  12. MEER says:

    We CANNOT let the cure be worse than the disease. Global lock-downs have health benefits: fewer will die of COVID-19, as well as all other transmissible diseases.

    But they have REAL social and economic COSTS: social isolation (“lockedin”), rampant unemployment, widespread bankruptcies and hunger to name a few.

    COVID-19 will never be eliminated. We cannot continue to live in a “bubble”. At one point the band-aid simply needs to be ripped off fr the good of socioeconomics and the the new normal take its course!

    Open the Cayman Islands boarders by 1st September OR BEFORE.

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    • DBH says:

      MEER You are correct. Covid-19 is not going to vanish, we will live with it just as we live with other viruses. Cayman can’t continue to be isolated from the rest of the world, without the tourism industry Cayman will not survive. A firm reopening date would enable all of those in the tourism industry to prepare appropriately and be ready to welcome visitors. I wish the borders would reopen before September 1 but I don’t see the premier rolling back the date. In my opinion, he will stand by this date even if reopening would be in the best interest of the country. Although the thought of getting Covid is frightening, at some point everyone must move on with their lives and we must get back to work. The government won’t and can’t take care of everyone forever.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    6:56p – Two things. If you don’t think Dart wouldn’t buy up any available shithole to further make this island his, you are extremely ignorant and naïve.
    AND he will continue renovate everything to make it look like his version of a US Caribbean island.

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    • Anonymous says:

      One thing. If there was any value in it, he would have bought it 5 years ago, but he not fool like some.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I am curious. What is the shithole? The Marriott?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Margaritaville is about to go under(again). Investigative journalists would have been on to it by now.

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    • Anonymous says:

      DART has a very weak record on renovation and good will. Ask the Britannia owners how they feel about the shell of former Hyatt, 16 years post-Ivan – maybe ask the ones that aren’t in litigation over DART’s acquisition of their now derelict golf course.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Dart? One recluse with too much money and a vision of what? A rich man’s overbuilt, under populated economic disaster? Have you ever wondered what economic model his construction is built on? Camana Bay would never fly anywhere else. Kimpton? Empty, and Dart funds the sales in the residences. And so on. These guys are having a laugh. unfortunately, at our expense. Its disgusting

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      • Anonymous says:

        Kimpton was full before the lockdown and dart don’t finance people buying their residences. Don’t let facts get in your way though. Plus he flies in test kits and funds recovery. What else do you want?

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        • Anonymous says:

          We want him to hand over all his money and property and then leave. We’re descendants of pirates after all.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Only thing MOH said correct this whole time was to call the Press Briefing ‘the show’! Enjoy your five minutes of ‘fame’ LOL

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  15. Anonymous says:

    If our borders were opened on Monday, who is coming? Where are these tourists? Are they happy to ride in an enclosed metal tube for an hour or more with other unknown persons? Are they willing to risk their life? I am not willing to take that risk just yet.
    This all seems somewhat strange to me. Maybe in a few months. Maybe.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Its not just about you or is it? I think you would be shocked to learn a lot of people need the borders open soon so they can get on with their own lives. But please feel free to hide from the rest of us for as long as you want.

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    • john smith says:

      Unfortunately your comment displays the extreme misinformation the public has been given regarding covid. The belief that ifnone is to go outside one will absolutely get covid and then absolutely die. Covid is not a benign disease, but it is also not an automatic dearh sentence. Of the 141 positive cases on the island none have died. The only death attributed to covid on the island was not due to covid, the patient was coincidently positive suffering from cardiac arrest. A long term plan of “hiding” from the virus is not appropriate, at some point the cost of treatment needs to be balanced with the effect of the treatment. The borders will need to be opened in a safe intelligent manner. Ensuring travellers are low risk for bring covid to the island is key. Screening at flight origin, medical passport, preflight testing are all reasonable options. Cayman is suffering, those who believe Cayman can survive longterm shutdown of tourism are incredibly misguided.

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    • Anonymous says:

      We want Covid Zombie tourists to come and buy our trinkets NOW! Whaaaa!

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Have a read.

    Was Swedish model the way to go for Cayman?

    Lets be honest here and Alden also has to realise this, we still don’t have a cure for the flu, COVID-19 isn’t going anywhere and at sometime all of us will get it.

    https://www.dailywire.com/news/epidemiologist-who-triggered-worldwide-lockdowns-admits-without-instituting-full-lockdown-sweden-essentially-getting-same-effect?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=benshapiro

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  17. Anonymous says:

    Two things. If you don’t think Dart wouldn’t buy up any available shithole to further make this island his, you are extremely ignorant and naïve.
    AND he will continue renovate everything to make it look like his version of a US Caribbean island.

