Bahamas shutting back down over COVID-19 spike
(CNS): The Bahamas will close its borders this week for commercial flights from the United States and other countries, not including the United Kingdom, the European Union and Canada, due to a rise in COVID-19 cases, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has announced. The Bahamas opened to guests just three weeks ago but Minnis said the virus situation had deteriorated “at an exponential rate since we reopened our international borders”.
The news comes as the Cayman Islands announced plans to reopen its own borders on 1 September. Just like Cayman, visitors from the United States, especially Florida, make up a large portion of the Bahamas’ tourism economy.
On Sunday that state alone recorded another 12,478 COVID-19 cases. But on Friday the chief medical officer in the Cayman Islands, Dr John Lee, who has so far taken a very conservative approach to controlling the COVID-19 virus, leading to near elimination here, played down the numbers of infected people in Florida.
Speaking at the COVID-19 briefing about the plans to reopen the Cayman Islands’ borders in a phased approach using testing and technology, Dr Lee said that Florida was a large state with a large population and only a small percentage of the actual people were infected.
Asked by CNS how Cayman will be able to manage guests coming from the United States, given the increasing infection numbers, Dr Lee said it was the “million dollar question” but it had to be borne in mind the number of people in Florida that are actually positive.
“Although the numbers are really high the… population is enormous. So the percentage of people who are actually infected is in fact very small,” he said, adding that this was not what the news would lead people to believe.
“You would think that the whole of Florida has got COVID. But if you look at the surveys that have been done to see what the percentage of people that are positive in a community it is probably somewhere between two and four percent. Its those figures that we need to concentrate on when we make the decisions. Those figures are available at a global level.”
He said in many countries where you think there are high infection rates the actual numbers of people infected at a given moment in time is around 2%. Many of those will be symptomatic and will test positive and be picked up before they travel, the CMO explained.
“The actual numbers of people at the current time that are infected is not as huge as you might immediately think, even though the figures are clearly shocking,” he added.
Cayman is planning a phased reopening, beginning with a change in the management of repatriation flights, which will be used throughout September to bring some visitors or homeowners here.
People who want to come to Cayman can apply online and will then go through a process, provide a negative test and a fee. On arrival, they will be given a bio-button and asked to isolate for five days. The bio-button will provide both medical and positioning data to the Public Health Department.
After five days they will be tested for COVID-19, and if it is negative, allowed to move around. If it is positive, they will continue to remain in isolation. Either way, the visitors will be required to continue wearing the button.
All of the protocols and plans are still being fine-tuned, According to Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell. But as of 1 September, Owen Roberts International Airport will begin a “soft” reopening for at least four weeks, including general aviation, to accommodate returning Caymanians and residents as well as individuals with homes in the Cayman Islands.
“I am hopeful that this advanced health screening solution will sufficiently enhance our reopening protocols and provide further confidence so that we can once again welcome visitors to our shores, while still minimising the risk of introducing new cases to the local community,” Kirkconnell said Friday.
More information about the phased re-opening is expected to be released this week.
CNS: This article has been amended to include the exceptions to the Bahamas shutdown. Follow the link to the Nassau Guardian for the full story.
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Category: Business, Caribbean, Tourism, World News
Listen!!
I am not ready to be locked down again.
I will protest!!
Government better figure this out by 1 Sept. No matter what they do infected people will get in.
4:18 Yes, I completely agree! 100%
“The infected ones” are already here. They are all around you. It’s too late. If you haven’t caught it by now you will soon. My advice is to start drinking heavily and eat lots of fatty foods, smoke lots of cigarettes and hangout at the bars all night every night.
We need a petition against this…does anyone know if one has already been started?
11:41 please start the petition!! Many of us will sign it because this is dangerous and should NOT be forced upon us. Are our lives here worth so little that their high net worth idols can put us at this risk?
I will join you in protesting 4:18!!!! I never thought I would see this level of stupidity and greed that could potentially cost us lives!
It seems a lot on here are quick to blame the ” Americain Tourist ” for the Bahamas outbreak BUT the Grand Bahama out break has been traced back to Bahamians traveling to the USA for the day or the night once the boarders opened and returning within 72 hours.
The Bahamian government exempts locals from a negative PCR test IF they only went to the USA for 72 hours.
So who’s fault is it?
