Traveller breaches rules at end of isolation

| 31/12/2020 | 70 Comments

(CNS): A traveller who breached the COVID-19 quarantine rules right at the end of their 15 days is facing prosecution. Officials explained that the traveller was supposed to go directly home to await the results after taking the final screen test. But instead the person stopped at a number of public places in contravention of an agreement that all returning travellers must sign with Travel Cayman.

“It is important that travellers abide by their agreement to remain in quarantine until they are cleared by public health,” said Dr Tasha Ebanks-Garcia, who heads the Travel Cayman programme.

Because people can still test positive at the end of their day 15 test, even if they had a negative result on entry, they remain able to transmit the virus to the community unless they remain in isolation until they have a second negative test result.

Officials did not confirmed whether the traveller’s test result was negative or positive once it was available but they said it had “been determined that the traveller did not pose a public health risk at the time of the breach”. CNS has requested clarification that the person was not positive.

With the world facing at least two far more contagious mutated strains of this coronavirus, the need to ensure that people remain quarantined until they are safe is critical to keeping the wider Cayman community COVID-19 free.

Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee has also confirmed that all Cayman’s PCR tests will correctly identify the new strains of SARS-CoV-2 as positive cases in the same way that they are picking up all the various strains that have emerged this year. “Additionally, if Cayman decided to, we are able to send samples to CARPHA, the UK and elsewhere to be gene sequenced to determine the variants present,” he added.

See here for more information on travelling to the Cayman Islands.


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Category: Crime, Health, Medical Health

Comments (70)

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  1. Recovering Cancer patient says:

    Travel Cayman please advise us if there are any passengers on this UK vaccine flight on the Tuesday January 5th 2020 ? Since we have no testing ability for this new Covid 19 highly contagious variant ? What is plan Travel Cayman ??

    • Anonymous says:

      I think it says in the article that the testing will pick up the new strain, no need to panic.

      • Anonymous says:

        That’s what I read too. Tests will still pick it up as a positive. What we’re lacking is only the ability to know which strain it is and that’s irrelevant since they’ll be going straight to quarantine anyway.

  2. Anonymous says:

    So I would like to know how the geo-fencing works. We have been told that there is someone coming in on the BA flight on January 5 that will be staying in the apartment next door to me and my family. I have not seen anyone from Travel Cayman come here to even look at the apartment? Is this on trust basis only? Does Travel Cayman come with them to ensure they are in the apartment and they are still wearing their band?

    If someone from Travel Cayman doesn’t show up before the person arrives here I will be filming his entire arrival and will be happy to give it to the media.

    I don’t like hearing this crap about allowing people to drive to the test center.. Why can’t they come and test them at the apartment? What if one of my children or my elderly mother comes in contact with them. This flight will be the first since the new variant was announced and any of these people could be carrying it. I am totally sacred of this whole situation and to me it looks like Travel Cayman has no means of monitoring all of these people and are depending on others to notify them. I am fearful that this mis-management will force us back into lock down and the worse cause someone to contract and die from this virus.

    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      I think your concerns are extremely valid; I understand the need to respect the privacy of those travelling here, however I believe we should be allowed to know who is using the quarantine-at-home option. Is it appropriate for people to quarantine in a multi-unit condo? Is it appropriate for people to be allowed to travel under their honour to or from anyplace prior to being declared Covid-19 free?

      I think there are quite a few tweaks to the system that are vital before we get into full swing with this thing.

    • Anonymous says:

      Firstly 12:22 am, you should not be taking videos of random people. I hope they find out and sue you.

      Secondly, Travel Cayman assesses the facilities. You don’t read or else, you’d know all of that.

      If you want to know how the geofencing works, take a trip and then you’ll find out. There is no mismanagement, the CI is filled with too many negative people like you and that’s that.

      • BeaumontZodecloun says:

        Some of us want to know the details. Some of us think that the system should be tweaked a bit to make it more safe and efficient.

        Don’t you want that also, if it is beneficial?

      • Anonymous says:

        Firstly, on what basis would someone sue for being filmed in a public place? No commercial use of their image and no breach of privacy in a public place.

        Secondly, you are flat wrong on Travel Caymans assessment. Just because they have said that in press releases doesn’t mean it’s true. I have been through home quarantine and can tell you for a fact that they came nowhere near my property despite my inviting them to come and inspect it. When I questioned them on it they said not to worry it would be fine.

