Isolation cut to 5 days for vaccinated travellers

| 24/06/2021 | 213 Comments
Cayman News Service
Owen Roberts International Airport arrivals

(CNS): Travellers who have a negative pre-arrival PCR COVID-19 test and have had a full course of a recognised vaccine against the coronavirus that can be verified can reduce the period of quarantine or isolation to just five days under new government regulations that came into effect Wednesday. The vaccine course must have been completed in either the UK or in the Cayman Islands at least two weeks before arrival in Cayman.

This change does not apply to groups of travellers that include anyone who has not been fully vaccinated and everyone in such groups will still need to isolate for two weeks. The quarantine period will be ten days for incoming travellers with a vaccination certificate that cannot be securely verified, and for all incoming travellers who are unvaccinated the quarantine period is still 14 days.

“We made this change on the basis of scientific data demonstrating that a five-day quarantine period for fully-vaccinated travellers poses a relatively limited risk of COVID-19 transmission to the community,” Premier Wayne Panton said. “There are several stipulations and conditions attached to this to ensure that we are introducing safe changes to our quarantine procedures. I want to assure the public that continued protection of our Islands remains paramount.”

Officials said the new rules depend on stringent conditions and only for vaccines approved by Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee, which currently includes AstraZeneca, Janssen, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech.

Vaccinations must be securely verifiable according to international standards approved by the medical officer of health. Incoming travellers must have been fully vaccinated by the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority at least two weeks before returning here, or they must demonstrate completion of their vaccination course at least two weeks before arrival by real-time logging into the UK National Health Service application and showing this to the Customs and Border Control (CBC) officer processing their entry. The NHS application is considered trusted and secure technology. Paper documentation from the NHS might be accepted as verifiable evidence if determined valid by the CBC officer processing entry.

Dr Lee explained there are two parts to a safe reopening plan. “The first is to have a high vaccination rate within our community, and we are doing well on this front,” he said. “The second is to make sure that we are protected from risks coming into the country – so a reduction in quarantine is only permitted for vaccinated people. The phased programme under the new Regulations shortens the quarantine time for those people who we can be securely assured have been fully vaccinated two weeks before arrival.”

Encouraging the community to get vaccinated to make us all even safer, he said, “This is a small first step, and I hope it will become a lot easier as international demand for secure technologies increase.”

He added, “We are continuing our vaccination programme in tandem with this staged relaxation of our border safety protocols. We are reminding everyone that is vulnerable, including elderly or unvaccinated individuals, that they should wear masks in indoor places, and adhere to good hand hygiene practice.”

Health Minister Sabrina Turner said that so long as the borders remain closed, travel is for repatriation and essential purposes only but she pointed out that reducing the quarantine will help those who need to travel. “Many people have been forgoing urgent travel, due to being unable to get enough time off work to fulfill the mandatory quarantine when they return. Additionally, some people have been unable to travel for elective medical procedures and this has undoubtedly had a negative mental health impact on many people,” she said

Turner said that under the new regime, pre-arrival PCR tests are being reintroduced for all travellers, who must provide a negative result within 72 hours of travel to the Cayman Islands. There will no longer be a need for testing on arrival but a negative PCR test result will still be required in order to be released from quarantine.

“This will continue to provide the community with assurance that the health and safety of our people remains our top priority as we ensure that only persons with a negative test result are released from quarantine, at the end of their required period,” Turner said. 

Mandatory nasopharyngeal swabbing for PCR testing is also being introduced for unvaccinated front-line workers, such as port employees and others dealing with travellers. The HSA will announce the effective date and explain how employers and unvaccinated front-line workers can get access to testing.

Government will stop covering the cost of quarantine in government-sponsored quarantine facilities following non-essential travel for returning Caymanians and residents from 1 July. Proof that travel was for essential purposes will be required in order to have costs waived. The details of what is considered to be essential travel will be listed on the Travel Cayman website.


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Category: Health, Local News, Medical Health, Travel

Comments (213)

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  1. Annie says:

    What a crock of sh*t! This is so disheartening. No leadership at all.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Dont worry, these restrictions will end for nov 1, when the ritz reopens from renovations. The problem will be most travellers make their plans far in advance of this date and thus will not be choosing Cayman due to the present restrictions. Thus this years high season will certainly be blunted. The cig has consistently given the message that Cayman can take or leave tourism, how I really am not sure, but most likely tied to the continued corrupt financial dealing the country continues to attract, and apparently encourage. Caymanians may love the lack of overwhelming tourists, but this is short sighted. Continued dependence on Dart and corrupt financial dealings is not a long term solution.

    • Anonymous says:

      The opening date ( a firm date) better be announced soon without any quarantine measures if any travelers are expected for high season whether the date be Sept. 1, Nov. 1 or 2028.

    • David Bromfield says:

      We decided to go to Turks and Caicos due to the burdensome restrictions here–sad but true

  3. AnonymousLC says:

    So, if I understand correctly, the Cayman Islands are so very concerned that hordes of Americans and Canadians are going to descend on your islands to spend their money with fake vaccination cards to infect everybody that lives here. Is that about right?

    Yes, it is certainly far better to take your economy back to 1959. Maybe CAL could buy some PBYs and C-47s to make the regression complete.

