65% have now had first COVID shot
(CNS): With just over two weeks to go before Cayman’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines begin to expire, the number of people who have had their first shot increased over the weekend by 742, bringing the total to 42,357 or 65% of the population. If another 5% of the population gets their first dose by 9 June and everyone follows up with a second shot before the supplies reach their expiry date, Cayman could be re-opening its borders this summer. Currently, 54% of the population has had both doses, which is 16% short of the government’s minimum target.
Meanwhile, there were three new positive cases of the coronavirus in travelers from over 500 tests carried out this weekend. There are currently 20 active cases of the virus among the 912 people in isolation and quarantine, one of whom is suffering symptoms of coronavirus.
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Category: Health, Medical Health
Okay, CNS has posted that we’re now at 66% and there’s no comments. Let’s move it over to there 😁
Canada and the US have approved the vaccine for 12 – 15 year olds and the EU is set to do the same on Friday. What efforts are being made to convince the UK regulator to allow the vaccine to be given to that age group here rather than have the remaining vaccine sent to the dump?
The government had British Airways cancel a weekly direct flight to London that was to start in July, and just left the twice monthly ones until end of September. Other than a couple business class seats on each August flight, these flights are fully sold out.
So they cancelled not from lack of demand. This is clear evidence there is no opening of any kind until later in September, at the earliest. And all fully vaccinated arrivals, residents or otherwise, will still have to quarantine for 10 days.
There must be civil action.
We need to sue the government, at this point there is no public health crisis as we are mostly vaccinated and will be screening incoming travelers.
Restore freedom for all Caymanians and residents.
Oh sure, lets see how far you will get with that civil action..ever read the Public Health law..stop getting your panties in a wad..Cayman has done it right so far and we will come out of this the right way not by threats to sue…
I know you are pissed but for gods sake speak the truth.
The Government is trying to get more flights not cancelling them. Did you read the press release today or listen to the Governor in previous press briefings. The Governor always said that they would announce flights when they could get them approved with BA.
You do know that BA has had these same ghost flights all year long. American does too and they cancel them as they get closer to flight time. The only reason they are becoming such an issue now is because a lot more people want to travel over the summer.
What we should do is work on getting more people vaccinated so that we can get to a point where we can reopen fully and not have to worry about those that don’t have the vaccine forcing us back into lock down because of community spread.
yep…pity we have to find out like this. the new government is somehow worse than last….there is no plan from no-plan-pact
The plan has always been the UK’s plan. Don’t think for one second that PPM did this all alone. They were taking orders from the motherland just like PACT is now.
Which makes no sense at all and really wonder what they trying to prove, stop beating around the bush and be honest with your populace
So let’s say 70% gets vaccinatee still 30% not vaccinated. Is cayman going to allow people unvacinnated come to the island without being quarantined? As you can see there are still positive tests coming back from these flights.No explanation no plan…we are getting vaccines and still ha e to quarantine. what sense is that?? government has gone dark with no offer if what the plan is.
Government needs to set a firm opening date! Prior government played the opening up every other month game and kept changing it which just causes added stress.
Everywhere is opening. People worldwide are being vaccinated. Open up to vaccinated people and drop the quarantine and just do it.
Just set a firm date and then everyone will know.
I think you are being a bit facetious. The Government did not cancel the BA flights. BA has kept there schedule in place like a lot of other airlines in hopes that places where they fly reopens and they don’t have to start from scratch to get passengers. It is easier for them to cancel a flight closer to departure time then try to fill a plane just weeks before a scheduled flight. This is the same thing BA did last summer so nothing has changed.
I had this happen to me several times with American with flights I had booked last year. They never cancelled the flight until a few weeks before. They did this 3 times before I just gave up and they sent me a voucher to travel at a later time.
My advice would be unless you see it on the government website, don’t book it. We know that BA would not be operating 5 flights a week into Cayman minus there stop in Nassau where they were able to pick up more passengers to make the flight more profitable. This is the reason the flights cost more from Cayman now because they need to make up the revenue..
Hopefully, the government can convince them that more flights are needed. In the end BA needs to make money and they will not run any flights unless they can make money on them.
FYI.Flights can come here only if the government allows them to come.
I believe you are very wrong there. If the UK wants flights to come here, we have no choice. It is the Governors office that approves these..period.
I believe you live in a tree..period
The lie we are being told is that Cayman is open for visitors but they must quarantine, it is simply not true.
1. There is not nearly enough flights for those that wish to travel.
2. Travel time and CBC are denying people entry on bogus and vague claims and secretive guidelines, there is phone number or way to speak with the live people making the decisions that impact people’s lives.
This must end!
They must allow open commercial travel to all who wish to travel.
Free Cayman from the tyranny of nameless and faceless bureaucracy that is controlling us.
You are definitely hearing a lie..Cayman is not open for visitors. It hasn’t been since we locked down in March 2020. The flights are repatriation flights not flights to come for vacation…sorry!
You missed all the private flights that come in daily. Just park by the airport and you’ll see.
repatriation flights my ass, people are using these flights for vacations!
that is why so many are upset..They are acting like we are opening and they can plan vacations and that everything should be as normal. We are not there yet.
Those flights (and the sorry excuse of a service called Travel Time) make it extremely difficult even for Caymanians to travel. So stupid that we’re still dealing with this just because a small group of idiots won’t go get their jab.
It’s not going to happen. Mark my words. We are going to be throwing away valuable vaccines and remaining in perpetual lockdown. What a disaster! The New government has been completely absent and leaderless. Maybe it’s time to give Roy a shot at it.
Oh hell no!
You are out of your damn mind!
Can anyone in Government give me a logical, scientific reason why I have to quarantine for ten flipping days whilst fully vaccinated!? What the hell? This is so idiotic. So I can only actually use 4 of my 14 vacation days? Why? Because we need to protect idiots who refuse to get vaccinated? No man, this is just wrong. Let the anti-vaccine crowd pay the price. Not the people who did the right thing.
…. because YOUR vacation is the most pressing thing on the CIG agenda. Did you stamp your little feet and gnash your little teeth? What spoiled brat you seem to be. I hope I’m wrong about that.
This is a global event that requires care, involving data that is ever-evolving. We must get this right. I’m not against a measured change of visitors incoming without quarantine, but it has to be done carefully. The variants are a GLOBAL game changer, and infinitely more important than your vacay.
It’s not about rewarding those of us who took the jab. It’s about doing what is right for all the people, and we don’t even yet know if the vaccination is fully effective against the variants. Oh yes, I know, some of you have nebulous claims of nearly magical efficacy, but we must, imo, tread slowly.
I’m certain there are many more dangerous places in the world to live if a person — native born or not — can go if they wish to live without the horrible draconian oppression of giving a shit about the whole territory more than themselves.
Nobody knows as yet, friend. That’s the very point I was trying to make. Thanks for the assist.
I’m not trying to restrict freedoms. I’m trying to save lives.
Same thing I wondering why the rush to be vaccinated and still have to quarantine. Most idiotic thing I’ve heard in a long time
because vaccinated can still catch and transmit the infection.
Two ways to achieve herd immunity. Either by vaccine or infection. We have done our best to get as many people vaccinated as possible, now it’s up to nature to deal with the rest.
Agree. Perhaps the second option would have served us better. We’ll see.