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  18. Anonymous says:

    7:34 am – Jamaica is an amazing country to explore. If you don’t agree, you are doing it wrong.
    Get outta Mo’Bay and all other the tourist trap areas, try something different ya punter.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    Do not listen to 7:34pm reply. Aruba sucks. Been 2x. (Second was on accident, not my choice)

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  20. Anonymous says:

    What he need to do is take a pay-cut….selfish bunch. We are out here sharing food…conserving household energy…..trying to make ends meet. This pandemic is not going away right now….government need to adjust their plans.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    What pisses me off is when children are encouraged to participate in money raising events.

    Children’s mind are pure, but fragile. They respond without thinking “what is there for me” when it comes to helping other. But should they? Many simply don’t understand what they are doing and why.

    There are many societal ills that cause personal suffering, all created and caused by adults. It is damaging to a child’ psyche to see and feel suffering of others. Mental health of children should be protected from traumatic events. Their brains are still developing and it is easy to lay an unhealthy groove that will stay with them for life. Every single adult would recall childhood traumas they wish they didn’t experience or witness.

    Children should remain children for as long is they possibly can without pressure to grow up and carry societal burdens on their fragile shoulders. Don’t burden their developing minds with quilt, anxiety and fear. What might seem to an adult as a “fun” fundraising event, be it a particular disease awareness or feeding the hungry campaign, it may plant the seeds of insecurity, vulnerability, fear, anxiety, hopelessness in little children’s minds. You just don’t know, every child is different.
    Panic attacks and anxiety are rampant among children and teenagers.

    Before someone starts with ” ..but we should teach our kids compassion ….” ask yourself, if generations after generations of parents teach their kids all the things necessary to make the world a better place, why this world is still a $hitty place? May be a different approach needed to create a kinder world?

    Wise parents would do everything they can to raise emotionally healthy children. They would allow child’s brain to develop first, before introducing social responsibilities.

    So I propose that Premier, Governor and Minister of Education demonstrate their salto mortale or aerial cartwheel skills instead (or even kitesurfing). I bet they would raise record amount of money to feed hungry in Cayman. After all, their brains are fully developed and they have been taught all the right things.

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    • Anonymous says:

      🤸🏽‍♂️🚴🏻🏄🏽 🤹🏽 Cool, cant wait to see the 3 of them demonstrating their skills.

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  22. Anonymous says:

    what hapeened to your cayman bubble plan? …or eradiction of the virus?
    time to admit that you have been wrong from day one on many of the basics?

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  23. Anonymous says:

    Despite still in the suppression stage, McLaughlin said he was increasingly optimistic that we are, “going to see the end of this virus in relatively short order but we are not there yet.”

    Sorry to say but anyone above there 40’s will probably never see the end of this virus.

    Before the lockdown did you expect that we would irradiate the flu virus?

    Medical technology will be limited until another 20 or 30 years when it comes to virology.

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  24. level 25 says:

    Alden is greatest leader since slice bread Alden please do not open until next election give dem one day to vote and add 20 % to govt salaries to offset the lost in revenue. return Cayman to yester years good times. Thanks your drinking buddie Tommy Ru

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  25. Anonymous says:

    Alden lost my confidence support at the point where he basically said that everyone’s income and livelihoods were expendable…. EXCEPT his and his band of cronies

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    • David says:

      The couldn’t care less attitude regarding people without an income is shocking

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    • Anonymous says:

      He lost mine early on when he told a caller who had childcare issues if they could go their job their employer will simply find someone that can do the job i.e. People with no kids. Usually men.

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  26. Men at work says:

    Second wave coming Alden lock her down oooooh yeah! Gowerment employees getting paid for doing absolutely nothing it works for me! Please get me one application from Goab building too. I need a JOB like Dat!

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  27. Anonymous says:

    Even if you are successful in eliminating the virus in Cayman (which I doubt you can really do), it won’t matter when you open the borders, now, December or next year, the virus will come with the first visitors. All you are doing is crippling your economy to delay the inevitable. Open sooner rather than later. If not you will loose my annual $10,000 spend. Sorry for all the wonderful Cayman friends we have made over the years.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Visitors fine, from the US, absolutely not!!!
      Trump has shown a reckless disregard for the safety of his own people by encouraging states to open up too quickly. And now they have thousands of potential spreaders justifiably marching for George Floyd, many without masks and most in states that are Caymans mainstay tourism target in the winter.
      Until the US gets rid of that oversized Cheeto and gets back to a coherent public health strategy, keep them out.
      Look east Cayman, Europe is waiting. But without competition in the airline and package vacation market, we are doomed to rely on the over medicated, over nourished and under educated US tourism model.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Direct flights to and from low risk countries makes sense. Or even low risk areas of US. Testing at airport still.