  4. Anonymous says:

    I am sitting in the Warsaw airport right now on the way to my destination, having passed through 4 different countries airports. No country is asking for covid vaccine certificate. Planes are full. People wear face masks which are replaced every 3 hours on long flights. All is well, life continues.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Not relying on US vaccination cards is some stupid “logic”. Anti-vaxxers aren’t getting fake cards to come to Cayman. They are staunch in their beliefs and don’t want to spend their money in places that require/support vaccination. They’re going to places that don’t ask for proof of vaccine.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Iceland is dropping its Covid restrictions today as it has achieved an 87% vaccination rate among its population. That is a little lower than Gibraltar which opened at 92%. It will be interesting to see if they have any further outbreaks.

    https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iceland-possibly-first-lift-all-covid-19-restrictions-2021-06-25/

    • Anonymous says:

      It will be interesting to see if they have any further outbreaks.

      No it would be “smart”

    • Anonymous says:

      Gibraltar even allows in day trippers from amber list countries and no quarantine at all for overnighters from green list, including Spain. No massive spike in infections because guess what , their poppy doesn’t include a hard core who refuse to get vaccinated and hold the rest of the country to ransom.

  7. Anonymous says:

    When can we get proper vaccination Certificates? Most countries will not recognize it as it is not verifiable. Cayman is asking for verifiable certificates so where is that reciprocity?

    • Anonymous says:

      welcome to wonderland …
      so our piece of paper with joined-up handwriting isn’t good enough in 2021?????

      • Anonymous says:

        CDC vaccine cards are for the most part handwritten too – the only one I’ve seen so far that has printed text is from Publix.

    • Anonymous says:

      No countries require vaccination certificates.

      • Anonymous says:

        Most countries were more interested in getting the jabs into peoples arms to save lives. Mission mostly accomplished as covid has dramatically dropped. The card was completely secondary and not top priority because really who thinks people are going to be trying to falsify their vaccination card to go on a holiday. Most people won’t.

      • Anonymous says:

        Really ?

    • Anonymous says:

      TBH it’s all pretty sketchy everywhere with regional and administrator attestation standards varying wildly even within first-world borders. Who then are these “most countries” that won’t accept Cayman vaccination credentials? Can you name any, or are you just trolling?

  8. Anonymous says:

    Thankful for the reduction to 5 days once vaccinated but why do returning residents require a pre-arrival PCR test? So if I’m a Caymanian or Resident and I happen to test positive I can’t return home to Cayman??? And I have to go through the expense of getting this test done and trying to ensure it’s within the requested time frame and also try to get on one of the mostly sold out flights? How many more hoops is the government trying make us jump?
    How about reverting back to on arrival PCR testing for residents and require that all visitors do the pre-arrival PCR test?

    • Anonymous says:

      Thus is why this 5 day quarantine is nonsensical and unsafe. It potentially allows some ho is vaccinated to b big COVID in ant to be in the community when we do not have sufficient people vaccinated. And yes it creates the concerns raised here about what those not vaccinated in Cayman or the UK being denied access to the the 5 day quarantine and issues about Caymanians who test positive in the USA being denied coming home.

      Much simpler would have naming an open date in September or October and push to get to 75% of the people vaccinated. Keep the local testing in place and do away with quarantine for anyone vaccinated and with a negative test.

      • GT East says:

        This is the only way forward .
        The fact that Cayman will never be able to verify any traveller vaccinations from the USA is going to be a big stumbling block for us moving forward .
        I wonder what the take up rate of the vaccine is with government employees is as they are the biggest employers on the island .
        Right now there seems to be know real direction and policy on where when and how,Tourism will not survive missing two high seasons back to back and that’s the reason the rest of the Caribbean are open for business
        Scary times folks

  9. Anonymous says:

    “Incoming travellers must have been fully vaccinated by the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority at least two weeks before returning here”

    Surely this should read:
    “ Incoming travellers must have been fully vaccinated by the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority at least two weeks before LEAVING here”
    We have been told that the vaccine is not effective until 2 weeks after it is given.
    It doesn’t make sense to get a vaccine then hop on a plane out of here…..

  10. Deirdre says:

    So…Im currently waiting out 10 days in Quarantine with my son who came back from school in the States last Saturday. We were both fully vaccinated in March. I just wonder if there’s any chance the Saturday arrivals could get a reprieve from the full 10 days…I suggest we split the difference and get out on day 7 instead of day 10 ??????

    Otherwise both last Saturday and yesterday’s arrivals will be trying to get their quarantine exit covid test done at the same time next week. I’d really really like to attend my class Wednesday night. ….What do you say Dr Lee?

  11. Anonymous says:

    I can verify my child’s vaccination. It was done at her doctor’s office. I have all the medical records. But, because she goes to school in the states and not the UK she is not even eligible for consideration?! WTF. This is small minded bull crap. So disgusted.

    • Anonymous says:

      So let’s get this straight if we got our vaccines at cvc doctors office in the states.we still have to guarantine 10 days???? do u really think any Americans will spend their hard earned money sitting in quarantine having to pay it then pay for a stay on hotel??

      there will be no more quarantine

      • Anonymous says:

        So, American vaccines count for nothing in the eyes of the government? Don’t really understand the logic there.

