COVID-19 cases in travellers on the increase
(CNS): Another three travellers who remain in isolation have tested positive for COVID-19, as the number of people with the virus coming into the Cayman Islands increases. Over the last week alone there have been eleven positive cases of coronavirus in people in quarantine. This latest group of positives was in a batch of 263 tests carried out since Friday, the rest of which were negative. Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee said the three individuals were all asymptomatic. There are currently 16 active cases of the virus with only one symptomatic patient, who has been ill for several weeks and remains in hospital in the ICU.
Cayman has now recorded a total of 253 cases of the virus since testing began in March, having carried out 48,577 tests.
There has only been one suspected case of the virus in the community since July in Cayman. But as the numbers of people allowed to return to the islands grow, we can expect to see cases in quarantine continue to increase. Most travellers are coming into Cayman via the United States and the UK, where infection rates continue to rise. Therefore, the need for tight isolation remains.
There were more than 127,000 new cases of the virus in the US on Tuesday, and 21,350 in the UK.
Despite the good news regarding the efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and plans for an emergency licence to begin distributing it, the shots are not likely to be widely available until later next year and it will take some time to inoculate the numbers needed to put a lid on the spread of this highly contagious coronavirus.
Category: Health, Medical Health
Simple – test passengers before allowing them to come here, and obviously only if negative can they be allowed to travel here!!!
Yes! This is obvious to everyone but CI Govt.
Yea. So simple coming from someone who has no idea whatsoever of the logistics
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine needs to be thawed from -94F and has to be used within five days: the shipping and temperature requirements plus instructions on defrosting, cooling, the window of time in which it has to be used, the number of times the boxes (holding the vaccine) can be opened (2) and the dilution method and timings…then you’ll know what a daft idea it is to entertain having the jab… twice. DHL and other couriers will freight it by air. Local refrigerator lorries will transport it to local surgeries, hospitals and storage depots. Good luck with that. So much room for error.
Kudos to all working on vaccines, but people are bloody idiots if they think a vaccine that requires such stringent handling conditions will make it to the consumer intact. The vaccine will change hands so many times….it’s an absolute given failures will occur in transport and distribution. By the time many consumers receive it…..who knows if the vaccine will be intact and helpful, compromised and unhealthy or inert.
I applaud Cayman efforts in dealing with this very trying situation and Covid-19 dilemma.However taking into consideration the level of infections and deaths in both the UK and the US we should approach this situation with the utmost care and intention to avoid being forced into another devastating Lockdown. Strict adherence to the rules and conditions by ALL that includes the so called “Privileged Few” and their “Friends” staying in Private homes and their Condos. Those dismissing and comparing this pandemic to everyday illness because of self serving interest should consider others who are at serious risk of losing their lives if they contract this virus.
12.23am Go back to sleep, his point is 100% valid, we are more likely to die on our roads than from Covid.
God help us. Let’s consider this. Brac and Little Cayman is basically all we have now for local travel,enjoyment and downtime. That will be threatened by letting persons back that most im sure is basically not necessity travellers! Most just looking to have a vacation at their vacation homes and posing a threat to our locals at this time (many will not follow all protocols and the islands are not equipped to handle/enforce them). Their vacation homes are good, trust me! They already making a killing from AirBND from the locals SMH! Not certain if we risk any substantial loss from atleast waiting until things start to “calm down”. JUST LET OUR CAYMANIANS COME HOME AND QUARANTINE PROPERLY.
people who invest time and treasure in the Sister Islands most assuredly are invested in safety and health of the community.
Early analysis shows the vaccine is more than 90% effective at preventing symptomatic illness. But it uses brand-new technology that relies on synthetic messenger RNA, 🛑which has never been approved for human vaccination before🛑.
It also 🛑has to be stored at minus 75 degrees Celsius, which is colder than any vaccine currently used in the U.S., and requires two rounds of treatment.
Dr. Larry Antonnuci with Lee Health isn’t sure everyone will follow up with the second round.
“A couple of things: One is the fact that it is going to require two shots, and any time you have a vaccine that requires two shots your compliance goes down a little bit,” Antonucci said.
The Centers for Disease Control have asked states to be ready to receive Pfizer’s vaccine by Nov. 15.