Also I’m sure the large fish fry party in Nassau did not help! Again this was not tourists there.
Yes, locals traveling to Florida were not tested upon return. Additionally, no arrivals were quarantined, whether returning locals or non-locals !!!
Grand Bahamas is now under nightly curfew since Monday, and will go into 2 weeks shutdown tomorrow.
http://www.tribune242.com/news/2020/jul/22/we-brought-it-ourselves-families-rush-stock-urgent/?news
Anyone notice what is glaringly absent from these Covid panicdemic reports?
How many are sick and dying.
You can’t ELIMINATE viruses with shutdowns.
You can’t ELIMINATE viruses with shutdowns.
You can’t ELIMINATE viruses with shutdowns.
You can’t ELIMINATE viruses with shutdowns.
You can’t ELIMINATE viruses with shutdowns.
You will bankrupt everyone with shutdowns.
You will bankrupt everyone with shutdowns.
You will bankrupt everyone with shutdowns.
You will bankrupt everyone with shutdowns.
You will bankrupt everyone with shutdowns.
As Albert Einstein implies repeating and expecting different results……..
Bro you have key pad paralysis get help immediately please!
Daily flights are scheduled from Miami to Cayman starting September 1st
If the government allowes that to happen we are going back to full lockdown within weeks!
WE WILL NOT SURVIVE A SECOND LOCKDOWN
NO AMERICAN TOURISTS IN SEPTEMBER!!
Scared much? You need therapy. You are still 5 times more likely to die of heart failure, cancer,traffic accident,etc than from covid even here in tiny Cayman Islands. But one thing you said might be true. YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE A SECOND LOCKDOWN. But most of us will. Almost all of us and we would like to continue working and living free from the fear that now controls you.
I don’t know who you are, but I honestly don’t know who is hurting SO badly? If you were in tourism, you should have left by now, the writings been on the wall for over 4 months now. AM I being privileged? Probably, so please educate me, I truly do want to know.
Your not being privileged at all. That would only happen if we all had to listen to you and your unreasonable fear. I know that fear driven treatment of others is endemic here and totally your choice. But not mine. I believe in God and have faith in what he does for me. One of the big reasons I am not peeing my pants about this. Maybe you should try it? Otherwise you may have a heart attack of a stroke from the stress.
You telling me that when I look at the situation in Florida, Texas and Arizona today I should not be worried?
Do you live in Florida? My wife and family do. None of them even knows anyone infected except one person who took the swab test and was positive then went in and took a blood test and was negative. There are 21.5million people who live there. If you don’t watch the news then you could not tell that there is anything going on just like the flu. If you watch the news you would think its hell on earth and your sheep.
Yes, I live in Boca Raton and know 5 people infected and 2 of the 5 are in ICU at a local hospital. All 5 people are in their sixties.
So don’t feed me crap 8:28. It is hell on earth where I live.
I know 5 people- 2 in Vero and 3 in Ft. Lauderdale And none are or have been infected. They have all been wearing masks since March.
So many in America say what you say 8:28 however, when it hits you or a member of your family your world will be rocked.
Be careful and don’t push your luck.
Sorry but it is science not God that is going to get us out of this coronavirus mess. I am fed up with the lack of belief in science in American society. The evangelicals and fanatic Christians are part of the reason we are so far behind in America in terms of solving thus public health crisis.
Selfish more like it. Caymanians worked in the tourist industry as well, so are they now supposed to leave? To where? Try putting yourself in someone else’s shoes for a change rather than just your own self-centered paranoia ones.
Tourism is dead, get over it and find another job.
I can’t. I wasn’t brought up that way.
Well you are a dingbat then if you can’t adapt and move on.
I have an extra binky My son is getting to big for. Where do I send it? I’ll leave it at the Civil service office for pick up when you get back to work.
At least the Americans will return home unlike many we now see coming here from further north .Who no matter what happens here will not depart hemorrhaging and fleecing or economy because they are now in full control of our construction industry. The only pillar of our economy working at the moment !
Financial services is the main pillar of our economy & is most def. working!!
You lost me with Breibart and FOX as sources. Nice try, Trump.
It seems like Cayman is facing a dilemma: They don’t want Americans, but they want their money. Hmm…..