        • Anonymous says:

          The UK has one verifiable source to prove vaccination status. CIG has no means to verify US vaccinations becsuse the US cannot agree one vaccination passport. This is not about discrimination but rather ease of reliable verification.

          • Anonymous says:

            The White House has said they will leave vaccine verification issues to the states and have no plans to do anything at a federal level.

            This will mean vastly different approaches for visitors/returning Caymanians vaccinated in different US states.

            NY and Hawaii have gone for verification. Several Republican states have banned “vaccine passports”.

            I cannot see “one vaccination passport” ever being agreed in the US.

            If Cayman ever hopes to open to tourism again, we need to rethink our intransigence on this issue.

            • Anonymous says:

              This is the crux of it. Florida is another anti-vaccine-passport/status disclosure and very much pro-re-open cruise tourism without any of it. Still no vaccine for stupid.

          • Anonymous says:

            Nobody is faking vaccinations. This is paranoia.

            • Anonymous says:

              Probably some people are, although the chances are remote of anyone doing it to come to Cayman to get stuck in quarantine, when they can much more easily go to Turks & Caicos and be welcomed there with open arms.

              • Anonymous says:

                Turks and Caicos has almost been open for a year for tourist!

                We are a year behind the times.

                • Anonymous says:

                  Most of the Caribbean and Bermuda has been open since last July. Cayman a year behind the times. Yes, some islands had to close back down for a week or two before the vaccinations came out, but now, everything smooth sailing.
                  What is Cayman waiting for? Covid to go away? It is not going away. The only thing going away are the repeat tourists who are now finding new destinations.

            • Anonymous says:

              You underestimate the Q crowd.

            • Anonymous says:

              Amazon briefly sold blank vaccination cards until they were removed. Fake PCR test templates are sold as well. So many fakes have been sold, that there is almost no way to be sure what is real and what is not real anymore. Inbound passengers to the USA do not load up their proof of vaccination, they instead sign a CDC attestation that they have had a negative PCR 72 hrs prior to landing.

            • Anonymous says:

              Before being shut down, pumped by QAnons sites, Etsy and Amazon were literally selling 10-packs of blank vaccination cards for $12.99 until it grabbed negative headlines. In the U-S-of-A, selling fake #$%@ is not a crime…but using one is. That includes ideas and facts.

              https://www.npr.org/2021/06/08/1004264531/fake-covid-vaccine-cards-keep-getting-sold-online-using-one-is-a-crime

    • jeremy says:

      Cayman is really showing their racist ass towards Americans lately, we were the ones who created the vaccine and now our vaccine cards are not trustworthy in Cayman what a joke these clowns are

      • Anonymous says:

        Americans created “the vaccine” – and all this time I (and most of the sentient world) thought that the mRNA vaccine we use here was created in Germany by BioNTech.

        • Anonymous says:

          Typical Trumper who thinks the world shines out America’s ass. Make American Great Again? What a joke. I’ve never thought less of American than now, since Trump and Q.

        • jerome says:

          hey dumbass get your head out of your ass mRNA vaccine was created by BioNTech/Pfizer which is an American owned company, and again not a trumper just tired of you Caymans hating on Americans

          • Anonymous says:

            Maybe some Americans need to get off their high horse and show respect to others, America is not the be all and end all, educate yourselves.

          • Anonymous says:

            Wrong. Pfizer is American. BioNTech is German. It was a joint venture. Invented in Germany, although it need Pfizer for production.

          • Anonymous says:

            Except BioNTech is a separate company from Pfizer, and is a European company, not owned by Pfizer or Americans. Do try checking your facts before criticizing others for getting their facts wrong or you just look stupid.

          • Anonymous says:

            Do you not know your own name? Initially you write as Jeremy..then Jerome…no wonder you are confused.

        • Anonymous says:

          We didn’t “create” the vaccine but we sure as hell threw money at it to get it rolling out as quickly as possible. If the Trump administration hadn’t done that, you’d still be waiting.

      • Anonymous says:

        How you figure ‘racist’? And darling not an ass, prefer’backside’ or ‘bottom’.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Now the UK has today added Cayman to the Green List (albeit the Green Watch List no less) can we expect the lifting of this requirement for fully vaccinated persons arriving on island from the UK?

    I won’t hold my breath on that one.

    • Anonymous says:

      You better hold it if they consider you’re stupid idea

      • Anonymous says:

        your… it’s your stupid idea.

      • Anonymous says:

        OP here, if you want to live your life in a permanent protective bubble, go right ahead. Myself and my entire family are double jabbed and want our rights back.

        And it’s your, not you’re.

        • Anonymous says:

          Oh btw, I should have said “Myself and my entire Caymanian family are double jabbed and want our rights back”.

          Just to clarify that many, if not most, sensible Caymanians fully support opening up.

          It’s a vocal minority, or should I say powerful voting block, that are the major obstacle to opening up, let’s be honest.

  13. ELVIS says:

    Yes man……Delta variant takes control of usa. open the borders and reduce quarantine to 5 days. sounds about a right decision for the idiots on here.

    We did so good dont screw it up

    • Anonymous says:

      what are you afriad of?…we have one of the highest vaccination rates in the world.
      btw…what is our government afriad of?