There is no point in vaccinations if you are not opening the island to commercial flights , all British airways flights over the summer apart from one every two weeks cancelled . How are students and families expected to relocate students to university with no flights to uk or back to cayman available. Maybe the tourism minister and dr Lee can address the purpose behind urging everyone to be vaccinated if nothing changes. When the booster shots are needed you will have even fewer uptakes due to this current policy situation.
Biggest stupidity I’ve heard for a long time People have nothing to look forward to after being fully vaccinated
I know – continuing to breathe is such a bore
Sure we should have started opened up from the first person got the vaccine..(sarcasm) Don’t you understand that Cayman is not open for you to go on vacation or for someone to come here on vacation. These are repatriation flights not normal commercial flights..there is a big difference. BA is hedging its bets and selling flights all around the world hoping that the pandemic will cease and they will have full flights..It’s a marketing strategy but if the flights aren’t profitable no matter how much you jump up and down and scream they are not coming just to get you and a few of your friends…They have 250 plus seats to fill..hope you understand this is about business, simply that..
Cayman, like most countries around the world, should be deep into the pre-rollout of a technical solution that will allow clinically nil-risk fully-Pfizered travelers, from approved countries, a no-quarantine admission with minimal hassles (a daily self-administered rapid antigen for first 5 days would probably more than suffice). There won’t be any fully-opened anything for anyone else going anywhere other than the USA, until this is all over. Cayman shouldn’t wait for smarter countries to read the available information…there aren’t any. Cayman has been the pace car throughout this trial.
An article in the Cayman Compass today notes that the government has posted the approved BA repatriation flights and advises people to be sure they are booking only those flights and not ghost flights. The BA repatriation flights are scheduled through 22 September. What are your thoughts on what this says about the possibility of reopening the border?
It sounds to me as if there is no hope of reopening before the fall. IF THEN.
Absolutely…regardless of vaccinations or anything else, the plan has never been to reopen ‘normal’ u til summer 2022…
I would hope that the borders open mid July at the very latest to those vaccinated without having to quarantine. Waiting until September is ridiculous. The rest of the world is putting the pandemic behind them and opening everything up come June. Other islands have been open for a year come this July. Cayman, it’s time to open in July.
Early 2022 would be an optimistic expectation on the border , but that only flies if you are an optimist. No pun intended.
But BA does not have a flight in September 22nd on their website. Just who is setting the dates, why every two weeks & why so bloody expensive?!?!?
Come on Cayman, let us get this done.
The mental health crisis is only getting worse.
We need to restore freedom of movement to Caymanians!!
To everyone vaccinated.
Go get your vaccination done then..
Set an opening date first
Sorry for you
You are the reason why the government still hasn’t set a reopening date..Go get your damn vaccine and stop with your foolishness..
British Airways had put up a weekly schedule of flights through the summer and you could book these on the BA site (as Travel Cayman suggested).
The government has asked BA to now cancel the weekly flights and just do every two weeks through September. Consequently, many of us had our flights cancelled (even that, again, we were told to book directly on BA).
The remaining flights to London on BA are now sold out through August.
Thanks “lack of a plan” government. Thanks. (Can Panton get in front a microphone and lay out a plan like every government leader in the world does, you coward?)
What a crock of $hit!
Travel Cayman did not suggest such a thing and the Cayman Islands government did not cancel your BA flight and you obviously did not read the press release today nor listened to the Governor speak on these flights in numerous press briefings..
School children in China knew that BA would never operate that amount of flights or their regular schedule throughout the summer. They are a commercial airline and they don’t take instructions from any government about when and where they fly particularly if they are going to operate at a loss. If Cayman Government was paying for BA to operate then that would be a different thing but they are not.
Those BA flights, just like American Airlines, are still out there on the market and they are called “ghost flights’ meaning that they are in the system but it doesn’t mean that they will actually operate. Just because you can book them doesn’t mean that BA will operate them.
These are repatriation flights not flights for you and your family to go on vacation for starters.
Both the PPM and the PACT governments together with the Governor’s office have worked to arrange these flights with BA and everyone has been told to only book the flights when they are published just like the flights to Miami on Cayman Airways.
Failure for your lack of planning and research should not be attributed to the Cayman Islands but to yourself. Next time maybe you will follow instructions and your flight won’t be cancelled. You should be grateful that the Government has been
helpful enough to negotiate with BA to operate as many flights as they have. What I suggest you do is ask BA to waitlist you on a couple of flights to see if you can get your vacation started on time.
Here is the link to the Press Release so that everyone else can now that you are talking absolute rubbish and that the Cayman Government cancelled your BA flights is nothing more than an untruth made up by you because you are pissed off that your travel plans got ruined.
https://www.gov.ky/news/press-release-details/ministry-of-tourism-provides-clarity-on-ba-flight-cancellations–
What you fail to realize is how frustrated people are at the complete lack of communication by Mr. Panton of a plan (or plans) and the potential timing thereof. There was a vague press conference a few weeks ago but that is about it.
We will get to around 44,000 people with first doses by Jun 9, so 67% of 65,000 people. Ok, then what? Does this mean vaccinated travelers might be able to reduce/eliminate quarantine and when might this start? When can vaccinated family visit (without 10 days lockdown)? When might we allow vaccinated tourists? When will American be allowed to fly in?
There is no government leader in the free world that has been so non-communicative. Boris Johnson, for example, gives briefings frequently so people get some idea as to his thinking.
But Panton, paralyzed in fear of sharing his concrete thoughts. You wanted this job to lead 60k+ people, be a leader and speak up.
The Pact government has been in office for a little more than 4 weeks. Do you think that they have nothing else to do but to tell you the same thing over and over that you never same to want to understand? The Governor has told us on many occasions that his office negotiates with BA to get us flights to the UK..This is an air bridge between Cayman and the UK. It is for repatriation flights not for summer vacations.
I feel sorry for the kids but we are still in a pandemic and nobody should have booked any flights until they were announced.
I feel pretty confident that the Governor will get BA to reconsider and offer more flights but until then we have no choice but to make do with what we have..
The BA nonstop flight is quite convenient but there is also the Cayman Airways flights to Miami every week and they can catch the Ba flight from there like we used to do before BA.
Exactly. He is completely silent. I suspect it’s because he’s too scared to say anything that might cause friction in the rag-tag group he managed to cobble together. But I’m not sure how long people are going to be happy locked up while they watch the rest of the world open up. Especially the people that got vaccinated.
Panton has no plan, never did.
65,000 people is a guess.
67% is a guess.
The r0 is a guess.
Until we know much more, I am happy that our leader is choosing not to force us all into a game of Russian Roulette to facilitate the wonderlust of a privileged few.
Seriously so in the very first press conference you were expecting the government to give you a time for Cayman to re-open?
It is ridiculous to think that would happen two weeks after election particularly when we can’t even get some people to step up and get the vaccine. We could have been planning reopening but instead the government has to go out and beg or incentivize people just to take it.
How do we re-open when we can barely get 60% of the population to take the vaccine. If we had done the right thing and got our vaccines earlier in the game we would have been opened by now. We missed a great opportunity just because these privileged people with their stupid conspiracy theories.