Need their money. And food. and merchandise, and skill and expertise, and businesses. But yes they don’t want anyone here but Caymanians. But just some Caymanians. Not all of them.
We want nothing to do with you lot actually. Not until you get your act together!
Try to imagine how expats feel about the treatment they are getting by Caymanians? Not that it matters to you.
Imagine the treatment Caymanians receive daily from expats who thing they have more right in this island than locals do. Not that you’ll talk about that.
We have more smarts and more money and more skill and more experience and training not to mention empathy and compassion. But we do not have more rights than you. If you could read you would know that.
If you lived a day in a Caymanian’s shoes, you would know all of what you said is incorrect. You are not smarter, more experienced, more cultured, or have more empathy and compassion than us.
You like to think you don’t have more rights than us but you do and you are given more opportunities. All because you are a foreigner.
We may not be the best but we are far from the worst. Our Government may have their issues but at least we don’t have the madness that is the US government.
8:32 judging by who you all have as president…smarter is a inaccurate. Nuff said.
Everything else you pumped out in your comment is BS as well, and you know it. You all have nothing on people from the Caribbean. Big up to my Caribbean flava; Caymanians, Jamaicans, Barbadians, Trinidadians, etc, etc, etc, etc!!! WE DA BEST!
Don’t worry. We”re not coming back. You’ll do fine without us.
Excellent and yes you are right. We will be just fine without you lot.
Typical American thinking that the world revolves around them. Don’t forget that your money is worth less in our islands, so you can keep it.
It is a big world out there and there are many other countries we would rather welcome.
News flash…America ain’t great.
Your money is pretend money once the plane takes off.
11:49 That is why the CI dollar is one of the highest currencies in the world…above the US dollar?
Your response is pathetic. Please shut up.
The level of the ci/us fix is arbitrary; it’s meaningless you numpty.
You ignorant fool. Take some Cayman currency to a reputable currency exchange in a major city and you will get paid very handsomely in US dollars. Take it to XXXXX Nebrahoma and you will get a blank stare, it’s true. But then you aren’t from there, are you?
Your point is what?
Our “pretend” money is still what you bunch of goons find yourself to our islands to obtain. You don’t complain when you convert it, get those additional digits, and send it home. So shut up.
Too funny!
That’s only because you all pegged your currency against the US dollar at the BS 1.2 to 1. Unpeg it and leave your currency to propery fluctuate as REAL countries do. It’d be worth less than dirt!
You still want out “dirt” money thoughhh! Quit whining and at least out Government had the sense to “peg” our currency. Seems like you are just upset that your lot didn’t think to do so.
1:37 … we smart eh?!
Its a pegged exchange rate. If the US dollar goes down against any currency, the Cayman dollar goes down as well – but stays exactly the same value against the US dollar. And the exchange rate was not determined by the market, but by a stroke of a Caymanian pen many years ago. You can change the rate to a billion dollars to one if you want – doesn’t make the US dollar “worth less” in our islands just because you say so.
Keep telling yourself that Bobo. Mac loves you.
News Flash! It is better than great. Why all this mean talk about Americans? Get a real disaster here and you same idiots, will be glad to see the red, white and blue offering help! But never mind, one day you will wish for some good old US dollars to feed your sorry backside.
7:57 Stfu, we have never and will never need assistance from your pathetic government. You all can’t even help yourselves. So keep your red, white and blue. The assistance we will receive is from our motherland, The United Kingdom or Great Britain if you prefer.
We have nothing to do with the states, so think again bozo.
Nothing we need is american, and we want nothing from the american government
The things we require from the states are all coming from PRIVET BUSINESS
We do not want american tourists infecting our covid free island after we sacrificed so much to get to where we are!
NO AMERICAN TOURISTS IN SEPTEMBER
what you resist, persists. One always gets what he is afraid of and tries to avoid.
PRIVET means Hello in Russian.
Means a hedge / bush in English!!
Well, we are the centre for hedge funds! Would be quite clever play on words if the original poster had actually intended it.
I think it means PRIVATE in third world.
These islands are not COVID free 11:17. Where have you been? We still have some positive results and some community spread, remember? I am Caymanian and bashing Americans, or any other nationality, is uncalled for. I do not support opening our borders for incoming visitors from anywhere at this time. Yes the virus is sadly rampant in the America and I definitely agree that staying closed to everyone for while longer is what we should be doing! Then, when we are safer globally we can happily welcome visitors again! In the meantime let us hope and pray that America and all other countries, including us, will Do everything we should to help get relief soon from this nasty virus. Let exercise kindness and compassion not hatefulness.