Sourced from https://www.winknews.com/2020/11/11/lee-health-doctor-predicts-roadblocks-for-incoming-covid-19-vaccine/
Why Proper Vaccine Storage and Handling Is So Important.
https://www.passporthealthusa.com/2014/10/the-importance-of-proper-vaccine-storage-and-handling/#:~:text=Inadequate%20vaccine%20storage%20and%20handling,choose%20your%20health%20services%20wisely.
“Inadequate vaccine storage and handling can render the vaccine less effective or even useless, thereby putting you at risk of disease”
When is a vaccine going to arrive. Bermuda hopes to get their vaccine next month.
https://www.royalgazette.com/news/health/article/20201110/covid-19-government-update-from-5-45pm/
Bermuda just had 10 positive cases from one BA flight and ended up having to quarantine all of the passengers.
https://www.royalgazette.com/news/health/article/20201106/coronavirus-cases-from-single-ba-flight-up-to-10/
Is this the flight that continued on to Cayman?
As opposed to us who quarantine 100% of the passengers irrespective of results
‘Imprison’ is the word you were looking for.
An excellent result. However Caymanians need to know where these passengers are coming from. The people need to know. Why the secrecy?
Would government please provide an update on Cayman’s vaccine strategy?
The Pfizer vaccine that looks very promising requires storage at -80C. Is there any facility in Cayman that is capable of storing and distributing the Pfizer vaccine?
If there is no plan to bring in the Pfizer vaccine, which vaccine/s is being planned for Cayman?
There is no plan . Cayman should expect to remain in its current position regarding border closure until about 2024 , based on various other countries estimates on the amount of time to return to normal. Won’t know what ‘normal’ is until then.
Before you get excited and endorse Pfizer, you might want to research their track record with other vaccines and drugs. Look for yourself since the media wont provide any informative material.
#1 There are few immunization issues more important than the appropriate storage and handling of vaccines. https://www.paho.org/immunization/toolkit/resources/partner-pubs/ebook/Chapter5-Vaccine-Storage-and-Handling.pdf?ua=1
#2 Pfizer’s vaccine needs to be stored at about minus 75 degrees Celsius (minus 103 degrees Fahrenheit), which is about 50 degrees colder than any vaccine currently used in the United States. Doctors’ offices, pharmacies and state labs don’t have freezers that go nearly that low.
These [Pfizer Covid-19] vaccines will thaw if exposed to open air for five minutes… only a few states (the US) have detailed plans for maintaining the vaccine’s cold chain..
So instead, the CDC wants doctors and nurses to maintain the vaccine with dry ice — something they’ve never had to do before.
Shippers filled with vaccine… supposed to replenish the dry ice within 24 hours.
https://www.kdrv.com/content/news/573025461.html
so, NO, there are no facilities to store the vaccine in the Cayman Islands, or trained personnel to properly handle it
Its not going away sheeple. So let it come.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1113051/number-reported-deaths-from-covid-pneumonia-and-flu-us/
page updates daily, why are we not panicking over pneumonia? More deaths in the US due to pneumonia.
Covid causes pneumonia, among other things.
how many of these cases are with people in home quarantine???? where anyone can come visit and go back into the community.
this is the real question
Yes and a meteorite might hit the earth, what’s your point? You have to assume that most people are following the rules, a) because no-one at home wants to spend their isolation locked up in a hotel room, b) no-one wants to be arrested and have to pay $10k, and c) most people are sensible and can be trusted…oh and d) no-one visiting them wants to be infected. We’ve had about 2,000 people through isolation and no community transmission, Bermuda has more testing, but travelers are allowed into the population after a day if their test is negative on arrival, and still no transmission. Nothing in life is guaranteed, but I believe we are doing what is needed.
9.01am Assuming most people will follow the rules is very optimistic. What puzzles me is how nearly all the arrivals can self isolate, do they all have unoccupied properties or are they renting one for 16 days?. You are right about 16 days in a hotel room, it’s worse than Northward, as I experienced it, but there was no way I was going to stay in my house and isolate my wife and daughter as well.
i will keep asking…but why not test them before they fly….as well as testing on our end when people get here?
still waiting for an answer.
You’re getting boring
u wish u were approaching boring
I think the reason that they have not been testing preflight is that they do not have the supplies or equipment to do the rapid tests in the US and the UK in large numbers. Therefore, the PCR testing would take a couple of days to come back, and in some cases up to a week or more. I think that might answer the question as to why they’re not testing before they get on the plane. Believe me, I wish they could and I think it would be the best plan, but it’s just not available to be done at this time
It’s super easy to book a test in advance in the US.
