Local COVID-positive cases climb to 150
(CNS): Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee reported that there were nine new COVID-19 positive cases since he last revealed test results on Monday. The batch consisted of over 800 test results and the positives included one traveller in quarantine, two contacts of people who had already tested positive for the virus and six cases picked up the screening process. One person reported to the hospital this weekend with symptoms, officials said.
That patient’s tests results have not yet been revealed but the individual is the first person to present at the hospital with potential COVID-19 for five weeks.
Cayman now has 74 active cases, though most are asymptomatic and the rest recovering at home or in isolation. The country has conducted almost 12,000 tests. Depending on the current population levels, which authorities have not been able to confirm, this could represent almost 20% of the people currently residing here.
With no COVID briefing Monday the results were delivered by GIS.
Category: Health, Health Insurance
No one actually dies from Covid-19. Like no one actually dies from HIV. What you die from is the other things that the virus allows to kill you by weakening your body. So you die BECAUSE of Covid-19 or HIV.
And no one ever dies from anything. You don’t die of a heart attack. You die because there rest of your body doesn’t get oxygen through blood. So what’s you’re point?
Your an idiot
Then you must be dumber than an idiot!
You die because you were born.
There are many of you “naysayers” who continue crowing that “nobody has been hospitalized” in Cayman. That is SIMPLY NOT TRUE! I seem to recall that in April, Dr. Lee reported a few people hospitalized at HSA and there were 2 at Health City. I also recall that he and the Premier later described at least one of these as being “critically ill” and indeed “almost died”. Thankfully they recovered.
I dare you detractors to tell those people and their families that this virus is “not a big deal”, or “just a flu” or any of the other incorrect, insensitive and moronic dismissive descriptions that you use.
Would any of you volunteer to catch it and take a chance to see what happens?
@9:48 hope that he felt the same ways about large numbers of peoples not wearing mask and physical distancing having wild drunken parties on the beach and in pools as you do about people willing to risk their lives to highlight racial and social injustice but I do not expect it to resonate here either
last update is that 3 feet distancing is OKay.
0 Hospitalised
Now that government have destroyed the tiny sliver of middle class we had left who do you think will have the cash to buy up all the property and businesses that will be foreclosed?
I’m definitely middle class. I’m still hear and so are every one of my friends, who join me in middleclassdom. Stop being such a drama queen.
All lives matter
Hear too lmao
8.07pm Condolences for your father.
same % infection rate as before….no news here.
Sorry, but there is news value to this. If the reporting of these numbers bothers you, don’t read them.
Just so you know folks it’s still out there but has chosen not to strike hard yet, be very careful my friends. I have watched USA climb quietly from 98,000 last Week to 107,000 deaths this week so far. Be very respectful of this virus everyone. Stay your distance, wash and wash again and stay home when u can
Stop your fear mongering. If Cayman had the same population as the USA we would have the same % per head of cases ( about 0.3 ) and that would be 990,000 Cases.
Yes its out there in Cayman and NOT going away….BUT no one is in hospital!
“The human cost of virus misinformation”
https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-52731624
All the rest of the Caribbean is opening up between now and July 1. Cayman is the outlier and soon to be the laughingstock.
100% agree.
Everyone seems to have a plan for a sensible reopening by we are locking down until a Vaccine or Treatment.
I guess we will loose our tourist to the Islands that want them now.
You all are just upset that you can’t jump on a plane and spend your holidays in Europe. You really couldn’t care less if infected tourists come here over the summer because you’ll be quaffing Pims in the garden.
If they don’t come this summer, it’ll be next summer. We can’t hide from it.
What I can’t figure out why so many that are contacts of someone that has had the virus are being found amongst the general front line screening. Shouldn’t those people have been tested and isolated? Why are they currently on the front line? Who is responsible for contact tracing? Are we just missing these cases or are we really doing in depth tracing?
If there is someone that is a traveler that has now tested positive. Wouldn’t that be a good indicator that they should watch everyone that cam in on that flight with him/her?
I don’t think it was ever stated that the positive persons that are contacts of known cases were tested as part of frontline screenings. The implication is that they are contacts of frontline workers who tested positive during screenings, thus they were contact-traced and tested in addition to the frontline screenings, not as part of them.
Everyone that came in on amy flight is in 14 day govt quarantine and then tested prior to release.
Someone has to provide for us while we stay home, and that’s the frontline workers. Not to mention as people have said a thousand times, one can test negative and catch the virus five minutes after the test. And not everyone on a plane gets the virus. Nor a ship. There’s a thing called an immune system, supported by vitamin D. Cayman has two things. An abundance of vitamin D and nobody in hospital. Get a grip.