  28. Anonymous says:

    The more I listen to Alden’s “plans” the less confidence I have that there actually is a broader plan and strategy. Sad. We were doing so well.

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  29. Anonymous says:

    Alden leads from behind. When the horse bolts he closes the gate. When the horse returns he won’t let it back in. Very poor and weak leadership.

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  30. Anon says:

    Covid 19 will never be eradicated. It’s something we will now have to live with for the rest of our lives. So opening our boarders now or in 6 months time will make no difference at all. What scares me is the expert analysis on this virus changes daily. We are obliterating our economy that our children will be paying back for years. Watch the ramifications of crime/ poverty and social ills. Which will far outweigh what the actual virus has brought to our shores
    Every single right we have as human beings has been taken without very little question
    Alden be careful. The tipping point is just around the corner
    The USA is rioting and sadly alot of the criminals are using poor Floyd george as an excuse. When we all know differently.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Thank you Dr. Quackenstein

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    • Colleen says:

      Most people are protesting and not rioting. The big cities have folks showing up who want to start trouble spray painting and breaking windows and starting fires and have nothing to do with George Floyd’s death. Our state has had hundreds of peaceful protests. Go figure.LA, NY, Chicago, Seattle, Portland have riots and homelessness out of control and riot police and militarized police forces

  31. Elvis says:

    This thing is still with us guys be careful what you do out. There. I have watched the us death rates climb from 98,000 just over a week ago to 108,000 today. Now we have cases each day because we are testing across the board they say. A child is now actually sick with symptoms now.
    Just remember it’s out there everyone and maybe it hasn’t started to bite here yet but I’m certain it will though.
    Just be mindful of lives and children, elderly, old and infirm.
    Construction and businesses slowly opening and numbers slowly slowly climbing.
    Just my observations. 2020 is a bust

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    • Anonymous says:

      I think you need to bear in mind that we are testing so much that we are picking up a lot more asymptomatic cases than many other islands and places. Aruba seems to have eradicated the disease, but if you look at their population of 107,000 people, they have only tested 2000. I think they may only be testing people that come in with symptoms, so they probably have a lot of Covid out in their community, but because it’s asymptomatic or people are not going for medical assistance, it’s not being picked up. I don’t really think that we have more cases than these other islands, I think the testing is what is making it appear so.

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  32. Anonymous says:

    Premier Alden McLaughlin said it was possible Cayman could welcome visitors again before the end of the year as a result of the trends in test results and the spread of COVID-19 across the community. I thought it was said that it was being based on what was happening around the world.

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  33. Anonymous says:

    things alden has been wrong/failed on:
    letting infected cruise ships dock here
    likely infection and death rates
    pool maintenance
    curfews
    beach closures
    unable to answer basic questions from the media
    jon-jon
    his ‘two more weeks’ waffle
    lack of economic plan
    border closure with no plan to re-open

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    • Anonymous says:

      What do you expect when we have Donalden, the Priest of Health and a guy who never wanted to be a doctor.

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  34. Anonymous says:

    typical from no-plan-alden.

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  35. Sini says:

    This at the time when the scientists are saying that this flare up of virus is disappearing at the rate that makes it difficult to test the vaccine. Despite that this virus is here to stay, it will come and go like all others, so what good does it do to run down our economy to ‘keep us safe’ from it? The first visitor who comes and sneezes on the road will start the lock down again.

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  36. Anonymous says:

    Wonder what he meant when he said “until there was a way to test people accurately”…

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    • Autonomous says:

      i believe it was suggesting a test that would give immediate and accurate results. I read it as suggesting a test that would be conducted on arriving passengers

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      • Covid this says:

        No one will come if they know some airport employee is going shove a swab up their nose.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Quite wrong. Testing is how people will travel until there is a vaccine. Time for Cayman to catch up.