    • Anonymous says:

      State the facts. The vaccines Phizer and Moderna are proving successful against the Delta variant in the USA. Even though the Delta Variant is responsible for 25% of cases currently, the number of covid cases in the USA are at their lowest levels since March 2020.
      The Phizer and Moderna vaccinations work!!! (June 23)

      No need to quarantine…in the USA or in Cayman if vaccinated.

  14. Anonymous says:

    why 5 days??? have we ever recieved an explanation?
    why not 0 days or 14 days or 21 days?
    will wait for answers.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Cayman was added to the UK’s green list today – more travel going to happen.

    • Anonymous says:

      YEAHHHH!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      There are plenty of other destinations which don’t require quarantine where Brits will be travelling this summer. No-one’s going to spend 5 days out of a 2 week holiday in a hotel room.

      • Anonymous says:

        No one!! Not now when every where else has no quarantine restriction.

        • Anonymous says:

          Everywhere else? Really? Not to mention all the countries that flat won’t allow you in, like our neighbours the US outright ban on travel from Europe for non US nationals and residents.

    • Anonymous says:

      BA flights have been fully booked through September for at least a few weeks already. Mostly residents going back and forth. Unless more flights are added, likely will not have much additional visitors.

      • Anonymous says:

        BA better put on daily flights before Xmas, plenty stir crazy ready to go!

      • Anonymous says:

        Unless quarantine is dropped, likely not have additional visitors. No one is spending their $$$$ to sit in a hotel room.
        Not accepting the US vaccination card is ludicrous. 10 day quarantine for Americans because not trusting the CDC. Every other island is accepting the CDC card. Just how many Americans are going to buy an imitation vaccination card to go on holiday with their family? It’s pretty insulting.

        • Anonymous says:

          Quite a number of Caymanians have been vaccinated in the US, and we are being adversely impacted by this too.

          • Anonymous says:

            10:48an, I’m one of those affected Csymanians and it pisses me off that government can’t get their shit together and get us opened up to fully vaccinated people.

    • Anonymous says:

      A lot of Caribbean islands were added. Cayman still locked down.

    • Anonymous says:

      Home….

  16. Anonymous says:

    Sooooooooo isn’t discriminatory to only accept persons who can register with the UK? EU has an electronic green certificate ??? what about the US and other places that use the correct vaccines???

    I guess it is only the UK tourist dollar that is interesting …

    • Anonymous says:

      Fake vaccine certificates can be downloaded from the internet for pennies.

      As soon as the EU provides access to its vaccination ‘green certificate’ database that will be accepted locally – however that is up to the EU not local authorities

      Similarly – when the US provides access to a central vaccination database verification system no doubt that will be accepted locally – however that is up to the US and not local authorities

      • Anonymous says:

        Never going to happen! We need to start living with Covid and stop trying to live without it. If we don’t get with the program our stay over tourism product will be lost forever!

      • Sam says:

        The US doesn’t have a central vaccination database and never will. Why? Because it is unnecessary. Vaccinated people are protected and those who chose not to are not. It’s a personal choice.

        The Pfizer vaccine is 91.5% effective against asymptomatic transmission (peer reviewed study out of Israeli). So you are extremely unlikely to pass on COVID if you are vaccinated. And the chances of getting sick from COVID after being vaccinated? Much more likely to get run-over in the Fosters parking lot. This government’s policy is beyond absurd.

    • Anonymous says:

      UK don’t use dollars

  17. Anonymous says:

    ‘Government will stop covering the cost of quarantine in government-sponsored quarantine facilities following non-essential travel for returning Caymanians and residents from 1 July.’

    When was’non-essential’ travel officially announced or permitted….

  18. Richard says:

    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/register-for-v-safe.html

    So a Pfizer vaccinated guest from the US who registers with the CDC is treated differently than a Pfizer vaccinated guest who registers with the NHS?

    Sounds like alot of Government officials have students in the UK???

    • Anonymous says:

      There is an online verification system for the NHS which minimizes the use of fake vaccination certificates – sadly that is not available yet for the US or other countries.

    • Guido Marsupio says:

      From CDC v-safe web site:

      Note: V-safe cannot schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments, nor serve as an official record of being vaccinated against COVID-19. You will receive a COVID-19 vaccination card at your vaccination appointment.

  19. Caymanian Traveler says:

    Why do the ppl that arrived last week on 10 day quarantine only get out AFTER those that arrived this Wednesday?

    Surely quarantining 4 days in addition PLUS 5 days starting Wednesday with negative PCR test and full vaccination they should be let out and should not have to quarantine longer than the others?

    • Anonymous says:

      That would require common sense from our illustrious leaders. Something that has been proven to be non-existent.

  20. Sugar says:

    The NHS verification APP is only for those persons vaccinated in ENGLAND… not the UK in general. Less than 3% of all air-arrivals originate from England. So who is this really for?

    It is for the wealthy locals who have boarding school kids and family in England looking to return or visit this summer and not quarantine 10 days. Honestly there is no other reason. It is not based on Data and Science. This is pure politics. A USA or Canadian Pfizer-vaccinated person must quarantine 10 days and an English Pfizer-vaccinated person gets only 5 days? So why the difference? No science-based reason exists.