With all newcomers being quarantined for 14 days in government mandated facilities no new positive should come from them.
Close contacts with someone who was tested positive should have already run its course, meaning all went through 14 days self-isolation period.
It is asymptomatic positive who could get it ANYWHERE continue spreading.
What I am curious about is how long asymptomatic remain positive? Since Premier refused to get tested, what if he came back from UK asymptomatic and continues spreading?
Google: Mary Mallon, known as Typhoid Mary. Why she remained a carrier for so long? Why weren’t she treated? How science explains her case? Tragic.
As said many times, there is small percentage, in many infectious disease, that become asymptomatic carriers propagators who had not and have not the disease but due to immunological reason will carry the microbilogical agent, like reservoir. Those are the ones that we must identify, but for this you will need to do massive Serological immunological test (IgM, IgG antibodies) which are very accurate (90%), very cheap, quick and easy to do, more so in small community as our.
I have suggested it to CIG once and again.
But for some obscure reason, not science, they are very reluctant to do it.
We are blind in the identification of positives, clusters, transmission and healthy carriers propagators.
I have said,
Dr. Freeman (MD)
I agree with you and my comment above is just saying that people should stop worrying where new positives came from, unless there is an obvious cluster (like in this example https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Concentrated-outbreak-at-Anchorage-transitional-care-facility-570942101.html)
As a doctor, how do you explain “Mary Mallon, known as Typhoid Mary” case? Why she remained asymptomatic carrier for years? Should not bacteria in her body become inactive with time? Was it resistant to treatments? Extremely interesting case for immunologists, epidemiologists and many other “ologists” as well as intellectually curious minds.
I have also asked that question, why are they not doing the antibody tests? Dr. Lee has mentioned it a couple of times, several weeks back, that they had developed a very accurate version of the antigen/antibody test and we would be getting some from the UK, but then you never heard another word about it. I have made other comments asking about it, but no response. If we had that testing we would truly know how widespread the virus has been and perhaps many of us have been exposed and already recovered without knowing it. I think it would be very valuable as far as opening the Island is concerned.
NHS only agreed on a couple big pharma solutions a week or two ago, and those need to be scaled-up to production, and delivered here.
The level of positive tests here still falls well below the expected false positive error rate for the PCR tests (based on the information I was able to find)
What assurances/procedures are in place to validate the test results? given our borders are locked down, how exactly are we providing our positive test results and 10% of our negative test results to CARPHA to confirm these figures based on the stated procedure? Are the samples even viable by the time they arrive at CARPHA’s testing facilitities?
Furthermore, are the test results sent to CARPHA done on a blind basis? They should not be aware of which test sample is positive or negative to truly validate our results.
If we are going to “Test, Test, Test” we should have an understanding of the error rates of our current PCR process, otherwise, we are going to be locked up until the end of time chasing ghosts.
No test is perfect, and when only 1-2 percent of tests come back positive, the risk that these are actually false positives becomes very high
Nevertheless, control tests must be run regularly.
Proper collection of specimens is the most important step in the laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases. A specimen that is not collected, stored and transported correctly may lead to false test results.
May be Dr. Lee can tell us about Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens for COVID-19. And how they control integrity of the tests results.
This was asked several times here on CNS.
I even posted a link to a case confirming that it is easy to get tests damaged and it does happen.
https://www.winknews.com/2020/05/20/state-says-1702-covid-19-tests-were-damaged-need-to-be-retaken/
The rate of false negative for PCR is 30% , this is considerable high, for every 1,000 person tested we must assume that potentially there are 300 positives out there. Sad, but this is the bad side of the old known PCR in RT test, which by the way is not only used for viruses, let alone for Coronaviruses. There is a way, scientifically proven over the years, PCR RT validated by Serological Immunological antibodies test (IgM, IgG) cheap, quick, easy to do, drops of blood from the finger. This can be, and should be done to the whole small population here, then and only then we will know the accuracy of the RT PCR done here, plus the real presence of the virus in our community, most important, identify the healthy carriers propagators that are very healthy had not and have not the disease but continue spreading the microbiological agent that cause the disease in many others. This is sad but is proven with many infectious disease cause by virus and even bacteria (i.e HIV, Thyphoid etc). Immunological test is 90% accurate v.s. PCR 70%. I have, upon my experience in Epidemics, strongly suggest this here in CNS and directly to the CIG including the Health Minister, the opossition other doctors practising here, etc. But for some obscure reason they( those in power) are ignoring factual science.