I was/am considering moving to Cayman. I have been there and prior to Covid, I thought it was one of the places on earth with the brightest future. I now have doubts. There is so much covid misinformation that I hoped the Caymans would have avoided, but sadly, Cayman is worse that I have ever imagined. For example, the vaccine does not prevent a person from contracting covid. This notion is representative of the propaganda that Cayam bought hook. line, and sinker. Need proof? The study that was published in The Lancet stated that those with the vaccine experienced a 95% reduction in infection. Is that impressive? What they did not say is that it was a relative risk reduction, not an absolute risk reduction. Relative risk reduction is the difference between the difference, absolute risk reduction is the actual difference. Having taught these concepts, I can openly state that the only people that understand this relative risk vs. absolute risk reduction are a minimum number of researchers. Translation, the overwhelming majority of doctors do not know the difference, and apparently those making medical decisions in the Cayman are no exception to the ignorance of these facts. When one performs the math presented in the Lancet article (I and other colleagues have), the absolute (actual) risk reduction is .0006%, which is infinitesimally small. With the demographics of the Cayman, the high net worth and number of professionals, I had hoped the hundreds of examples like that presented above would have induced a quiet but informed manner of proceeding with this situation. To my disappointment, the Caymans is acting in a more uninformed manner than I anticipated.
Yes, because the doctors here are so backward that they cannot read and understand papers in the Lancet, unlike big brained people like you. (Sarcasm)
Yes, they are. Only those who are 70+ still hold doctors in high regard. They are no more than scans readers, don’t confuse with interpreters who are radiologists, and pills pushers.
Sorry you won’t be moving to “the Caymans.” Maybe you will have better luck moving to the Cayman Islands.
Translation, learn proper nomenclature before spouting from your pulpit.
But on the bright side, if you don’t move here you need no longer be as concerned about the genesis of our policy in relation to the pandemic! Sounds like a real weight off your shoulders.
Sadly, you did not reply to the substance of my comment. Instead, you choose to reply with sophomoric ‘cuteness’. I apologize if the substance of what was presented is beyond you comprehension. I attempted to explain the relative risk vs. absolute risk reduction using the most easy to understand and simple terms as possible, and apparently in your case, I failed. Sadly, ignoring the opportunity to expand your understanding, you chose to resort to criticizing style. One can only assume you had no choice due to your inability to understand these concepts.
I presume that you are referring to Piero Olliaro’s April 2021 paper. It is an interesting academic article that highlights a statistical argument that has never been applied in any pandemic caused by a highly transmissible virus. As a clinician who also has a background in epidemiology I am glad that no government anywhere has adopted that theoretical approach to the management of the current pandemic. I am particularly happy that it was considered and rejected in Cayman despite its theoretical appeal to statisticians.
For those who have an interest in epidemiology who may not have seen the article the link is here:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00069-0/fulltext
As for your relocation quandary, I understand that despite Cayman having enviably low morbidity and mortality statistics and the near normal lifestyle enjoyed by our residents during this pandemic you may wish to move to a jurisdiction that has fared far worse. Whatever your choice I wish you well.
I was not referring to the study you referenced. However, that paper presents information that is not theoretical as you infer. It is not an academic exercise. That paper explains how relative risk ratios present an inflated view of the data, that concept to which I originally referred. However, in the paper you sited, the differences between the vaccinated and unvaccinated was less than 2%. The study I referred to was https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00947-8/fulltext. If one does the math as I and other colleagues have, the paltry difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated is less than 1% Your statements regarding Cayan death rates is meaningless. The death rates everywhere have been less than 2%. In the US particularly, anyone that died with covid was reclassified as dying from covid, the result/benefit of such obfuscation was greater insurance compensation. Despite this slight of hand, deaths that have occurred are not unusual. A study from John Hopkins demonstrated that total death rates for 2020 were lower than 2019. The covid lifestyle in Cayman is far from normal, and does not approach the less restrictive levels of the Florida or Texas wind downs. Anecdotal accounts of Cayman ‘superiority’ are lacking in both substance and meaning. As an epidemiologist, how do the Cayman demographics compare to the ‘Inferior jurisdictions’ to which you refer? What are the age differences? WHat are the latitude influences? What are the economic differences? You cannot answer these highly correlational questions, rendering your comments more emotional than substantive. A true epidemiological analysis has not been performed. While I am disappointed with the Cayman response, it is no more disappointing than the more backward US states (New York, NJ, etc.) that have responded with Draconian measures. Therefore, the bad news is, I have not discounted the Cayman as a place to relocate. I was simply hoping for a more informed, less emotional, less fear driven response from what otherwise appears to be a forward looking jurisdiction. As a physician, I assume you are aware that the prefrontal cortex is disengaged when fear (warranted or not) is dominant. There are too many data manipulations that one must sort through to find unmanicured data, adding emotion to the mix further obscures this process. My only friendly advice to a colleague is to remember that as men of science we were taught to question everything. Sadly, many have fallen into the trap of questioning nothing.
No one is forcing you to move here. Our current bubble has been nice, we have enjoyed a Covid free community for nearly a year thanks to our government unlike the majority of the world. We are making slow but steady strides to reopening our borders, if you think we are acting in an uninformed manner please stay where you are.
ps you say it “in Cayman” not “in the Cayman” 😉
I take it that you are not a physician who has ever cared for patients dying of respiratory virus.
That is true. I have never treated anyone that died. Everyone I treated lived. However, I never recommended a ventilator, the standard of care at that time, and the cause of many of the early deaths. I did recommend ivermectin. Additional support was rendered with quercetin, zinc, Vitamin C (in some cases IV), Albuterol, Flovent, and prednisolone when indicated.
I assume you are talking about the final results of the phase 3 trials where 162 people contacted COVID in the control group vs 8 in the experimental group. From what I can deduce, your calculations are based on this and correct me if I’m wrong:
Control group: 162 COVID cases out of 21,830 participants. (0.0074 x 100 = 0.74%)
Experimental group: 8 COVID cases out of 21,830 participants (0.0004 x 100 = 0.04%)
Now, as you mentioned, this is a small percent difference. However, you are looking at those numbers out of context. To get a true idea of what they mean you have to look at the large populations countries have. About 328 million (328,000,000) people live in the United States for example. Assume half of these people had the same infection risk as those in the control group during the months of this study. Also assume that half of the people took the vaccine and had the same risk as those in the experimental group. Here is what it would look like:
COVID infections of unvaccinated (164,000,000 x 0.074 = 1,213,600 COVID cases)
COVID infections of vaccinated (164,000,000 x 0.0004 = 65,600 COVID cases)
The problem you have is we are dealing with large populations of people. Covid also isn’t killing as many people due to current restrictions, masking and other preventative measures. We are talking about opening our borders with no restrictions and we need to take into account that vaccination is the best tool we have against this virus. You seem to like numbers so you’ll see why vaccination is the only way back to some kind of normal life. Also know that no one of the 8 who got infected in the experimental group died while 6 of the 162 infections in the control group did. The vaccine will prevent death and transmission of this virus, The science is very clear. If the phase 3 data doesn’t convince you, the real world data (which is echoing the phase 3 data) from Israel should.