Apart from 9:59. He just hates Canadians.
A Canadian took off with his wife so he is bitter. 😢
I do feel that the government is being cautious with the re-opening. That said, many residents will not be happy (to say the least) if we find ourselves in a situation where we have to go back into lockdown.
Cayman Airways shoeing daily flights to Miami, starting Sept 1st. How is that cautious?
BA also showing flights here – through Bahamas & Miami !!
Don’t bank on them running: more likely they’ll be cancelled as no one will want to go through this nonsense procedure!
Shoeing?? Is it a horse they’re going to Miami on? I’d take a horse cause I don’t like flying.
Grand Bahamas is under night curfews and will go into second lockdown tomorrow. Now say that our govt is being too careful??
http://www.tribune242.com/news/2020/jul/22/we-brought-it-ourselves-families-rush-stock-urgent/?news
We should be perma banning chinese tourist while we’re at it. Cut ties completely.
Rather than opening to U.S bring in Canada. Travel time application shows no date for Canadian‘s, it’s to be arranged.
The ones here need to go home now!
Just go back into hiding. Something you can do well. Besides, landowners are here to stay and that’s not gonna change.
Keep the virus out of Cayman!
NO AMERICAN TOURISTS IN SEPTEMBER!!!
Cayman Airways has daily flights scheduled to Miami starting Sept 1st.
Don’t think you have to worry about American tourist coming here for Quite a while. Or workers. Or businesses. Look at what is happening in Hong Kong. You will get your wish.. YAY!
Perfect, we don’t want them.
We get that. As the real owners of Cayman we are starting to think that we don’t want your type here anymore. Maybe Cube will take you in.
We prefer Cuba to your shithole country (as Trump loved to deem places).
FYI the world is bigger than the USA. Would much rather travel the UK, EY, Caribbean etc than the US. So the feeling is mutual, we don’t want or need you and ya’ll don’t need us.
CNS – THIS IS INCORRECT!
Bahamas has closed to commercial airlines but will allow commercial airlines from UK,EU and Canada.
They also will allow PRIVATE charter aircraft and vessels from the USA with US citizens.
Please correct this as saying shutting down to the USA is not 100% true!
This is the regulation –
Private aviation and pleasure craft and yachts still permitted to enter and depart The Bahamas (except Grand Bahama).
International commercial flights will NOT be permitted to enter, except for flights from the UK, European Union and Canada, effective midnight Wednesday 22 July. Bahamasair to cease outgoing flights to the US, effective immediately. Outgoing commercial vessels and flights still allowed to depart The Bahamas, except Grand Bahama.
On GRAND BAHAMA: No international or domestic flights or sea vessels in or out of the island, except for emergency and essential purposes; restaurant indoor dining prohibited (outdoor dining, curbside, takeaway and delivery allowed). New curfew, 7pm to 5am; the 10pm to 5am curfew remains on all other islands. All beaches and bars closed.
On NEW PROVIDENCE: Beaches and parks closed.
Domestic travel still permitted with a Health Visa, except for Grand Bahama.
All incoming visitors must present a COVID-19 RT-PCR Negative (Swab) Test upon arrival. Effective Wednesday July 8th, the RTPCR COVID-19 test must have been taken no later than ten days from the date of arrival in The Bahamas. (It was 7 days for a brief time, but now has reverted to 10 days).
Select individuals will be exempt from testing,
Children under the age of two (2)
Children between the ages of 3-10, provided their state or county of residence does not administer tests for children under that age. Parent or guardian must provide proof of testing restriction upon arrival.
Private pilots who do not deplane
Bahamian citizens, residents and homeowners who are returning to The Bahamas from English speaking CARICOM countries
Bahamian citizens and legal residents who have been out of The Bahamas for less than 72 hours will have to quarantine for two weeks. Period may be reduced by taking a COVID-19 test upon arrival in The Bahamas with a negative result.
Contact your health care professional to receive a COVID-19 RT-PCR Test. Tests are also available at select CVS and Walgreens stores across the U.S. For additional information, please visit your state or local health department’s website.
