CMO: COVID now burned out in the Cayman Islands
(CNS): Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee came very close on Tuesday to declaring the eradication of the COVID-19 virus within Cayman’s borders. But he said that while the public had played a key part in seeing the virus “burn itself out”, there was still a threat that it could re-enter, as people are coming and going, exposing essential workers here to people from overseas who may be infected.
While officials are now confident that this novel coronavirus raging around the world has been eliminated in Cayman, Dr Lee warned that the threat is still “not zero”.
Speaking at the first government COVID-19 briefing in more than five weeks, the CMO explained that testing, which has included half the population, social distancing and the public’s compliance with the necessary suppression and protocols had run the virus to ground. He said he was now confident that wearing masks was no longer necessary in most circumstances.
But he said people should still wear them around vulnerable people. According to the new regulations published last night, there are a few places, such as buses and care homes, where people must wear them, but students will not be required to wear them in school, only on school buses.
Dr Lee also revealed that the two remaining active cases of COVID-19 among two travellers would soon be given the all clear. Revealing the latest test results, he said that 216 had been processed since yesterday and all of them were negative. But the total number of people in isolation is now 171 after various overseas arrivals over the weekend.
Dr Lee noted that this remains Cayman’s weak spot as healthcare and other essential workers inevitably have some interaction with those in quarantine.
See the press briefing on CIGTV below:
Category: Health, Medical Health
We need to understand why Cayman has controlled Covid. It is because if two factors: a low inoculum of ingected virus and timing of closure of the border. Cayman made an excellent decision to close the border at a time it had a low amount of virus that was easily manageable. The curfews were far to extreme and really did not impact significantly in the control of the virus.
In light of this and the patternsbof the virus ebb and flow in other countries, Cayman needs to come to grips that with opening the border there will be some new cases. Cayman has a choice: never open the border or open the border and accept some degree of virus. Never opening the border is economic suicide. Holding out for a 100% effective vaccine is unrealistic as most credible infectious disease physicians will acknowledge.
Lets slowly have return of travellers, test before entry and shortly upon entry, that is the most reasonable approach.
For Dr. Lee, and for that matter, anyone else that endorses the utility of the Biobutton, really display a credibility issue. Unfortunately these people are playing with the citizens’ wellbeing.
For someone with no expertise in virology he certain have conviction.
CNS: Dr Lee has access to the expert advice of Public Health England, which has a wide range of medical and public health experts.
CNS – that would be a good argument but the people in England can travel much more freely then we can Cayman. This continued isolation is political and not based on science. It is based on fear and ignorance.
Yes, you are right. As someone who left Cayman for Europe mid-“pandemic” I can say that I have enjoyed an awful lot of freedom of movement.
Please do not believe the hysteria in the media. People are still working in Europe, restaurants are open, supermarkets, post offices, government, tourism centers etc, etc, etc.
We can take trains from Barcelona, to Paris, to London etc, etc.
In Cayman, you are practically in jail, but hey, you like it, so good luck. There is a world out here.
@9:52 am you are correct about the travel and the cases higher in Europe than in Canada and other places. 🤔
A man walks in a bar a says: Corona and two Hurricanes please. That would be 20.20
5.40 With an earthquake chaser. That’ll be an extra 7.70. See what I did there?
maybe in florida…in cayman that would be $35…plus the expectation of extra grats on top of the 15% already included
You’re correct 6:49 pm. Wear your masks folks!
Why are schools not opening for certain year groups for another 2 weeks? No other profession would get away with this.
And the library?
And reduced hours at post offices?
Does the pain specialist really believe that nonsense? Burned out in Cayman? Ok, keep up with the recklessness and let us watch what happens as more people are brought in. I will continue to follow the guidelines issued by the majority of global scientists and do my best to protect myself.
8 or 14 day quarantine is ridiculous. How many tourists travel longer than a week or 10 days? You really think people are going to pay $$$$ to sit in a hotel room 8-10 days while on holiday?
Then they do not need to come here. Make them go elsewhere, we do not want the virus and if they will not comply, we do not want them.
They said it’s not intended for ‘regular’ tourists but for the 2nd home/long stay wealthy visitors.
7:35 who is talking about tourists.zzzzzzzzz wake up
Please can the CIG Govt find another alternative for this 14 day quarantine? I really want to return home but this 14 day quarantine is preventing me. How long can the Govt financially maintain this policy?
Dearest unity Government please remember that Jamaica is currently in A Covid 19 lock down due to a spike in Cases Dear unity Government until you can completely seal or borders from on going Drug smuggling vessels via your Coast Guard apparatus you cannot stop this virus from coming to these islands. Thus your declaration of Covid free Cayman will never ever happen,continuing to wear mask doesn’t not only make sense, it may very well save your life.
Great, let’s re-import it by a criminally reckless 8 day quarantine period, and peddle some specious horseshit about “bio-buttons”.
They got to keep those work permits rolling buddy boy.
Very limited wealthy land owners coming… Don’t have to be a fool to know we deal with the US market cause umm.. They got the money.. Why? Apple, Facebook, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Zoom… Yeah they own those companies and those companies run the world. Last time you’ve seen a UK company run the world? East India company?
Retrain PR and Caymanians nah we will keep them alive at all cost and broke at great risk to all.
We ain’t coming, buddy. Don’t worry yourself.