I have said.
Dr. Freeman (MD)
Yes the false negative results are concerning, which is likely why the mandatory 14 day isolation period is enforced for all persons. I’ve posted countless comments and criticisms of the pointless regulations and violations of our civil rights, but I’ve actually done the research and agree with your points regarding false negative testing. Unfortunately, absent a separate confirmatory test for all persons, it’s likely the 14 day quarantine will need to remain in place for the foreseeable future due to the limitations inherent in our testing approach.
I really hope Dr. Lee can speak to the test confirmation process with CARPHA as the false positive rate under our current testing approach. The false positive rate for PCR is far less than the false negative rate, however given the presumed low rate of infections, the false positives are very material.
I can’t speak to the accuracy of the test but are you really an MD??
30% false negative suggests that for every 100 positive cases 30 report as negative on the test, no? It’s backwards from your statement and comes out to a fraction of what you’re suggesting.
A false negative test is where the test reports a patient is negative for the Covid virus where the patient actually has the disease. This rate is uncertain but based on the limited information available appears higher than most people expect.
This might help to clarify:
(using percentages which are not validated)
Where a patient has covid and the PCR test returns positive for covid= true positive (98.8% accuracy)
Where a patient does not have covid and the PCR test returns negative for covid = true negative (70-80%)
Where a patient has covid and the PCR test returns negative = false negative (20-30%)
Where a patient does not have covid and the PCR test returns positive = false positive (1.2%)
There is evidence that the false negative rate for the PCR test is between 20-30%, however it’s important to consider the prior probability (Before test) chance of having covid to properly interpret this. Assuming we test 1000 people, and 5% (50 persons) of the population actually has Covid, a false negative rate of 30% would mean 15 of the 50 covid carriers would receive a negative test result (1.5% of the 1000 tests)
I have also read the false positive rate is around 1.2%, so of the 950 tests which are actually negative, between 9 and 11 persons would receive a positive test result where they do not have covid.
Where the prior probably of having covid is very high, if you receive a positive test result, there is a high likelihood you actually have the disease, however at low levels of actual disease levels, the PCR test becomes highly unreliable in identifying true covid cases
Let us open up! The cost of remaining closed is too high. We cannot continue with this, FREE CAYMAN!
You are clearly a moron.
I could not do ten thousand thumbs down so here it is.
If you don’t want to open up than I have a suggestion to you…..Choose to stay home your self!
Sure we can, Alden can still pay his mortgage, so “his people” can suffer much longer!
Open up to whom?
The rest of the world is getting on with their lives and not cowering in (misguided) fear. There are plenty who would come.
Okay, so let’s rationally look at the numbers. 1 dead, 150 positive, 12000 tests, nearly all asymptomatic. So what is the cost to our community to destroy livelihoods? Is it worth it? Is it political? Are we ruining our economy for votes? I lost my father to this disease abroad. I understand the ramification.
We cannot remain isolated for 3 more, 6 more, 12 more, 24 more months. The numbers do not work.
Just so the fear mongers know. When one is asymptomatic it means one doesn’t even have the effects of a common cold. They feel perfectly fine. Which means, their body can deal with the virus. Which means, it’s not as deadly as being pitched by the media. Admittedly, the issue is if such a person comes in contact with someone with underlying issues, which typically the elderly have. It’s unfortunate that this is the reality the world has to deal with, but it is a global pandemic.
Asymptomatic is a catch-all continuum which includes all of those who may be almost fully recovered, those in progress with excellent immune response, and those whose ride hasn’t even begun yet (the Boris Johnson’s).
We also read that there are complications still becoming known from those that clinically “recovered”, that it can resurge, and that death isn’t necessarily the only concern. Even if you accept the incorrect measure, if you look at the global numbers of “resolved cases”, they only come out the other side as either “recovered” or “dead”, of which, the “deads” are around 12% of total confirmed exposures. That’s statistically noticeable.
Seasonal flu death rate is estimated at just 0.1%, per CDC.
Statistically noticeable? Show me one island in the Caribbean that supports those stats. Just one. Or even one district of any island. Or even one building of any island.
The deceased man was a transit from cruise ship who didn’t get the virus in Cayman. Stop counting him. He didn’t die directly from coronavirus, but rather many health issues as well as surgeries contributed to his unfortunate demise.
If we don’t count him, the world would have to do the same and all of a sudden 371,000 who have died of “covid-19” would have to revised downward and then what? Our “leaders” would have to be held accountable? Where does it end?