All travellers – both domestic and international – are required to complete an Electronic Travel Health Visa at travel.gov.bs prior to departure and for any inter-island travel within The Bahamas. An automated response will be provided upon completion, and only those who receive a green color-coded response can travel. Please submit this form at least 24-48 hours prior to arrival. It is essential that travellers present proof of confirmation upon arrival in their destination.
No quarantine will be required upon arrival (if all steps are met).
That is the problem, isn’t it? No quarantine upon arrival. Nor are the mask and social distancing regulations being upheld in stores and workplaces! No wonder they are back in curfew and have a two-week shutdown beginning tomorrow!
Alden claims they are paying attention to other countries well I hope he pays attention to this! We have no business opening up September 1st, especially to the US! It is a mess over there right now and we do not need Americans coming here
Says the expat Brit.
What difference does that make idiot?
One can be an American and fully agree that America is now a total mess.
My country has never been so messed up like this in my lifetime.
FUBAR. So very sad.
My country? My country(America) is still doing much better than most even with Covid. Standard of living is much better at half the cost of Cayman. Try living in America for a while then compare it to the speck in the ocean that is Cayman islands. If your info is from the news then you only know what the news wants you to know.
Stop doing drugs; it’s ruining your brain.
You can tell who is an expat or who is Caymanian by an anonymous comment now? Wow, who knew!
You can tell by the color of their comment.
7:24 that literally makes no sense.
9:00 I meant to like your comment! The above commenter is a MORON!
Humor is dead, apparently.
And spelling.
Actually, I am Caymanian and before you try to make some “smart” ass remark, I am not a “paper Caymanian” either. Not that any of that changes my original comment. It’s people like you that bring shame to our people.
So what say you now 6:34?
Nobody wants and will not come to Grand Cayman on proposed conditions. So you can relax.
Life is normal in Florida. Everyone wears masks.
We love Ron DeSantis, our governor. MYOB and criticize yours.
50 hospitals in Florida today have no ICU beds left. That’s your idea of normal?
Suspect you live in the big swamp far away from everything with the alligators.
Worry about your’ ICUs.
Our entire system has been made ready fro this
We sacrificed a lot to get free of the virus on island
We dont need white prevailed americans who refuse to wear mask and pretend like nothing is happening coming to our island and ruining it.
“White prevailed Americans”? Not sure what you mean by “prevailed”, but certainly a racist comment. Why would you single out white Americans?? America is made up of many, many races.
They single out white Americans because – they are racist! What has colour to do with it?
Did you visit them? You have no idea, neither do I.
Deal we will stay here and you will stay there with your DeSantis and Trump
All we want is for you to stay where you are and leave us be
Why are YOU on OUR news service website? Lol take your own advice and mind your own business, stay out of ours.
We are here out of curiosity. We’ve been wondering when your government would change faces. Now it’s happened. “Economic sustainability” trumps “Covid Free,” even for racists and xenophobes.
👍👍🤪
Good, we don’t want the likes of you coming here anyway, especially if you feel your state is doing well. Laughable. ✌🏼
I’ve travelled to Cayman for over two decades and always found the people on island hospitable and welcoming. After reading this forum lately, I am pretty much shocked by what I have been reading on the comments re. Americans and tourists in general. I am hoping that these feelings are being written by only a few people.
Not all of us in America agree with our president. Not all of us live in Florida and not all that live in Florida are infected with Covid-19. Not all Americans are walking around without masks. A lot of us Americans sacrificed by staying home during this pandemic just like you in Cayman. A lot of areas in America are not raging with Covid-19, but there are areas (mostly in the highly populated areas) where the numbers are extremely high, but there are many areas where the numbers are quite low.
Its not an anti american sentiment
Its simply us wanting to keep ourselves safe, after sacrificing so much to get to where we are.
We do not want toursits from the usa untill it is safe
8:57, What you don’t understand is that the eyes of the developed world are on our country, America. Our country is performing dismally in the public health area and we are paying a high cost to our country’s reputation internationally.
The situation is not getting better and the coronavirus is now spreading out to rural areas. The President is in denial about the public health problem.
The rest of the world is asking “What the hell is America doing”? Everybody else now have their act together, European Union countries, Canada, Cayman Islands, etc.