    • Anonymous says:

      There is an old statement – trust but verify – until Canada and the US introduce a verification scheme people vaccinated in those jurisdictions are out of luck.

      • Anonymous says:

        Just out of luck to travel to Cayman. US can travel basically anywhere else they want to go. The CDC vaccination card is being widely accepted except in Cayman.

    • Stu says:

      what verification app are you talking about? I live in England and havent seen it

    • Anonymous says:

      What government official has a child that needs to come home this summer from England?

  21. Anonymous says:

    Open the border!

  22. Anonymous says:

    So I just got back from Cayman where I served my 10 day quarantine for vaccinated Americans. I used my CDC card for my US vaccination proof. We got needed house repairs done, and I was looking forward to coming back with my vaccinated kids in July under 5 day quarantine, but reading this it looks like we are all now subject to 14 day quarantine because we only have US vaccinations and there is no 10 day rule anymore. Between this and the airline situation, we won’t be back until commercial flights restart. It’s just too hard.

    • Anonymous says:

      The 10 day quarantine for those who are vaccinated but whose vaccination cards cannot be “verified” still exists – it’s right at the top of the second page of the CIG media release. It still sucks. I am in a similar boat.

  23. Anonymous says:

    Meanwhile, an update from CDC. Please fact check.

    More than 1,200 cases of heart inflammation in adolescents and young adults following Pfizer’s or Moderna’s COVID vaccine have been reported to health authorities in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on June 23.

    The bulk of the reports submitted to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a passive reporting system run by two top health agencies, dealt with myocarditis or pericarditis experienced after a second dose of a messenger RNA-based COVID-19 vaccine.

    Of the 1,226 reports of post-vaccination heart inflammation—a jump from less than 800—827 were for myocarditis or pericarditis after dose two. Another 267 were after a first dose. The rest were reports after an unspecified dose.

    Most of the cases were seen after the Pfizer-BioNTech shot. The others were seen after a Moderna shot.

    • Anonymous says:

      VAERS is not authoritative – any idiot can file a report of anything there – and clearly lots do.

      • Anonymous says:

        So the fact that it’s accessible through the CDC website bears no weight?

        • Anonymous says:

          It deserves the weight given to any site where any idiot can upload anything no matter how idiotic. The VAERS site says that none of the posts there are verified.

    • Anonymous says:

      Well yes, outgoing travel. It’s quite ironic that now that Cayman is on the UK’s green list, no one from Cayman will need to quarantine upon arrival in the UK, but alternately, those from the UK still have to quarantine for five, 10, or 14 days upon arrival in Cayman depending upon their status of vaccinated, vaccinated with an approved vaccines, or unvaccinated.

  24. Anonymous says:

    Everyone just get the damn vaccine and open up the damn borders. We have a small handful of stupid pretentious anti vaxxer pricks holding back the entire country because they’re not affected by the closed borders. Same idiots who’s kids don’t have their measles shots. Time to leave the dinosaurs in the damn past!

  25. Anonymous says:

    Those that want to be vaccinated will probably be done shortly. For others, you had multiple opportunities and have made the decision not to. How long do you wait for somebody who doesn’t want to do something.

    I thought that tourists and tourism industry was respected and important to Caymans financial well being, but am not seeing any actions to confirm that belief. Such a great place, but appears mismanaged from the outside. Hopefully they can communicate a plan that makes sense shortly. What more information do you need to come up with a plan?

  26. Anonymous says:

    This makes no sense. Even vaccinated people can still carry the virus. OPEN THE ISLAND! COVID-19 is OVER! Look at USA! Miami night clubs FULL and NO OUTBREAKS!

  27. Anonymous says:

    Can anyone explain why the CI port can be casually processing inbound travellers when it is closed like the airport to non-essential travellers? On top of being the most opaque semi-abiding department in CIG, they are anti-vax frontliners. You can’t make this stuff up.

  28. Anonymous says:

    Should be 0 days of quarantine if vaccinated. The 5 days of quarantine for people who are vaccinated serves no purpose at all except to keep tourists out and to send them elsewhere on holiday.

  29. OMG says:

    OMG Covid isn’t going away. We either find a way to open the border and mitigate the risks, i.e. vaccination, or we keep the place closed for as long as it takes to irradicate Covid in the rest of the world. And the latter is not an option!

    Maybe Italy should call PACT and explain how to do it.
    https://www.cntraveler.com/story/us-tourists-can-now-travel-to-italy-without-quarantining

    • Anonymous says:

      You know you are in bad shape when you have to rely on the Italians…

    • Anonymous says:

      Different situation – Italy has Covid at high levels so bringing in more infected people makes little difference to their risks.

      • OMG says:

        The population of Italy is 60,320,000, today they have 62,509 active cases which is less than .10% My point is that Covid is here to stay and some places have figured out they can’t keep their borders closed and control entry indefinitely. CIG clearly does not want to figure this out or is not capable of figuring it out.

        Italy Covid Numbers
        https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/italy/

  30. Anonymous says:

    Cayman airways needs to publish flights now until the end of the year, and add flights as they are able.

    June 24th today and no schedule published for August.