Thank you for such an informed response. While I agree with much of what you present, the foundations upon which your points are established are not in alignment with my analysis. Therefore, I shall reply using the basis of your conclusions as methodology, and I will present this discussion with different data sets that are more akin with your view. In the US, The VAERS is a CDC created system for reporting vaccine adverse effects. It has been estimated from prior vaccine events that only 1% of the adverse events are actually reported. It is important to recognize that in the past, when as little as 30 reported deaths and 400 cases of adverse events occurred the vaccine was withdrawn (ex. Swine Flu). There have been more than 4,178 reports of deaths (0.0017% of all who received the vaccine) between Dec. 14, 2020 and May 3, 2021. and 192,954 adverse events. Using 164,000,000 x .00017 = 27.880 deaths caused by the vaccines. Furthermore, if, as the CDC has stated, only 1% of adverse events are reported, that number is much higher. Statistical discussion aside, according to Johns Hopkins the US covid mortality rate is 1.8% https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality Furthermore, the entire concept of this experiment is misleading. This is not a vaccine, it is the delivery of mRNA to direct RNA to produce the spike protein to which the immune system responds. There is no denatured microbe, the normal vaccine equivalent. The safety claims that mRNA cannot be reverse transcripted into DNA have been disproven. Three published papers have demonstrated reverse transcription using a mouse model. I mention this fact because we do not know the long term effect of this experiment. IF the most resounding rule of medicine is, “First, do no harm,” I fear we have unintentionally violated that tennet.
99% of the people know that the vaccine does not prevent someone from catching Covid you genius. It reduces the risk of severe infection leading to hospitalization and death.
Nor does it prevent someone from transmitting it.
Not true. Vaccinated people are very unlikely to spread covid.
6:00pm:
Stop spewing false information! Fully vaccinated persons are very very unlikely to be able to catch or transmit Covid. Try to stay current and with factual information.
Stay your ass where you are! We already have too many expert people like you here already.
We have lots more people willing to come and live here without abusing or bad mouthing us. If things are so much better where you are, why are you wanting to come here? I think I know why..You love our milk and honey but you don’t love us and you want us to change to suit your lifestyle and beliefs..
I’m so sick of people like you that believe that Cayman is here just for you and that we should follow everything you do. I came here in 1986 and I fell in love with the people and these islands. and they accepted me because I didn’t come here to change them. They have done better and cared more for their people than any country I can think about. I am Caymanian now and damn proud and I stand with my people. As a former expat these posts by people like you infuriate me to the hilt when you know nothing about Cayman or its people.
You are not in Kansas anymore. If you can’t accept us the way we are then don’t come..Unlike most countries in the world, we have been living covid free since last summer. Do you think that could have happened in the States with Donald Trump, Qanon or the Trump Patriots? Hundreds of thousands of your people were dying unnecessarily and alone from covid because they refused to wear masks or social distance while we were living comfortably and healthy and didn’t have to do either because we did the right thing from the start and managed to burn out the virus here through proper methods. We will continue to do the right thing by our people despite yours and the other conspiracy theorists.
By the way, we are not the Caymans..We are the Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Get to know a little more about us before you start making yourself look like a fool.
Signed
A former expat and PROUD CAYMANIAN!
Legendary, mate. :up:
Thomas kane – what exactly are you saying, that you’re smarter than the entire population in Cayman and most of the world’s doctors? How on earth can someone like you not be saving the world? Maybe you’re a propagandist trying to stir the pot. The vaccine must not be working because it has to be the hand of god that’s killing the virus in the USA. You’re a jackass troll.
You’ve made an informed choice Mr. Thomas (local colloquialism). It doesn’t sound as if Cayman is a good fit for you right now. An informed choice is all we can hope for everyone. Don’t let anyone supplant your opinion with theirs. Look for vetted medical reports. Do your own research. Look at the British and German reports as a starting point.
I wish you and your family well. You read as a thoughtful person. I’ll welcome you if we later mesh with your ideals. Be safe.
Thank you. I wish you well.
Offer a 2nd pension fund withdrawal from those grossly underperforming overcharging pensions to incentivize expats to be vaccinated. That will push Cayman above 70% vaccinated. Caymanians can be incentivized with a KFC gift card
A KFC gift card? Racist much?
Fine, Popeyes then.
Whatever it takes, go get the shot and get the island opened up.
Whatever it takes, go get the shot. Open up the borders.
12 dislikes? Its a stereotype. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3R6njmWdeU&t=16s
Bermuda up to 46 flights a week in June from multiple carriers.
So what is the plan for Cayman, Mr. Government?
http://www.royalgazette.com/tourism/news/article/20210525/flight-numbers-take-off-as-airlines-boost-services/
Bermuda. 32 dead, and counting.
Get the shot. It is 100% effective. At this point, everyone has had their change.
This is fear-mongering. Bermuda opened up to everyone regardless of vaccination status. They also did this before the most vulnerable were able to be vaccinated. The suggestion for Cayman was to open to vaccinated people who are highly unlikely to spread covid. And our most vulnerable are already vaccinated.
look at bermudas numbers compared to cayman not raw numbers but per million in both cases. i pray dont follow bermuda they are a pandemic disaster.
How many died from other causes?
1.04pm – the average age of death from covid is older than the average life expectancy.
covid has a 99.997% survival rate.
We had a responsibility to look after everyone when there was no vaccine. But now we have free protection against the virus, it’s time to take personal responsibility. Open the borders.l. If you don’t want a vaccine don’t get one but don’t complain when you get sick!
Because Bermuda has provided a perfect example of how not to deal with a pandemic so far?? – how many dead in the past few weeks?? – many.
There is additional evidence today that irrational fears regarding vaccinations are being spread by entities trying to de-stabilize western countries. Unfortunately some here in Cayman seem to have been caught up in the fear campaign as well.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/may/25/influencers-say-russia-linked-pr-agency-asked-them-to-disparage-pfizer-vaccine
Keep the borders closed until all children are able to get vaccinated.
There is no doubt some children on this island have compromised immune systems and underlying health conditions. Nobody wants to see dead children or elderly here. Just wait a few more months until it is safe for all of Cayman. What difference would that make now anyway?
A few more month. What exactly is going to happen in those few more months pray tell? Tell you one thing that will definitely happen – we will run out of vaccine and are not going to get anymore having wasted some of the previous supply.
who said we weren’t getting anymore?
Doubt they will give us more if we waste what was already given. When the border opens the antivaxers will be blaming everyone one but themselves when granny pops her clogs
Duhh.. if we waste doses from our current batch do you think the UK will be giving us more to waste.
Oh we will get more but get ready to pay a hefty price.
The risk to children is so low that the WHO has asked countries not to vaccinate children so more vaccines can be sent to countries without access to them. Plus we might be able to vaccinate 12 – 15s in a few months but who knows how long it will be before it’ll be approved for all children. The best thing that we can do is vaccinate as many adults as possible so there is no way covid can spread anyway.
Until the virus mutates, as viruses always do. So, now we have a chance to deprive it of a host, but next week, next month, who knows. It could be a whole different variant, that is targeting children. The virus is the flipping ‘terminator’. It doesn’t care about you,or god, or politics. It just wants to replicate. And it will be those that failed to take the vaccine that will have blood on their hands. We are at the mercy of the stupid. And our Government will not step up and initiate changes, such as mandatory vaccination for work permits, to get the stupid to safety. Because lord knows they won’t do it for themselves nor for others.
That is very good news!
How are we doing at distinguishing valid vaccination certificates from overseas that we can rely on versus the fake ones that are readily available and being used by too many people?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/16/fake-covid-vaccine-and-test-certificate-market-is-growing-researchers-say
11:29 Maybe with training? Maybe with an application that can rapidly perform crosschecks with overseas databases and flag anomalies? Nothing can provide absolute assurance but something must be done because the islands can stay closed forever.