Elections have consequences and we are now seeing the consequences of a disastrous decision made by American voters in 2016. Hopefully they will not make the terrible stupid mistake I made in 2016.
8:55, Your country, my country, now has a totally dysfunctional health care system. With all the unemployment we now have 50 million plus people without health insurance. Many people who have or might have the virus will not get tested because they can’t afford it. As Americans we are delusional about our health system. The countries of the European Union and Canada have much better health care systems for ALL / ALL the people not a minority of upper income people like we have in America.
The time has come for America to reevaluate where we are going with health care as Florida, Texas, Arizona and earlier this year NYC and New Jersey showed our system for public health care is broken.
Must say that the Cayman Islands has done a damn good job working with what they have dealing with the virus. As for our country, the way we have handled the situation from a public policy perspective, is a disgrace from a country with so much wealth and medical expertise. I am very angry that we as a nation could be so stupid. Where else in the world do they debate simply wearing a mask?
Dr Lee is actually applying critical thinking, unlike most other people, PCR tests continue to be ‘not fit for diagnostic purposes’, heavily unreliable results, reported falsely, US is testing way more than any other country, most people are asymptomatic (really think about this important point, it doesn’t mean they’re super carriers it means most people are not even infected with anything and not sick), hospital ICUs are mainly filled with regular sick people because lets not forget you have more chance of dying of something else than COVID and finally, but importantly deaths in the US have drastically declined, so much in fact that COVID is actually barely an epidemic now…..
What news are you following or watching??
Like the Koolaid do you?
DEH love the Trump Kool Aid in Floriduh.
I recall the premier saying he was waiting to see what happens in other countries. Well now you have it!
The Premier also said that he and his government would not place economic gain over the safety of Caymanians and residents. I wonder what this opening on 1 September move is then because it sure isn’t about our safety and I for one will will not forget the anxiety they are giving us now with this announcement.
Apparently people from Canada, EU & UK can still fly in, along with anyone wealthy enough to fly privately.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/the-bahamas-has-just-banned-most-foreign-travellers-but-not-canadians-1.5031347
You are correct and private charter flights are a few hundred per person AND you can pre clear into the Bahamas at some of the private terminals in the USA.
Let us go home for a holiday and to see family on 1st September. Let Caymanians and residents return as well. Let them isolate at home and not in rip-off hotel rooms. Just don’t let tourists from the USA land here. The USA has NO coherent strategy to deal with Covid. They have a lunatic in charge. Simple stuff.
12:54 pm Why don’t you go up there and show them how to get rid of the virus, since you know everything!
You dont to have a cure to say you dont want whats happening in the USA in our island
We dont want “the american virus” in cayman!
We are your biggest tourist base.
Don’t forget that.
And you are a very, very sick tourist base these days.
Our biggest pain in the ass tourist base too. Entitled, ill mannered, and racist. Don’t forget those things too, one of my least favorite things to do it serve Americans when they come here. Give me Brits, Canadians, and other islanders any day!
@ 4.33 And the rudest, messiest, most arrogant, most obese and most likely to infect us with the ‘American Virus’ thereby wiping out the population.
9:19 & 9:44 PREACH!
True colours coming out. Caymankind.
Caymankind = we hate you but pretend to like you for your money
Liking and tolerating are two vastly different sentiments.
Don’t worry. We learned. We’re not returning. You got along without us before, you will get along without us now.
The entire island will revert to Boddentown.
People in the Bahamas are just not as disciplined as we are here about wearing masks and observing social distancing. Also, they required pre-arrival tests of the visitors, but had no regulations about isolation post-arrival. All this just a few miles away from Florida where the cases are rising rapidly and refrigerated trucks have been ordered to TX and other states to store bodies.
Makes me really appreciate the way this has pandemic been handled in Cayman!
Pandemic…lol.
If only they had placed the fate of Bahamians in magic Bio thingies no body would have the virus.
Cayman has nothing to fear. Bahamas is further east than Cayman is and we all know that the virus hates going west. The virus is also afraid of Bio-nonsense buttons – even more than it is of vitramin D – that is proven science.
What are the other countries? I have only seen the U.S. mentioned in coverage other than CNS.
Other countries now have everything under control. Unfortunately, America being a backward country On health related issues does not follow scientists and medical experts.
Other countries do not have the virus under control. Brazil, India and South Africa come to mind.