    • Anonymous says:

      yep and meanwhile they show daily flights for September…makes no sense

    • Anonymous says:

      CAL flights ARE posted for August and September and already dates are sold out. No exceptions made for essential medical travel! Good luck getting seats.

  31. Anonymous says:

    Why is travel only for “repatriation and essential purposes”? Charge a fee for using the bracelets if it’s such a big concern and let people get on with some semblance of a normal life.

    • Anonymous says:

      I suspect that it is not a fee but rather the amount of trained personnel – (Public Health, police and HSA laboratory personnel in particular) – that would be stretched beyond capacity if we increased the 1000+/month now coming in.

    • Anonymous says:

      Irrational fear.

    • Anonymous says:

      You can’t deny other commercial airlines to operate in that context.

  32. JustWondering says:

    ” Incoming travellers must have been fully vaccinated by the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority at least two weeks before returning here, or they must demonstrate completion of their vaccination course at least two weeks before arrival by real-time logging into the UK National Health Service application and showing this to the Customs and Border Control (CBC) officer processing their entry.”

    Does this mean US citizens will be unable to qualify? I see nothing in the gazetted information regarding what proof of vaccination will be accepted from US citizens. Clearly, US citizens are not part of the UK vaccine registry.

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s not just US citizens – by the looks of things, any Caymanians vaccinated in the US will not be able to take advantage of the shorter quarantine period either.

      As a Caymanian living for the time being in Florida, where the governor is firmly opposed to any sort of vaccine passport, I am not sure where this will leave me. It is true that the CDC vaccine card is not the most official looking piece of evidence I’ve ever seen, but there is no way any of my family members would lie about having been vaccinated.

      I’d happily swear an affidavit of vaccination and accept severe penalties for lying about having been vaccinated. Perhaps there is other paperwork that could be provided, although it may be difficult to obtain that after the fact for those previously vaccinated.

      Hopefully this is something CIG will look at in the next round of regulations as retaining a 10 (really 12) day quarantine period for those vaccinated in the US is making it very difficult for anyone working in a job that cannot be done remotely, or anyone in full-time education, to return home other than in the summer months.

      • JustWondering says:

        @10:13 It stinks that you can’t get back to your own country with a reduced or zero quarantine and you have been vaccinated but not by the almighty health service authority. I have lost all confidence in CIG to come up with any plan to reopen the border. They continually move the goalposts and claim “out of an abundance of caution.” They refuse to accept the fact that it is highly likely most people in Cayman that wanted to be vaccinated have been vaccinated. They need a plan to move forward and bring people back without quarantine. If they believe the vaccine is effective in preventing severe illness and death then drop the quarantine. If they do not believe in the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing severe illness and death then stop playing these games to get people to be vaccinated. If the quarantine is to remain regardless of the vaccination rate in Cayman then what’s the point of even bothering?

      • Tommykey says:

        In New York, we have something called an Excelsior Pass. After you have been fully vaccinated for two weeks, you go in the app and enter your data and if it matches the state’s records, it generates a scannable card in your phone. It’s a way of generating proof of vaccination so no one can claim your vaccination card is fake

      • Anonymous says:

        THank you for bringing this up. I am in the same situation with a CDC card issued by Baptist Health South Florida as I was vaccinated while in Miami for medical treatment, fearing the supply at home would run out before I returned. So Cayman is basically thumbing its nose at the entire US Government, assuming every card is fraudulent? Is the HSA issued card any more “authentic” looking? That may be a big problem for Caymanians traveling overseas.

        • Anonymous says:

          Well now that was just plain stupid. Nowhere did it say that we were running out here. Never was there a concern about that. Ever. Not for one second.
          I was in FL for med reason and could have gotten one too but I decided to wait until I returned.

          So fed up with scaremongers.

          I’ll bet you thought you’d have a ‘leg up’ by getting it there instead of waiting your turn here.
          Backfired..

          • Anonymous says:

            The intelligent thing to do is get the vaccine as fast as possible, wherever possible. Then one is protected sooner. You’re quite ignorant to get it where it’s not needed.

      • Guido Marsupio says:

        Link to Gazetted rules. Read for yourself.

        http://gazettes.gov.ky/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/13088560.PDF

    • Anonymous says:

      Sadly, thousands of American and Canadian property owners could file an oppression lawsuit. Our successive governments keep pulling the pins out of these hand grenades and look around at each other wondering who’s going to throw it. We need to have proper international counsel, and fire the third their advisory committees. Seriously.

      • Anonymous says:

        They need to, I’ll sign on.

      • Anonymous says:

        Drama Queen

      • Anonymous says:

        No, they can’t. Any country has the right to protect its citizens the way they see fit.

      • Anonymous says:

        Oppression – LMAO – The only reason they are in that situation is that their respective home governments have not got their acts together in terms of a secure database for vaccination status.

        • Anonymous says:

          No, the posters at 10.13 and 12.38 are Caymanian. CIG IS their home government.

          Although it is true that their “home government has not got their act together”.

    • Guido Marsupio says:

      10 days for US visitors is how I read the Gazetted rules.

    • Anonymous says:

      Clearly the government does not trust the US. Good thing most goods, fuel, money, tourists do not come from the the US.