Who cares.
We had our exit test Sunday and are out of 10 day quarantine. It was time-consuming, nerve-wracking and expensive to get here, but we want to say that everyone involved, and there were many, many of you, was unfailingly professional, courteous and helpful. The quarantine situation makes a hell of traveling here but the people running it made it bearable. Good job, All!
Thank you. You’ve earned your entry and more. It’s a lot to ask of anyone. I don’t recall anyone being blackmailed into coming here.
Welcome and I hope Cayman is everything you hoped it would be.
https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/current-covid-spike-in-bermuda-a-precedented-battle-against-pandemics-476672/
Good article – thank you.
Bermuda are in the same boat, vaccines about to expire, and an apathy from some to get the vaccine. They have had some success with mobile units, maybe targeting jobsites, lunch spots, business centres…
Only 1,400 first doses left. 15 days left for first dose. So should get pretty close to using up.
And open up the island right after. No reason to delay an opening to those vaccinated after that.
I don’t get it. So much talk on opening Cayman for business, yet no talk about vaccinating 12 to 15 year olds first ??
Because not yet authorized by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for use by 12 to 15 year olds. Pfizer submitted an application to the MHRA in mid May and is awaiting approval.
Cayman government will take direction from Public Health England, so up to the UK.
The vaccine is not yet approved for adults. Only TEMPORARILY authorized by MHRA. See link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-for-covid-19/conditions-of-authorisation-for-pfizerbiontech-covid-19-vaccine
I’m for vaccination but the fact is teens do not get sick and die. 90% of deaths are over 60.and you have most of them vaccinated because they can see the risk to themselves.
Once again, these age-related assumptions were truer last year, but not so with latest variants of concern. Half of hospital admissions are under 40. It just means everyone that can get vaccinated, should, at their turn…which is right now for everybody over 16 in Cayman.
Half of hospital admissions are under 40 only because those over 40 were vaccinated first. There have been 0 hospitalizations in Cayman (including “positive” travelers)since January.
Give it a rest. They do not need it when there is a 99.972 % survival rate.
The CDC is now investigating reports of heart inflammation in teenagers and young adults that have occurred days after their second does of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.
CNS: Washington Post – CDC probes rare cases of heart inflammation in vaccinated teens, young adults
Investigators have not established that the condition, known as myocarditis, was caused by the shots. Most cases have been mild, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which continues to strongly urge people to get vaccinated.
“Reported cases appear to be mild and often go away without requiring treatment,” CDC spokesman Benjamin Haynes said. He said that the reports are “rare given the number of vaccine doses administered.”
Thanks for fact-checking CNS. It seems that every little thing that comes out into the media the Anti-Vaxxers blow it up into something more than what it is.
Anti-vaxxere, we get it…You are healthy and you will be one of the 99% that will never get covid or survive it if you get it. There are many families with loved ones that pushed this foolishness and had to watch their family members die..You in Cayman have never had to witness suffering and death from this wicked virus. Until you do, keep your 99% to yourself. It is only a matter of time once you reopen that many of you same people will have to watch from facetime as your family members who followed your stupidity die alone attached to a ventilator.
You will not take the vaccine and that’s fine but please stop spreading fake or unsubstantiated news to scare other people.
Screwing the rest of their lives don’t’t seem wise to me. Child abuse, if you ask me, to force kids to get COVID jabs. They are not mature enough to make their own decisions.
Several “must have” children vaccines are different from COVID immune boosters, so don’t start an argument here.
I’m children are protected from meningitis because of life saving vaccines. That’s child abuse too?
I see lots of people feeding their kids hotdogs and chicken nuggets which can lead to childhood obesity, diabetes and are even linked to cancer. Is that also child abuse?
Someone call child services…
why …what do you think covid will do to 12-15 year olds?
I bet you the ONLY ONES who are so passionate about Cayman re-opening its borders, are the MONEY-MAKERS that continues to treat their employees like crap!
Nope! I’m passionate about it reopening so my family can go get their medical care in the US easier.
I’m passionate as I’ve been away from family and friends for 11/2 years as I do not have time to quarantine
priorities can be a bitch
1:35, you are an ass! Priorities? It’s simple math. People get a certain amount of time off work and 14 days of quarantine plus another day to test…..uses up most/all vacation time. Fully vaccinated people don’t need to quarantine.
Can fully vaccinated people still be carriers of the corona?
If so yes, you all still have to quarantine.
I personally won’t be getting the vaccine. Bun this government and everyone along with it who thinks they can shove vaccines down throats so “the select” few can get back to normality making their $$$$$$ or traveling the world like a bird. Sit unna ass down and accept there is a global pandemic currently inflicting major regions and forcing vaccines on to people won’t magically let the universe get back to revolving around your selfish assses.
Who is selfish? Sounds like you are completely full of it..”All for me and the rest can go to hell” ..Nice attitude!
Hope you never get covid…and oh yeah if you get it, hope you are one of the 99% that survives…and oh yeah, I hope that you have no side effects…You take good care of yourself now..
11:36. Same. Caymanian overseas that is longing to get home to visit family.
It is only an hours flight away, twice a week. Cannot really make it easier than that.
Some need monthly treatment that would normally require them to miss only a day or 2 of work to travel, get treatment and come home. Now, it requires two weeks of quarantine in addition to that. How do you expect someone to keep a job if they have to miss that kind of time? These patients are fully vaccinated yet they are subjected to this or have to skip their treatment.
I am passionate about borders opening because my son has not seen his only grandparent in almost 2 years. He cries about it almost on a daily basis. I missed my only grandmother’s funeral because I could not quarantine for 28 days (14 at each end), with a toddler. I miss my family terribly. I was willing to make the sacrifice as long as Cayman had a plan. Now no one knows. Give me a realistic border reopening plan, is all I am asking for.
I would love to. Let us know the r0 of the Indian and various other variants, and the effectiveness and take up of the vaccines, as well as your thoughts on requiring vaccine passports of everyone, and we will get back to you.
Open up now!
If you take away the shots visitors received, then we are not at 65%, we are far less, assuming we have kept correct records…
Which we haven’t. And if you count visitors (which we need to for herd immunity purposes) the population is more than 65,000.
You say with no evidence at all.
Far less? – you have some data to back that up, or are you just working on marl road stories of the numbers of visitors being vaccinated – bearing in mind you would have to come here, spend two weeks in quarantine, then qualify on a name and age date, then wait 3 weeks for the second jab? The proposition is that people came here, spent over a month here just to get the vaccine, then left? No doubt applies to some holiday home owners waiting out Covid here, but you honestly think it amounts to thousands of people?
If you want to worry about percentages, then suggest you worry not about the known number of people who got vaccinated, but the base line population number of 65000, which is just a guess by the government, and doesn’t seem to square up with the numbers of WP and PR holders and dependents, which we have hard data for, and ESOs guess as to what the Caymanian population is, where we have no hard data at all.
But we really have no idea what our population is, as the census was postponed last year. It could be 60,000 with only 45,000 over the age of 16 or only 40,000 over the age of 16. We really have no idea & I certainly don’t think we should wait for the census to be completed to get the ‘actual’ total before opening our borders.