You mean, apart from the facility BAalready has at Heathrow which they routinely use to test every passenger on check in – on a destination to any country requiring pre testing? But of course don’t use on the Cayman flight since Cayman doesn’t require it. Doesn’t apply to MIA but there is an immediate solution available for thebUK at least if there were the political will to implement it. But the Governor’s “air bridge” is a sacred cow – can’t mess with that
You’re wrong, stop spreading lies.
Easy to schedule a PCR test in US
Not true….it’s easy in FL
It’s easy is Massachusetts and in New Hampshire.
It’s not going to happen. Too many fake tests and fake results. It is too easy to fake a negative result using editing software on your computer. Add to that, even if you wanted to get a test it simply may not be possible in the US and the UK.
The airlines don’t like airport testing either as it causes mass upheaval in the hour before a flight so they will never agree to pre flight tests. See what Michael O’Leary says about it (he is the only one to say it as it is).
In the investment world there is a saying, ‘Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.’ The same is true for virus containment. The fact that community spread has been limited so far does not mean that spread will not occur.
Every person who brings Covid to Cayman adds to the risk of community spread. Many of those testing positive are being detected at the time of arrival screening. Almost all of those cases of Covid could have been detected by the use of predeparture screening which would have avoided the risk to Cayman.
It is long past time that predeparture testing was required as a precondition of travel to Cayman from infected areas.
Exactly. And there are people who KNOW they are positive before flying but our government isn’t requiring preflight tests…WHY??? Why risk exposing a plane full of other people. Just a matter of time hefore someone sues our government for something like criminal negligence.
Definitely past time for departure testing!!!
Too easy to fake results to save on the cost of the test. Look what happened in the Bahamas.
Bahamas was Bahamians that went over for 2 nights and did not need to take a test.
They didn’t need to quarantine. That was the primary cause of the outbreaks.
The Bahamas spectacle didn’t involve testing in the departure airport. That was allowing people to go test within 72 hours of flight. Rapid test in airport doesn’t leave passengers opportunity to manipulate results.
Please Stop these Flights. i cannot survive another lockdown! You hear me Alden you big Dummy!
Save your breath, it’s not going to happen. Alden you big hero!
Is this governor looking for another lockdown for Christmas? Why are we importing Corona virus from the UK every week?? Stop the passengers flights or are we running a Quarantine your citizens business. This simply does not make sense and why are we taking the risk. Who exactly are these people coming from the UK to Cayman. Why all the secrecy???
What secrecy? Why would you know the identities of anyone travelling on any normal flight? Who are they? If you really work at the airport why are you asking us?
6.34pm You should be sacked for disclosing confidential information. Are you insinuating that nobody on all the flights from the U.S. which has more than 20% of all Covid cases worldwide has tested positive on arrival?. Why don’t you lock yourself in a hotel room for 16 days and see how efficient the quarantine process is in Cayman.Do you want to cancel the BA flights and have all your returning Caymanian students swim home?.
We’re doomed !!!
Dear concerned airport staff, If the flights stop then you will be out of a job or will you be happy to sit at home on full pay?
Don’t worry, the post office is hiring.
@9.19 – That would be funny if wasn’t true.
They will get the c-virus in Cayman community if they even got to pay for it, sad, and very bad
Yep Corona Express’s Lamp test strikes again!The Gift that keeps on giving!Any other airline flights and arrivals would have been cancelled! Herd immunity is no cure for the new Covid 19 strain from Europe!Let Europe keep is Virus home.
Trol
So later next year we will open up??? I will not be able to survive.
Out of Fauci’s mouth:
“..evolving into a bit of a standard, if you get cycle threshold of 35 or more…that chances of replication are minuscule …you almost never can culture from the 37 cycle threshold…”
TWiV 641: COVID-19 with Dr. Anthony Fauci
https://m.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&feature=youtu.be&t=260&v=a_Vy6fgaBPE
Hope Dr.Lee is aware of this standard.
Despite the virus being contagious, it isn’t as deadly as our roads.
Roads don’t kill people. Bad drivers do.
Thanks but we knew what the poster meant.
Without roads, there would be no drivers. #roadskill