Oh, poop. Government will use this further destroy our economy. Is anyone symptomatic? If not, yay.
Can we please ask these questions:
1- how many of the 150 cases are directly from travel, or a contact of someone who traveled?
2- of the community transmission cases, how many of them are still of unknown origins (cannot find the positive contact) with no travel history?
3- have we done any work on our positive cases to see if we have the strain from NY/ Europe, or if we have the strain from China and western US? Or both?
4- when contact tracing our positives, have we been able to identify any cases transmitted outdoors or from the beach? Or we they entirely transmitted during indoor contact?
Should we revise the stay home Cayman SIP regulations to “get outside” Cayman?
The best way to get those answers is to open up and stop telling people they are going to die or kill someone if they have the virus. Treat it like any other illness, but add social distancing, face masks and washing of hands.
I agree with your treatment plan, but it in no way answers the previous poster’s questions!
Wait…. no one has been hospitalized for 5 fricken weeks?!?!?!? Ffs what are we even scared of here?!
The gov will see that as vindication of their policy. Alldone wants to get through this without any deaths thereby proclaiming himself the saviour of Cayman. Meanwhile our economy is in the cludgie.
Alden’s ego.
Quite a lot of new positives every week from contact with previous positive(s). Clearly many of those testing positive are not properly isolating themselves!! While they may be family members or close contacts, that type of irresponsibility could just as easily expose people farther afield! What is CIG/ HSA doing about that?
Quarantine all positives!!
Pretty sure this is contact from before they received their results
Have you heard of asymptomatic transmission. It’s what happened. The fact that most don’t even know they got it is a good sign this isn’t the scary virus it once was.
A question to ask is… Do these asymptotic people end up having any symptoms? South Korea saw it spread from a couple who attended a church service from Wuhan. They were asymptomatic and spread it without knowing. Then they became ill a few days later.
To 7.05pm Not the Governments plan but perhaps yours.
Stop the fear mongering headlines please, the show is over, nobody is getting sick or dying. Look at Europe’s numbers after opening up. All the American protesters seem to be immune too. The longer we wait to go back to normal, the more harm will be done to us economically. But wait, that was the plan from the beginning, right?
Whoever still doesn’t see what’s going on can’t be helped anymore or perhaps is sitting home doing nothing on a full paycheck thinking this is better than Christmas and Easter combined
Damn the CIG for having done the right thing and prevailed. Those bastards.
Not compared to other islands!
Move to one of those other islands if they’re so great. Seriously, if you think Cayman is so screwed up, why stay here?
Because some of us are born Caymanians but still hate our government.
Then you’re screwed I’m afraid.
Any sense of history and you’d know that any country can go from paradise to hell in a short period. OUR leaders have shown an utter inability to think for themselves. To asses OUR situation and act accordingly. Remember, the acted on 6,000 deaths.
Time will tell. It’s way too early to give them credit.
Sorry, but I don’t follow you. What do you think IS “going on”? Please do explain.
(This should be fun).
Notice how the media highlights the positives but hides the perspective of how many tested? Why doesn’t the media do a Caribbean wide comparison?
CNS: Because there are only 24 hours per day and we need to sleep occasionally.
With all due respect CNS, the comment was for all media houses. Alternatively the headline could start with how many negatives.
We will know the results of the protesters in about 2 weeks- not smart not to be wearing a mask especially in those cities w/ high numbers.
Nothing to do with masks. Proven waste of time
Wearing a mask is not proven to be a “waste of time,” but reading your comment is.
We shall see. By the way I’m not for or against masks. I haven’t formed an opinion. So personally I think these protests will actually help me form an opinion. Also, I fully support black lives matter in continuing the good fight. Before anyone comments to say they’re burning the place down…
1: go look at all the videos of most the people who are actually burning the place down and who are begging them to stop.
2: good. Nothing else has worked so far to get the point across.
If I’m looting, I’m wearing a mask.
Tens of thousands of people are getting sick in Brazil every week and as many as 1,000 people are dying every day now. You can’t say that what the CIG has done here didn’t prevent many deaths here.
Do you even know what a slum is? Most people that are dying in Brazil live below poverty. These people are stacked up on each other living in close quarters that are absolutely filthy. It’s also no surprise because they also have one of the worst leaders in the history of Brazil at the helm.
We need to stop comparing ourselves to other countries, we need to focus on where we are. Truth of the matter is where we are no one was hospitalized for 5 weeks.
Amen.
Go mingle without your mask then hero