Doesn’t really matter. None of these numbers are magic bullets. Herd immunity is entirely guesswork at this point. 70% may or may not do the trick. No one knows for sure.
Take a look at the actual numbers of all countries that have high vax rates. Their numbers are dropping to record lows. None of them have reached 70% yet either.
The census is not going to tell us anything. It will not count snowbirds, or tourists, or overstayers, or global citizens, or college kids, or boarding school kids, or temporary work permit holders, or hospital patients or PCW holders, or persons within 6 months of their term limit. It is a farce, and they know it. We will still pay millions for it, and have data that has no bearing on the fundamental question, “ how many people are here?”
Are you sure that 65% includes visitors as well? It says 65% of the population. The population should not include visitors. That would really be misleading… where do you get your information… shite stirrers central?
Visitors are Covid vectors too. You have to count them in any calculation of herd immunity.
This is probably balanced by people arriving who have had there vaccine overseas
Yes, but you need to add back residents who received vaccines in the UK, Canada or the US (like my wife and I both did).
Seriously, how many visitors do you really think came just for the vaccine? Paid high airline prices, quarantined 14 days, got a shot, stayed another 21 days, got another shot and then left the island. Absurd and paranoid to think many (if any) people actually did that.
Come on Cayman! We can do this! Get your second shot when the time comes around and let’s start getting some herd immunity..
For those still not wanting to take the vaccine, I beg of you to do more research and consider your options. We are still importing covid and even one has symptoms right now. Imagine if after we reopen if just one person comes on island and community spread happens. Those without the vaccines will fear worse than those vaccinated. I don’t want anyone here to die because of covid particularly when we have been given something for free that can help us reduce the chances of that happening.
People had the chance to get their shots. If they get infected that’s their own fault. The majority shouldn’t suffer for the minority of ignorant idiots who won’t get a life saving vaccine.
The reality is we cannot stay locked down forever. Everywhere is opening up and we should allow free access to traveller’s who are vaccinated.
Once we get to 70+ % fully vaccinated and have a reliable way of confirming that people arriving are fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines proven to have an efficacy of 90%+ then I will agree with you. There are too many people traveling on fake vaccination certificates.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/16/fake-covid-vaccine-and-test-certificate-market-is-growing-researchers-say
PACT, time is running out! Surprising to see the lack of interest and no visible followup on approval to vaccinate 12 – 16 year olds from the Government and public platforms. Would ensure that the Cayman Islands easily uses the remaining vaccine stock and can justify a new shipment. PACT you wanted the job so badly and it’s time for you to step up and do something of substance. May God bless the entire Cayman Islands.
Cayman government is waiting for Public Health England and the MHRA in the UK to approve the vaccine for 12 to 15 year olds. Latest I heard was this wont be until July.
The U.K. is vaccinating strictly by age group, so children won’t get the vaccine until every adult has been offered it. Currently age 32+ being offered the vaccine.
This has nothing to do with the government at hand. If PPM had gotten in, they would be dealing with the same issues. As far as I can see there is nothing being put out to actually stop the fears. The fact is that I am scared because of the fertility issues I have heard about. All of the “research” I have been sent by doctors is just that “there is no evidence” to suggest it affects fertility, but part of the reason there is no evidence, is that they haven’t actually done studies specific to fertility. I am not saying that it will cause infertility but just that the actual studies of how the vaccine affects women’s bodies has not actually been done. So it’s unfair to force and guilt people into getting the vaccine when no one so far has actually provided me with a study that can alleviate these fears.
Everyone may have a reason for wanting or not taking the vaccine and we really need to stop this “cancel culture” that we have when we disagree with someone.
Early on there was some discussion of possible fertility issues so I had my teen daughter wait. New research indicates the spike proteins they were originally concerned about aren’t similar enough to pose a problem. My teen then decided to get vaccinated.
A little infertility wouldn’t be a bad thing around here quite frankly
I understand the paralysis that rapidly evolving complex issues like the current pandemic may cause. However, that does not mean that society’s response to this pandemic should not include the use of the best available evidence and the scientific and other tools that will save the greatest number of lives – and that includes persuasion.
Fact – women of child bearing years who die of Covid do not have infertility issues or concerns. The percentage is small but at this stage there are 10’s of thousands who have died out of the 4+ million total dead.
Fact – women of child bearing years who do not get vaccinated can become a vector for this virus who can infect and be the cause of serious illness and the death of others. That is not an acceptable outcome.
They call us anti-vaxxers, idiots, ignorant and all sorts of names. However, they are the ones that want to travel and get back to their travel lifestyles. But we are the selfish ones because we are more cautious than most when it comes to the mRNA “vaccine”. I’ve even seen friends get in heated arguments over this topic. I am not going around trying to convince anyone to not take the vaccine. on the contrary, those who have are the ones trying to do the convincing. It’s a personal choice and if you got the vaccine good for you and if you didn’t so be it. Only time will tell.
I think you left off the big one – selfish. In order for people worldwide to be safe from covid, we need to reach herd immunity. People refusing to get vaccinated for no good reason are making that harder. The vaccine is safe and effective. Even if you are nervous, you should still get it to make sure those around you stay safe.
You are the selfish one! No one can force me to put anything in my body. I have a right to my choice and that is a good enough reason. Selfish is trying to convince someone to do something by name-calling, shaming and basically bullying. Easy to do behind a computer screen.
Why do you assume people only want others to get vaccinated to get back to their “travel lifestyle”? There are many people hurting economically, want to see family or have a lot of difficulty travelling for medical reasons now. Most people also realize that it is not feasible for cayman to stay closed for years and want make it safer. You are going to see people becoming increasingly frustrated as we remain locked down while the rest of the world opens up. It’s very upsetting to listen to these outlandish anti-vaxx conspiracy theories when you know that their ignorance is affecting everyone. I’d rather trust the top medical experts in the world.
Has nothing to do with conspiracies or microchips. Has everything to do with freedom of choice. You had a choice to take it and I have a choice not to. The keyword there is “choice”.
PACT time is up, they had their chance, they screwed the pooch.
This government have had 4 weeks in power and just to state if PPM had gotten in PPM/or any other government coalition would have been dealing with the same issues PACT is dealing with now. I am sure we would be no closer to border re-opening with or without a PACT government.
I think 70% was the previous government’s rate they wanted as well and that is probably based on suggestions from the doctors and medical officers here.
7.29am They are all glued in to awaiting the results of the prize winning draw for the airport vaxers.
COVID is practically over in the US and many other countries. It is not different today than being diagnosed with cancer. Very many get cancer and some die. People will continue getting COVID and some may die.
Some countries didn’t even bother with vaccinations and are just fine.
Scientists should be figuring out now why some people, especially in cases of multiple deaths in one family, sadly succumbed to COVID. Did they all have metabolic disorders, were elderly or it is some genetic predisposition?
It was reported that many others are naturally immune to COVID. Most people didn’t even get symptoms or beat it easily.
Scientific community should get busy figuring this all out.
Demoting my comment with CNS sub-comment won’t change the fact that the above is true.
By the way, Alaska is open for Cruise Ships tourism as of today. Another puzzle why a region living for nearly 7 months in semi-darkness, fared so well with COVID.
Because their population is very small, well spread out & not living multiple families in one house (with them going out to work). No work hardly in Alaska during the winter to go out to.
Cayman population is very small and well spread out.