      • Anonymous says:

        All that is needed is for the US to have a government operated online vaccination status verification system so that it is easy to detect fake vaccination certificates that are now readily available and frequently used. Hopefully the US will implement that soon.

        • WontHappen says:

          @2:41 Won’t happen. Too many people fear it would cause businesses, etc. to require proof of vaccination before entering their establishments. And before you start blaming this on conservative states think about this; the US is very focused on equal rights for EVERYONE, I’m not saying this is a bad thing but if vaccine proof is required for entry to any business establishment, entertainment venue, etc., then they are effectively discriminating against unvaccinated people. Thus, the reason even the extremely liberal national leadership will not back a national vaccine registry/passport.

          This vaccine proof requirement by CIG is extreme, as is everything else they are doing to keep the border closed to tourism. If they believe in the vaccine preventing extreme illness and death then move forward with opening the border, if they do not believe in the vaccine preventing extreme illness and death then stop bribing people to get vaccinated and tell everyone Cayman wil keep the border closed until late 2022. Suck it up PACT and speak out.

      • Anonymous says:

        Big issue is that our two biggest US stayover tourism markets are red states – Florida and Texas. They ain’t big on vaccines in those states.

  33. Anonymous says:

    Just wiped out my summer holiday trip to the island. Have 8 days to travel this year- have been fully vaccinated since March. Please explain the science with a 5 day quarantine.

    • Anonymous says:

      24/06 @9:47 am – the “science” or rather, the FACT is that in one week alone (last week), 5 vaccinated arriving travelers to Cayman tested positive for Covid19. If there were no quarantine requirements for vaccinated persons, those 5 would be out and about in the community, very likely spreading Covid.

      Fact is – we DONT want it here!! Our Government did a great job to keep us clean for over a year and we want to keep it that way. Get it now?

      What if it were your town? So, I hope you find somewhere else to enjoy your vacation.

      • Anonymous says:

        The science? Publish it, I dare you.

      • Anonymous says:

        And how long do we stay closed? Until the whole world has been vaxxed? Until the virus dies out? Until there isn’t a cent of money left on Cayman? None of these things are feasible. Open the borders, deal with the very overstated consequences. The virus isn’t going to sweep the island like the bubonic plague. Get a grip!

      • Anonymous says:

        They had to have only one jab or in the 2 week window of their second jab. If not, it seems very unbelievable with the small percentage of possible risk that those vaccinated would all end up in Cayman. We’re they vaccinated with Phizer or Moderna? If so, it is highly unlikely.

        • Anonymous says:

          Is it true that the HSA is running its PCR testing at vastly more sensitive levels than in eg the US and the UK and this is potentially leading to what are (in effect) asymptomatic false positives?

          • Anonymous says:

            Yes! Dr. Lee explained this when the primary school kid tested “positive” but no one else in his home or school did.

        • Anonymous says:

          I bet they’re either vaccinated within last two weeks (so not at required time yet) or had some shitty non-mainstream vaccine.

      • Anonymous says:

        AMEN!! Thank you!

      • Anonymous says:

        The fact is that we now have a high level of vaccination and travelers will be tested before departure. Currently they are not.

        The idea is we have strong local immunity and are trying to block out people before they board an airplane to come here.

        Eventually we will have some level of local cases and would your suggestion be that we go back into a hard lock-down when that happens?

      • Anonymous says:

        FACT is you will probably be coming to MY TOWN on one of those “repatriation flights” to do your shopping.

        No quarantine here. Everything is open. No masks. I hope you enjoy your vacation. Please be vaccinated with an authentic card. 🙂

      • Anon says:

        This is incorrect. The 5 positive vaccinated arriving travelers was over a 3 month period not in one week.

        Quote from Compass…”At least five fully vaccinated travellers have tested positive for COVID-19, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee has confirmed.

        Lee, responding to queries from the Cayman Compass on Thursday, said these positive cases have occurred over a period of around three months. They have involved persons who have been inoculated using different vaccines.”

        https://www.caymancompass.com/2021/06/21/5-vaccinated-travellers-test-positive-for-covid/

      • Anonymous says:

        Stop the fear mongering. Cayman did NOT have 5 vaccinated arriving travelers to Cayman who tested positive in one week. NOT true.

    • Anonymous says:

      You are right – it should be 14 days even with vaccination particularly given the rapid increase of the Delta variant in the US.

    • Anonymous says:

      Should be longer. 14 day incubation period. There’s some science for you pal. Vaccination does not make you immune and you can still infect others. The vaccine helps relieve the symptoms but how much does it help contain the spread of the contagion? Just look at the data

      • Anonymous says:

        Seriously? How much longer are you going to be able to make this argument. Vaccinated people are far less likely to spread covid. And it’s even less likely to spread when more people are vaccinated. That is why covid rates have gone down where vaccination rates are high. That is why it is mainly spreading amongst unvaccinated people.

        CIG knows that they have to reopen and that is going to bring some risk. They are trying to mitigate that risk by having the five day quarantine because people here are so obsessed with having zero cases. Personally I don’t think there should be any quarantine for vaccinated people because the vulnerable should already be vaccinated but I can at least see what they are trying to do.

        • Anonymous says:

          “Vaccinated people are far less likely to spread covid”

          Oh really? Tell that to Israel which has half of the new cases of people infected with the delta variant already “vaccinated” within their population.