        And thirdly, again based on personal experience rather than what you have been told or want to believe, the geofencing system has a number of problems. We had problems with connectivity between the phones and the bracelets constantl triggering false alarms. No one came or rang. The only time I got a call was when I forgot to plug in the charger overnight. After 9 hrs someone called my cell phone – not my landline – and that’s was all. I could have been anywhere. And the stories of travel for the final test are true. You are basically on trust – the alarm goes off because you are outside your geofence but no one calls or cares – either because they think you are on your way to the test or because they don’t care. And finally when you get the all clear you cut the bracelet off yourself. They have no way of knowing whether you cut it off day one or day 15.

        Basically 1222 has legitimate concerns and Beaumont is right – the system needs to be reviewed and it’s enforcement policed – you are being a little naive – nice of you to assume the best in others, but you shouldn’t be chucking a rock at 1222 because you are simply wrong.

        • Anonymous says:

          Well FYI travel time drove to my house twice when the applications were made. I know because I was home and saw their vehicle outside.

          Did your neighbors take pictures of you when you were quarantining?

          You all need to get a life seriously. You are all so quick to blame CIG and post people’s pictures. Do your part and everything will be fine.

          I’m not being naive. I follow the rules and keep it moving simple.

    • Anonymous says:

      Maybe travel time went to the apartment when you were pooping. Seriously. If you stare at the apartment all day everyday you need to get a life.

    • Anonymous says:

      Travel Cayman does not physically monitor all these people, how could they. They’re monitored remotely 24 hours a day. Any movement by quarantineers is recorded & reported.

  3. Anonymous says:

    What does it mater.
    15 days after a negative test and no symptoms means they are clear. 14 days is the requirement to isolate in nearly every country AFTER a positive test!

    • Anonymous says:

      Isle of Man has moved to a system which requires EITHER (a) test on arrival followed by quarantine plus negative test on day 13 – cost of GBP50 – OR (b) no test and 21 days quarantine.

      This followed on from a recent issue – before introducing the negative test on day 13 option – where a couple had followed the rules and quarantined for 14 days on returning from the UK, but developed symptoms around day 20 and tested positive then.

  4. Anonymous says:

    CIG needs to start charging for quarantine.. STOP this free service.

    A lot of people work very hard…and tests are expensive

  5. Wake up Travel Cayman !!! says:

    Just a matter of time before local transmission at this rate. We did well for so long thru much sacrifices, yet we are allowing the same mistakes that most places had to go back on lockdown. Matter of time. Time to wake up Travel Cayman!

    • Anonymous says:

      Travel Cayman has kept us safe for almost 5 mths.

      Unfortunately we have had about 7 idiots out of over 3,000 persons who didn’t follow the rules.

      Travel Cayman is doing an absolutely amazing job and we should applaud them for it.

      Speaking from my experience having returned home in early December, the system that they have in place from making my online application to off boarding at day 15 was simply world class.

      I thank God ever day that I live in these beloved islands.

      • Anonymous says:

        I agree – Travel Cayman are doing a great job – and that’s from personal experience as well

      • Say it like it is says:

        7.03pm Sorry but you are wrong. We only have 7 found guilty all identified by third parties, NOT by TravelCayman. We have no idea and neither do Travel Cayman of the true number.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Why are we still allowing people from the UK to travel hear.
    Put a ban on none residents and non- Caymanians. That SIMPLE.

  7. Jack want to infect wee! says:

    Funny how the UK news has not said a Single solitary word about Ex beauty Princess Zara Holland and her idiot boyfriend Doktor idiot Love who were single handedly trying to infected everyone in Barbados and got locked up for their disgusting and life threatening behavior. Well i hope they rub some hard time in Barbados for their troubles.

    CNS: Daily Mail – Zara Holland makes grovelling APOLOGY to people of Barbados after the Love Island ex-Miss Great Britain star ‘broke quarantine in bid to flee isle after boyfriend tested positive for Covid’

  8. Say it like it is says:

    What’s happening with the 19 year old and the other 4 cases under indeterminate “investigation”?.

  9. Elvis says:

    The most damgerous part of the covid 19 virus. Stupid people all over the world.