“No work hardly in Alaska during the winter to go out to.” Are you kidding? Perhaps you should visit Anchorage at least. An urban city just like any US city.
In North Slope towns multiple people traditionally live together.
I get it – Some people drive at 120 mph through school zones at the time the children are let out without killing anyone – so that means that means that there should be no speed limits or related laws.
Keep the country closed for the rest of the year . . . people from some of the worst affected countries, yes talking about you Motherland and the promised land to our North, they will continue to bring their positive cases into our country (because they in their infinite wisdom and power simply have not figured out how to contain the virus).
Our Government will survive, they will just have to learn how to be more budget efficient and stop all the free for all spending. Judging by what I see going on, both the previous Government and the current Government seem to believe that you can just continue to spend, spend, spend. Unna ever heard of saving for the perpetual rainy day?
Would love to know which flights the positives are coming from. Bermuda publishes that data, so I don’t know why we cannot.
Why don’t you review the situation before posting garbage?… too much work? The US will be at 50% vaccination today. The San Francisco general hospital has zero covid patients. NYC is nearly fully open and will be fully back to normal within weeks. Stadiums are opening at full capacity. The US has defeated covid. Don’t forget that the US population is 330,000,000. Maybe if your leaders would actually work instead of beating women, they could get a population of 60,000 in a good position to fight the virus instead of making the island one big prison.
Speaking of garbage – 10:07 post definitely qualifies – the US is definitely doing much better than it was but there are still hundreds dying per day. Here is a link to the actual statistics for the entire US not just some non-existent hospital.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/coronavirus-deaths-united-states-each-day-2020-n1177936
11:36 Well, some of us actually live in the US. Life is normal. Everything is open and we are living freely. Never caught covid and I’m now vaccinated. Enjoyed a large maskless party this week in Disney. Too bad you can’t do the same. Keep preaching that fear mongering garbage. I’m sure keeping people locked up and tourist workers poor will pay dividends.
Life is normal in Florida. We were and are being treated as adults. Get the jab if you want to, wear a mask if you want to, no one is pressuring anyone! Love DeSantis!!!
Life is normal in the Northeast US. All mask mandates are up on Friday. Everything is open to full capacity.
Desantis, Trump, Qanan, Marjorie Taylor Greene, MAGA, Patriots,Conspiracy Theorists.. well I could go on but I may need to go throw up…this my friend is why the USA has now become the biggest shit hole in the world.
You guys have more than covid to straighten out. Hope the people that still have an ounce of decency will do what it takes to neve have a Trump or Trump like government ever again..
Imagine if we had done what DeSantis and Trump did and let everyone do as they please..Thank God, common sense prevailed here..
5.55am Why don’t you build a nuclear bomb shelter in your back garden, stock it with a year’s supplies and move in there?.
We are not going to hit the target number until government gives a firm opening date. No urgency until then to get vaccine until everyone knows the opening date. Please CIG – name a border opening date. I suggest 1 July.
Good news!!
Over 90% immunity is needed for herd immunity for the English variant and even more for the more infectious Indian one. With a population with close to zero local cases to boost immunity percentages, at 70% vaccinations COVID is going to rip through the islands when borders open up.
“Herd immunity” is not really a relevant concept for Cayman, which can have more than 60,000 air arrivals a month in normal times.
So if, say, 20% of our population is not immunized, it doesnt matter that 80% of Cayman’s population is immunized, as we will have the equivalent of Cayman’s population arrive by air each month,
Which is why we have to stay closed.
Forever? Covid will likely be endemic globally for many more years, we some degree of low-level spread.
The goal is to at least protect the most vulnerable with vaccines, such that Covid becomes as fearsome as the season flu to the rest of the population.
Not forever. But another year or so, yes.
If we only open the borders to vaccinated people who are extremely unlikely to spread covid, what difference will a year or so make? Covid will be around for many more years, if not forever. Going for zero cases when there was no vaccine made sense but now we need to learn to live with it.
Go hide under your bed. More people have died in traffic accidents in the last couple of weeks here than Covid in the last year and and half. Have you stopped driving or riding in cars?
No. But we closed our borders. That is why we have the luxury of only losing 2 to Covid – both imported cases. Unlike Bermuda which has lost 32 compared to our 2. I would say we have made the right call.
Which is why we should only open up to people who have been vaccinated and are at an extremely low risk of spreading covid. Especially if we combine this with a covid testing plan.
More reason for the 20% to get vaxed.
They are not eligible!
There is always going to be risks but anyone at real risk of serious illness because of covid should have been vaccinated long ago. Any risk can be mitigated by only allowing in vaccinated people who are highly unlikely to spread covid and including a system of covid tests. We can’t stay closed until covid completely disappears because that could be years, if ever.
Covid will NEVER fully go away. Thankfully, it’s far more understood and very treatable now !
If you are really worried about this, then one simple thing that you can do is limit the contact that you and your family have with unvaccinated people since they are the ones that will catch and spread covid. I see nothing wrong with asking people’s vaccination status before socializing with them.
Makes no sense. If you’re vaccinated, why does it matter who else is? Didn’t you do it to be protected? Further, if you’re out on the town, shoulder to shoulder with others, will you ask everyone their vaccination status? What about work colleagues and service providers? I can go on and on. Makes me wonder what was the whole point of the vaccination drive if the “protected” are still fearful.
Exactly – so the people that wanted to be are protected. Open up now!
The protected are not fearful – we just need more people vaccinated so that we can start to open the borders! Also the more people vaccinated the safer are those who can’t get vaccinated due to age or medical condition. Geez, it’s not rocket science
Has nothing to do with the fact that the original poster said they will not socialize with the unvaccinated. It’s a very idiotic statement if you got the vaccine to be protected. Never once did I mention that I was not vaccinated. I respect that people have the right to choose, and will never belittle or make someone feel less than I am because of their choice. Also if the motive is to encourage more people to get vaccinated, then most people have the wrong approach to the unvaccinated.
That is why yo need to get vaccinated. Duh
Great number. Open up!
How many deaths are acceptable to you? Just asking because the statistics may include my neighbors and family members. I want to understand your math.
The more the merrier as far as I am concerned.
Suggest you don’t go on the road, it’s up 5-0 already this year alone.
So get vaccinated!
Maybe you should encourage your neighbours and family members to get vaccinated.
I have and I am. Their refusal to follow my recommendations is not grounds for any of them to be sentenced to death or lifelong disability. That is the reality of what opening our borders means – so be clear. Is it profit or convenience that causes you to push for a border reopening – and is either motive sufficient to warrant the loss of life?
Are you suggesting that the border should remain closed for YEARS because you don’t want to risk the lives of people who refuse to get vaccinated? Covid is not going to just disappear anytime soon. Even no plan Panton knows that is not economically feasible. No one is suggesting we just throw open the border but rather open up to vaccinated people who are highly unlikely to spread covid. Personally I have no sympathy for people who are too selfish or stupid to keep themselves safe by getting a free vaccine that is safe and effective.
Is your stance that as long as there is even a remote risk of exposure, the island needs to remain closed? Zero risk is not a reasonable argument. With the vaccine you mitigate the risk to a very high degree. If you don’t believe it’s safe to open now, I assume you will always believe the risk will be too great to open the borders.