          Want to peddle more misinformation my way so I can finish burying that garbage where it belongs?

          • Anonymous says:

            This is not true. The increase in covid cases in Israel is the result of outbreaks in schools because they have not been vaccinating anyone under 18. They have now changed that and are recommending vaccinations for 12 – 15 year olds. No vaccine is 100% effective but covid mainly spreads amongst the unvaccinated.

            • Under the bed sleeping counting sheep says:

              No vaccine is 100% but at least 99.9% of all other vaccines have scientific anaylsis on the possible long term effects of each one. Tell me what are the long term effects of the covid 19 vaccinations currently in circulation?

          • Anonymous says:

            OMG!!!!! 205 new cases in a country of 9.3 million. In a country of 9.3 million they have 26 cases listed as serious. Go back and hide under your bed drama queen.

            • Anonymous says:

              You all need to put things in perspective. Really. The fear on this board is staggering. If people are vaccinated there is no need to quarantine. The chance of catching covid from them is minuscule.
              The Delta variant is not overcoming the US because a lot of people are vaccinated and where people are vaccinated, the covid numbers are dropping significantly.
              Get vaccinated. The vaccinations are working around the globe.

    • Anonymous says:

      Science
      Since Cayman Is Evolving None Can Enjoy

      • Anonymous says:

        Yea what’s up with those native Islanders in the Caymans being so dosh garn mean? I just want to come bask in the Sun for some vitamin D who cares about this virus and those natives.. i want my beach time! Waaaa

        • Anonymous says:

          Once vaccinated, the numerous other ways to die, return to the forefront. The comment had nothing to do with beaches and everything to do with the abundance of ignorance in Cayman. You know the same ignorance that keeps voting in the likes of Mac and amateurs into office. Can one imagine if Cayman didn’t get the vaccine from England? We’d be back to Obeah.

  34. Anonymous says:

    There really shouldn’t be any quarantine for vaccinated people but at least this is a step in the right direction. Now let’s work on getting more flights if there is enough demand. No one has used these flights for repatriation in a long time. The quarantine is supposedly there to keep Cayman safe and not prohibit people from travelling. What does the reason matter if people are willing to do the quarantine.

    • Anonymous says:

      Quarantine should be longer considering vaccinated people can still catch the virus and spread it! In one week we have 5 FULLY VACCINATED travelers test positive for Covid. If we had no quarantine they would be spreading that shit throughout our community. You bunch of damn ninnies can’t seem to understand that.

  35. Anonymous says:

    Big joke. Those traveling back with unvaccinated persons(primarily ineligible children) are simply splitting upon exiting the airport, either leaving one with the kids for 14 days or handing them off to their nannies for a 14 day staycation.

    • Anonymous says:

      I fail to see how this is a problem if one parent, a nanny, or a guardian is quarantining with them. Aren’t all the health measures still being followed?

      • Anonymous says:

        Point is, they all live together, eat together, sleep together, fly together, etc. Releasing one after 5 days but continuing to hold the remainder captive is just asinine.

  36. Anonymous says:

    Should be 0

  37. Anonymous says:

    90% of Covid cases in the UK are now the highly contagious Delta variant which has an incubation period of up to 14+ days. Are we trying to raise our incidence of Covid to match that in the UK?

    • Anonymous says:

      The vaccine works against the delta variant. Anyone at risk of severe outcomes because of covid should already be vaccinated.

      • Anonymous says:

        https://www.yahoo.com/news/israel-says-delta-variant-infecting-110300111.html

        Ok scientist explain this then.

        Yet vaccinated feel the need they shouldn’t have to quarantine because the science in their brain says so! Well here is some data for the jabber walkies

        • Anonymous says:

          You conveniently ignored this part of your article.

          “Two doses of the vaccines appear to be protective against Delta.

          An analysis by UK health officials found that two doses of Pfizer’s vaccine were 88% effective against Delta while a single shot was 33% effective.”

          If you are so worried, get vaccinated or go hide under your bed and let the rest of us get on with our lives.

      • Anonymous says:

        There is no evidence of that besides in your deluded jabbed brain.

    • Anonymous says:

      You forgot (either intentionally or out of ignorance) that the Delta variant is essentially affecting unvaccinated people. Even then, it is far less dangerous. Regardless, it’s a clear message that getting vaccinated is important. That the vaccine works and those who’ve taken it should be allowed the benefits of taking the jab!

  38. Anonymous says:

    BA still have the early Sept flight on the 9th instead of the 8th. When will they get organised?????

  39. Anonymous says:

    So the let them in without verifying their vaccination certificates is PACT’s plan to re-introduce Covid to Cayman.

    • Anonymous says:

      If you are concerned about it, then just get vaccinated and encourage your friends and family to do the same. If you are concerned about the very very tiny minority of people who cannot get vaccinated for legitimate reasons, then still get vaccinated and encourage your friends and family to get vaccinated because that will help keep them safe.

  40. Anonymous says:

    SMH – Given that the incubation period for Covid can be 14+ days, how is a vaccination certificate that cannot be verified, any different in terms of risk to the country, from a vaccination certificate that was purchased online for $10?

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