Yes, it is me The Donald. Weren’t you impressed with my brilliance during the Chris Wallace FOX interview? Bet you like my idea that I might not accept the results of the November 3 election. If you have not seen the interview check out the stable genius for yourself. Americans tell me they loved it. MAGA
😭 😭 😭
Since when did Americans start comparing themselves with Third World countries such as India, Brazil and South Africa?
We have fallen so far in public health policy.
Ummm since your last election I believe … 😂
Are you now comparing America to those 3 countries?
How low America has fallen. SAD 😔
The Trump Plague is killing America and bringing the country to ruin.
Countries like Germany, France, Canada etc used to be our measure. Now we compare ourselves to India and Brazil . So sad.
Learn from someone else’s mistakes!
Don’t open us up for the virus, it will not help economy and will only hurt us in the long run!
Letting people in from countries where covid-19 is running wild (USA,UK, EU etc) is the single biggest mistake we can make right now!
KEEP CAYMAN SAFE
KEEP THE VIRUS OUT
NO AMERICAN TOURISTS IN SEPTEMBER
Alden Moses Joey and Cabinet have an election they need to win. Plus they must do everything their masters tell them or there will be no funding for campaign 2021
There needs to be an official policy in place regarding working from home for offices. At the moment, offices are planning to have 100% back in by September 1….when the borders open. The virus will be back here, and having people working in close proximity in cold offices will not help either
Nasty ass place anyhow.
This is literally the ultimate irony from a CMO and government who were adamant about maintaining the lockdown here (even the unjustifiable elements of it) despite significant pressure from people to open up the local economy.
That strategy has proven to be successful, even more successful than the government had expected in controlling the virus locally.
Now that a decision has been made to open up, the CMO is twisting facts to suggest that the virus isn’t all that prevalent in Florida because he is looking at the published number of cases???
Have we forgotten the sheer number of people here who test positive who are asymptomatic? Can we not apply the same logic to Florida and expect that there are probably well over 10x more positive people than the published figures who are not getting tested because they show no symptoms?
Yep, Dr. Lee is starting to change the narrative to match government plans
Please shut down this plan to open up the borders quickly.
Businesses can ill afford another 3 months of hard lockdown and I can see another 3 months of lockdown if we move too hastily.
What is stopping these individuals from taking off the buttons when they arrive? How will they be monitored? Perhaps these are some questions that you can ask the next press briefing, CNS.
Exactly. Take it off and put it on the wife who stays at home while the husband visits the bar. Take it off and put it on the kids and pay a babysitter to take care of the kids while the parents enjoy a kid free vacation. Win win.
I am setting up a ‘button-sitting’ business. My employees will wear other people’s buttons in exchange for cash and the opportunity to stay in fancy condos.
Now you are thinking 3:03!
When are we going to see this fabled bio button and its FDA approval? And when is Dr. Lee going to outline the software platform, data protocols and qualified staff to run such a tracking system?
Well golly gee, is anyone surprised?
6 weeks from now, the numbers in Florida will be significantly lower than they are now.
The qualified projection cone, from career experts, looks far worse out to November. Up to 25k+/daily new cases with 10-20,000 dead by early November, and that’s just in the state of Florida. Nearly 4000 ICU beds might be necessary against a static state inventory capacity of just 1696. Longterm health complications (and costs) from having had COVID and clinically “recovered”, are still being tabulated. It isn’t very encouraging.
https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america/florida
And 800 dead in Cayman, right?
1:33 if we open our borders to the crazies of America, more than likely.
Gasping for air right now.
If you are okay with even one death, you’re beyond help. As willing as you are to sacrifice others, so shall they be to sacrifice you. I volunteer you to be the head greeter of the incoming flights.
Sooner. The numbers are not accurate to start with. A family member from Europe had been in FL, Miami Beach, from December to July 18. He lived with his daughter, her husband and 2 little kids. The youngest got some sort of cold symptoms probably from childcare he attends, mom and dad were sniffing for few days. Granddad flew to Europe, 12 hr layover at European airport, then a 2.5 hr flight home. He was tested upon entry. Negative. Never took a mask off during this nearly 30hr long journey. He though had few masks to replace every few hours.