Just FYI, if we have unused vaccines we will be unable to ship them off the island. Bermuda has similar-lot vaccines that expire on June 30. From today’s Bermuda Royal Gazette newspaper:
Ms Wilson said: “Bermuda does expect to use all our supply of the Pfizer – BioNTech vaccines.
“We are unable to share this as it has reached the maximum number of times it can be transported as recommended by the manufacturer.”
We technically cant get 5% more people fully vaccinated with two shots, as 5% of 65,000 is 3,250. There are only enough doses left to fully vaccinate about 1,600 more people. (CNS’s May 19th story indicated 3,000 double doses left; since then, 1,550 more people received the first dose).
So if we do about 100 first doses over the each of the next 16 days to June 9th to fully use up the first doses, we will get to just under 44,000, or approx 67%. Cant get any higher than that unless UK ships more vaccines.
So….Mr. Panton, what will be the plan? Be curious to hear what readers predict. Thoughts?
I hope that they will open up to vaccinated people anyway, with some sort of verification process for vaccination cards and a testing plan. But my guess is that everything will remain closed. No one wants to make the hard decisions and I don’t have much faith that we will even use up the vaccines that we have.
@9:39pm I predict there is no plan other than to not reopen because as you pointed out mathematically we can’t reach 70%. The lack of communication from our leadership is disappointing at best and infuriating at worst. In my opinion, CIG should step to the plate and give us an outline of how and when the border will truly reopen. At the very least CIG should let us know if they are working on a plan. Silence is rarely misinterpreted and this silence seems to screen NO PLAN.
Thank you. Glad someone else did the math here. For now the 70% number is neither a carrot or a stick, but an illusion.
Still waiting to know the permenant residents who have been jabbed and not just visiting relatives.
The HSA can’t give me an answer so will take the 65% with a large pinch of salt.
And don’t give me you have to show ID as that is rubbish and I do know not just third-party
A lot of residents got the jab in the US or UK. My son and his friends just got back from university in the US. All were jabbed up there (U of Michigan, Indiana, Pace..).
Let’s go, 3,000 left to reach 70 percent!
Do it for the sake of your children.
Do it for the sake of the immunocompromised.
Get Vaccinated today to ensure a safer tomorrow.
Let us vaccinate our 12-16 year olds and see the numbers jump…
We cannot as we have to wait for U.K. approval of that age group. They are directing our policy & giving us free vaccines.
Sadly, UK calls the shots on that and they’re always slower than US on stuff like that.
And that’s because the U.K. largely has free healthcare which is rationed by need, unlike the US where it depends how much money you have and/or how good your health insurance is. We are not going to be vaccinating children while adults haven’t all been offered the vaccine, as adults are more vulnerable. We are currently vaccinating people in their 30s.
If I take the vaccine and we open up I will no longer be able to afford weekends at the Kimpton, enjoy the empty beaches and my boat on a traffic free north sound. Cayman is currently at the best it’s been in decades. Reminds me of the good old days. We don’t have Covid here. We won’t open up unless we get to 70%. I’m quite happy if we never get there.
You are so ignorant and selfish!
Don’t you realize that the economy can only sustain this for so long? The Kimpton cannot and will not be able to sustain the same numbers for much longer and won’t continue to do it if the rest of the world is opening and they are not turning a profit.
We do have covid here but luckily for us we have been able to contain those people in quarantine. It only takes one of these to get out infect you and others and then what?
Start thinking about all of those other people that need to survive and don’t have the money or the ability to hang out at the Kimpton or sip rum punches on their empty beach.
Kimpton on sale for cents on the dollar on account of borders not reopening? tragic story for Mr. Dart.
Alas, sounds like his own problem. He has more money than he knows what to do with, so who gives a sh!t if he loses a couple million here or there. I don’t. And if he decides to leave the jurisdiction, perhaps we can all get the land back he’s bought over the years.
The industries that matter (i.e. those that actually pay the CI bills – finance / legal) doing better than they have ever done.
And dont start with the “oh what about the locals that are dependent on tourism…” the cab drivers, tender and watersport companies have made more than enough cash over the years with their monopolies to sustain a drought in revenue.
And if not, welcome to the real world where you are required to adapt, change and overcome your own problems.
Most tourism workers and businesses are not making a lot of money, you sound extremely ignorant and in a bubble.
The majority made a killing in the years before COVID. The amount of new boats that were on the water doing charters proves it. Most ran by ex-pats with status holding buddies. If they squandered their money, that’s not on me.
2.34pm – I work in tourism as a business owner, you are completely wrong. Most watersports operators don’t have much money. Costs of operating are very high, and margins thin. You are probably a random lawyer who has never run a small business before, you seem very ignorant, quite sad really.
Don’t make any money in your small business?
Sounds like a you problem too.
Life should not be handed to you on silver platter.
If your circumstances are shit.. Time to grow a pair, adapt, change and overcome.
If not no1 else will do it for you.
9.00pm – the government chose to shut the borders for over a year and destroyed the tourism industry. If you were running a small business in the tourism industry I guarantee you would be bankrupt by now.
welcome to the real world, where things happen and you need to make a plan.
12.44pm – business owners want to make a plan, but they can’t as they are being held hostage by ignorant and evil people like you by continuously keeping borders closed.
Genius. How long? You don’t know do you? You likely didn’t think we could have gone as long as we have. I’m speaking as a Caymanian. We’ve really enjoyed the slower pace and going back to our roots / sea. You May recall, we just had an election and we voted in anti-development. Thank you though for your kind words. Speaks volumes.
Which is great for you, but sucks for anyone who works in tourism. If we don’t open up then those that have been hanging on will close businesses for good, restuarants, hotels, bars, watersports, some have exhausted their savings, raided their pensions and are living on air, but as long as you are OK that’s fine right?
I continue to be served by expatriates everywhere I go, while Caymanians with identical skills and employed in the same business are sitting at home waiting for their 2 shifts a week.
8:49 That’s because caymanians get government stipends that are not given to expats…
No. That is because employers continue to employ expatriates even where there are Caymanians ready and able to do the work. It is a hard habit to break, taught by Alden’s PPM.
You missed the point. If Caymanians are employed for the same company, why are they at home with less work than the ex-pat? Further, the stipend is for the ones that can prove they are not employed full-time. If they send the ex-pats home and let the Caymanians work, that would be less of an expense for CIG. But we’re the entitled ones, right? You clearly stated that Caymanians get less work because of the stipend, so you feel entitled to your gainful employment in Cayman, right?
hardly any Caymanians work in tourism
Untrue. Sorry, I know. Our business needs tourism and employs a large number of Caymanians.
Jamaicans married to permanent residents, maybe, but Caymanians? That’s a funny one.
Caymanians are the minority in tourism.
Notice you didn’t mention the roads. They are worse than ever! Where have all the cars come from?
Bought with pension withdrawals. No one cycling anymore!!
Japan, via Jam.
We actually have no idea what the population is, do we? Fairly dangerous stuff to guess at given so-called herd immunity is based on a mathematical formula, and is in fact fairly precise once we understand the r0 of a particular virus (which may change according to the strain).
65% of a random number which includes 21.7% of people who are not even eligible to receive it.
You have to love statistics!!
I do, they are a bit like assholes and opinions, everyone seems to have one.
It’s all funny math!
Today’s article says 65% of population has had first shot.
This older article says 70% of over 16s have received first shot.
https://caymannewsservice.com/2021/05/70-of-over-16s-have-received-first-shot/