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          • Anonymous says:

            And if there is no vaccine ? You think people are going to put up with being swabbed everywhere for time thereafter ? Not gonna happen

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            • Anonymous says:

              Just because Cayman only has one type of test doesn’t mean it is the only type. There are several. You don’t have to worry though, one cannot get swabbed when ones head is stuck up one’s …

        • Anonymous says:

          Eventually, I doubt anyone will be allowed to buy tickets online, let alone travel internationally as we had, until IATA and WHO agree some standard of medical authentication for travelers with SARS-CoV-2 IgG immunity, and protection for those without. Maybe that’s an RFID chip and/or unique traveller health code, that links to an acceptable qualified medical attestation. How do we fairly allow travel without discriminating against those with immunity, and those never exposed? There are lots of unique problems that top international aviation and travel bodies are wrestling with right now. The key to calming down is realizing that this is way bigger than the Cayman Islands.

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    • Anonymous says:

      This is a new disease and there are generally only three tests in wide use by governments right now. General “pin-prick” IgM and IgG mobile test kits that pick up immunity responses to Corona-viruses, not necessarily specific to SARS-CoV-2 – and PCR testing that gives a snapshot which expires immediately after sample drawn. The recent NHS-approved Roche and Abbott Labs SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG test kits will provide better data on community acquired immunity, but they need to be manufactured to scale and delivered before they can be available to administer. They also require a more substantial blood sample.

  37. Anonymous says:

    Please pick an opening date as I’m soon booking holiday travel and would like to choose Cayman, but if not open, will book JA or Aruba or another Caribbean destination. Need to plan in advance.

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    • Anonymous says:

      If you’ve never been to Jamaica, don’t go there. Aruba is nice, but Cayman is the best!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Cayman can only be the best if I can get there.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Over the decades, centuries, different islands have been the go to island of the Caribbean. Barbados, Jamaica, St. Barts, Antigua. For the last 3 decades Cayman. But anyone with any sense of history knows that nothing is permanent.

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      • Anonymous says:

        I have been to Jamaica plenty and have enjoyed it. Beautiful beaches and nightlife. No problems there, either. Been to Aruba just once and enjoyed it there, also, but Cayman been coming 2x a year for decades.

    • Autonomous says:

      wow! that is some selfish Sh*t right there! Go to Jamaica. Go to Aruba. Go anywhere else.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Wow. That is some stupid Sh*t right there. A person wants to come to Cayman and is asking Cayman to open up. The world will not stay at home and wait for Cayman to reopen. Other areas will be explored. And while we are at it, our high end restaurants will have to either bring prices down or go out of business. Cayman can only defy the laws of economics if it is open.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Why would people stay home and wait for an island to open up when the world is a big place to go? A lot of dates have been mentioned in the news for an opening date for Cayman. Is it August, September, November, January 2021? All dates have been mentioned in some capacity. People booking trips need to know in advance. Other islands are opening up and if Cayman is not open or have a firm date set then people will choose elsewhere.That is not saying people will not return, but believe it or not, people are making plans.

  38. Anonymous says:

    Omg we have to rebel against this. We allowing the island to be run by one idiot??

    Its easy for him to say he getting paid.

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  39. Anonymous says:

    CoVid is here to stay. You put all your eggs in one basket and eggs on your face. Your ego is preventing you from making educated decisions.

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  40. Anonymous says:

    Well he can keep our borders closed just long enough until riots and looting to start, by people desperate to survive!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Donaldin will bring out the U.K. troops.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Shame on you and others like you who are as bad as Donald Trump, inciting anger and hatred with inflammatory and irresponsible posts like this.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The person isn’t inciting violence. I’ve lived in the same house for 7 years. Only since the lockdown have I used the alarm system. Our Premier has released non-violent prisoners to make room for violent ones. So our Premier has predicted problems. U.K. Troops have been brought in. So shame on you for being so ignorant of what is possible.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Wow. Your thinking is as warped at 6:33’s. I suppose you think rioting and looting would be justified?

          • Anonymous says:

            @9:59 you missed my point, which is that when people are desperate and frustrated, they will do desperate things. I am totally against rioting and looting or any kind of crime for that matter. However, your head would have to be in the sand, if you think that people will not take this kind of action, if they continue to be out of work and begin to starve and are made homeless. Think about that for moment!

  41. Anonymous says:

    @6:15 pm no you’re not. Trying to be the poster boy of the Caribbean is the aim it seems. At this rate we will be the poster island yes but not for what they think. The damage is just beginning I’m afraid.

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  42. Anonymous says:

    Our “leader” says, I’m going to watch what others in the region are doing. We continuously think of ourselves as the jewel of Caribbean. When did we become the followers of third world countries?

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    • Anonymous says:

      You’re hardly following if you are watching them to observe what happens, as opposed to copying them.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Which I find so strange because cayman isnt even a part of the Caribbean. It’s a British overseas territory situated in the Caribbean Sea.