    Jail please , lets keep it consistent across the board

    • Anonymous says:

      Consistent? Like the 19 year old? Or the other cases “under investigation” – like the Minister’s wife I guess, quick answer and wait until the fuss dies down. Only persons jailed so far are Skylar and her boyfriend.

  10. Anonymous says:

    “Dr”. Ebanks-Garcia clearly cannot manage Travel Cayman properly. This particular case may not be an oversight issue or it could relate to inadequate information being given to the isolated person by the officers of the program. I don’t know.

    It’s apparent, from the amount of breaches in such a short time, that the management of Travel Cayman has too many people in quarantine/isolation to properly oversee and monitor, so more mistakes are bound to happen. Just a matter of time before a covid-positive “isolated” person infects someone else.

    Doesn’t matter though. This is a Cayman Islands Government agency, so no accountability if anyone in management screws up!!

    • Anonymous says:

      They don’t have the resources to properly run it. She is working very hard but if she is having to manage the same kind of people that fill our civil service jobs than that’s impossible to make it run productively.

  11. Anonymous says:

    This person should be jailed. It really wouldn’t be fair to not jail this person after all the controversy surrounding Skylar.

    • Anonymous says:

      Typical…..fire, aim, ready.

      The two cases may be a lot different in terms of the actual facts.

      • Anonymous says:

        Did they breach the agreed to and legally mandated requirements, thereby potentially endangering the entire community, or not?

        • Anonymous says:

          I’m going with not (endangering anyone), currently the studies show that you stop being infectious after 11 days, even if you test positive. So someone coming out of 15 days quarantine, even if positive, are highly unlikely to be able to infect anyone. The main risks to someone passing this on are in the first half of quarantine, not the last.

      • Anonymous says:

        So give us some damn facts?

  12. Anonymous says:

    Why are they allowed to drive to get tested? Why can’t Travel Cayman go to their location to do test?

    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly!!! Definitely another flaw in the design of the quarantine at home program!

    • Anonymous says:

      Wait a minute. I was told they would come to me. I would never consider that I’d be allowed to drive there.
      I guess I misunderstood. I guess I’ll find out when I get my offboarding confirmation email 48hrs prior…

    • Anonymous says:

      It was 15 days after and the isolation time is 14 days. They has broken their own policy guidelines. Why are people kept in for 15 days. This will prove corruption .

    • Anonymous says:

      That’s a lot of trouble for Travel Cayman. There should be some trust here. Then again….

  13. Anonymous says:

    Growing up my mother used to tell me, “if you can’t hear then you can feel!”

    It’s not like these people don’t read the rules..School children in China would know now to stay your backside home until you get full clearance to leave quarantine.

    Lock them up!

  14. Anonymous says:

    It’s made very clear, drive to test center, drive back home and WAIT for the results. Do not remove bracelets, you are still under quarantine, until you hear from Cayman Travel. Simple. As many have argued with Skylar, the test result is irrelevant. The “ifs” and “could have” seem to be truths here. Therefore this person should receive a similar sentence, depending on who he is, of course. Notice the 19 year old double escapee has gone hush hush. Let’s hope for less hypocrisy in 2021.

    • Anonymous says:

      Travel Cayman will now need to put in a greater effort in going to their homes to test like they did in the hotels.

      These people will use every opportunity to break the rules and could cause to have to back into lock down.

      Travel Cayman needs to tighten up their security.

  15. Anonymous says:

    I suggest a fishing charter tomorrow straight to Jamaica, then home by plane.

  16. Anonymous says:

    So they went into the community without knowing if they were positive or not because the test results weren’t back yet. Yup, no excuses here. Lock ’em up. This person knew the consequences of breaking quarantine and still did it anyway. Another blatant disregard for the islands safety.

  17. Anonymous says:

    JAIL THEM!

  18. Anonymous says:

    Clearly the message is not getting across. As there is no cure for stupid can we at least permanently deport anyone who is not Caymanian who puts our country at risk by breaking quarantine?

  19. Anonymous says:

    Well, we now know what to do….so get on with it!

  20. Anonymous says:

    Seems like a fully grown adult this time – with full knowledge of the likely consequences. A breach is a breach. They should be before the courts within a week. Their treatment should silence Skylar’s fan base.

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