Why? If there is no substantial effort at mask wearing and social distancing more like six months than six weeks. With the buffoon Trumpite Florida Governor showing no leadership a large segment of Florida’s population is doomed.
It is now getting very bad in the Republican retirement community of The Villages. Many seniors will not be around to vote for their man on November 3. Geez, stupidity reigns in Florida.
Please only speak of what you actually know and switch off the fake news
1:41, That sure was great fake news on FOX yesterday. Bet you loved the Chris Wallace interview with your fearless leader.
1:41 Trump, is that you?
Th only thing lower will be the number of people that are alive.
More children will be born than people die from Corona in the next six weeks in Florida. Prove me wrong.
Covert Investigation Reveals Heavily Inflated COVID-19 Numbers
by Robert Kraychik
4 days ago
By Robert Kraychik July 16th, 2020 | Image Source: Breitbart
A FOX 35 investigation released on Monday discovered an inflation of coronavirus cases by the Florida Department of Health. The Sunshine State’s health authorities misreported the number of persons testing positive for coronavirus in its aggregation and publication of test results from laboratories.
FOX 35 anchor Charles Billi explained the impetus for the investigation. He said, “We found numerous labs that are only reporting positive test results, so they show a 100-percent positivity rate. That got our attention.”
Fox news LOL that explains it all
10:12, Today in Florida 50 hospitals have their ICU beds completely occupied. Yesterday there were over 10,000 new corona virus cases. Over the past week we are beginning to see exponential growth of cases. There is no end in sight because Trump and the Florida Governor refuse to lead in public health policy.
Guarantee you in 6 weeks the number of cases will not be lower than now.
So how about reviewing the policy in 6 weeks if its reasonable to do?!?
Right now opening up to the USA is SUICIDE!!!!
We don’t open for 6 weeks. On September 1st there will still be no regularly scheduled commercial flights. Cut the hysteria crap, it’s tiresome.
1:48 cut the idiocy, it’s frustrating.
Cayman Airways showing daily flights for booking online from Sept 1st….to Miami & elsewhere.
Ever study exponential growth, or the concept of r-nought?
The R0 number for the coronavirus is between 2 and 3. Concerning.
As President Trump is now blocking all new funding for testing, tracing and the Center For Disease Control not only in Florida, but large parts of America, we are screwed from a health perspective until we get a new President.
Regret to say it but keep the Cayman Islands closed to America until we get our act together.
Trump is blocking new funding for testing but says he gets tested a couple of times a day.
Go figure out this crazy buffoon.
I don’t think that all the infected people will come to Cayman on the first day, so it will take a few days for the numbers in Florida to go down.
I’m getting the sense that Dr Lee and Alden have been pushed aside as the economic interests step back in. Not good, but always predictable
Of course, Moses has come to lead us to the promised land again. N
Lee & Alden are part of the problem. Looking at the $$$ now rather than continuing to be concerned about the best interest and safety of the people.
bizarre comments from dr lee….
florida has more cases than all of europe!
Agreed. Safety First! How hard is it to live by that rule. Quarantine works. It is working. Why not continue it? Large numbers of people are lining up trying to get in (and contribute heartily to our economy for months) and yet we have no space in quarantine for them? The hotels are empty. Create more quarantine options. People will pay for it!
Why are people thumbing down that comment? What part of it do people disagree with? Do people believe they have a right to unnecessarily risk reinfection of the Cayman community, and that right is greater than Cayman’s right to try to keep itself safe?
Covid is still in your community!!!
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I have found him to be rather questionable throughout this whole process.
With all do respect, I think we should have a trained epidemiologist guiding us…especially with regards to re-opening.
It’s not Florida we need to worry about, unless we consider cruise ships.
Most people coming from North America during the beginning of our high season will be from the cold states further north, just as the flu season starts.
And they came every year with the flu before.
10:08
Coronaphrenia is your diagnosis.
Exactly, the whole thing has been grossly exaggerated from day 1.
141,000 deaths and 4 million coronavirus cases in just 5 months in America and that’s exaggeration?
What world are you from?
The world of rational thinkers.
You are obviously not a rational being if you think Hubert’’s coronavirus stats are irrational. You need to stop buying into Trump’s happy talk every day. He is seriously delusional.
2:50 more like the world where you only think of yourself and don’t give a damn about others. Would be you are an American as well.
Sad person.