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  43. Anonymous says:

    Alden deliberately keeping Cayman closed and pretending it won’t open till December so that certain assets ( hotels) become available for sale. A certain vulture capitalist is waiting to gobble up hotels on the cheap . Once sale is complete the airport will open.
    Alden always was and is a snake in the grass pandering to special interests

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    • Anonymous says:

      Two things. Uncle Dart ain’t buying that shithole and it was going to be on the market with or without the borders closing.

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    • Anon says:

      Agree. The testing results make it clear that the China virus is here and cannot be stopped, and is not all that deadly in any case. Therefore, there must be some other reason for impoverishing the small business owners. Someone wants to take everything they own.

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  44. Anonymous says:

    … “We are still continuing to find the COVID-19 virus in the community, McLaughlin said” Well new flash Alden, Covid19 is here to stay. Please stop following in the steps of the mother country. I presented myself on Dec 18, 2019 after return from Europe with all the signs of covid19. Doctors hospital filled me up my Tamiflu, Amoxicillin and voltaren and sent me home. Covid has been in the community longer than March 2020. You cannot did it! You are wrecking the economy as you near retirement so no sweat off your back?

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    • Anonymous says:

      100% agree. And now that an IGG test exist on island, it won’t be open to persons who had symptoms historically when it was being labeled as a ‘bad cold’ or ‘flu type’ illness.

      To quote Dr Lee from yesterday’s press update: they will control the testing as they don’t want “skewed results”. It’s here; was here much earlier than what they label as patient 0. So is he suggesting that X number of persons will be tested from each district? I want them to take my blood and test. I’m 99% confident I’ve had it and who know many others that were on their @ss for days/weeks and could still be an asymptomatic carrier(s) for all we know. Test every person who was sick with similar symptoms presenting from November through now. The office I work in was like a day-ward or cesspit in a hospital this winter gone by, but it was just a cold/flu virus per doctors.

      In order to shape policy they want to see potential historical infection rates, well then open up testing. Controlling tests will give them the results they want to achieve and allow them to create the policy they want to implement.

  45. Anonymous says:

    Keep the borders closed to tourists. Fine. Big deal. But let people who are returning residents or WP holders leave and visit relatives overseas and not hold them to ransom in some ‘isolation facility’. Let them go home and isolate there. The whole government facility is utter garbage. A money making exercise and nothing more.

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    • Anonymous says:

      100% Agree it’s a disgrace.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Agreed. It makes no sense to essentially be put in prison for two weeks, when a more sensible approach is to isolate at home, with police or security doing spot checks for compliance.

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      • Anonymous says:

        In Canada, the penalty for leaving isolation is up to 3 years prison and or up to $750,000. Immigration, Health and Police call and check. Given the tiny size of Cayman, this system is totally feasible.

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      • Anonymous says:

        I’m tired of the one size fits all approach of this government. Persons who own houses can isolate much easier than persons who live in apartment complexes or stay in the top secret isolation camp. Who’s to say the isolation camp is cleaned properly? Who’s to say the persons who work there won’t catch the virus outside and bring it in to the prisoners?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Or even wear a monitoring for the duration which might work out cheaper and more efficient than using police and security doing spot checks.

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  46. Anonymous says:

    Am I the only voter who’s lost complete confidence in Alden?

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  47. Anonymous says:

    The only mistake I see is to remain in Cayman any longer.
    Yes, I know the drill. I won’t let the door hit my ass on the way out.
    I wish you guys all the best.

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  48. Anonymous says:

    31 August was the date he thought. So where does this year end bit come from? It’s time he start following other Caribbean nations instead of blindly following Dr. Lee. Either way our Leader is following.

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    • Anonymous says:

      They already said weeks ago borders won’t reopen until at least 1 Sept and perhaps not even by the end of the year.

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      • Anonymous says:

        That’s not accurate. The date was set for 31 August. That date is to be reviewed, although not likely to open up at that time. But as it is not yet the 31st of August, how can it be reviewed? What if a vaccine is found tomorrow and we can get it? We won’t open up on the 31st of August? What if we go to zero cases next week and hold for a month? We won’t open up on 31st of August? Which means our leader is either incompetent or not being honest with us.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Why not wait to see what happens with them? We don’t need to be the first ones to open up. Let them be the guinea pigs, we can learn their misteps .

      • Anonymous says:

        Cayman’s success is based on being open for business. Close it too long and, well you figure out the rest …

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